Pruning and spraying the fruit trees
The snow is almost entirely gone and and I was able to get out and trim the fruit trees! Whew! I was getting worried that the snow would run right up against the spring, but we have a few weeks of cold yet I think. I was able to attack the "big" orchard and trim the apple, pear, peach, and plum trees! I took the big tree protectors off and discovered many hidden ailments. Many had some kind of powdery fungus (I think) - either that or some bug webs of some kind. I trimmed the trees as best I could according to the articles that I read. Apples and Pears get central leader treatment (and headed off), while the peaches get their central leaders removed (and headed off). After I got all the trimming done I hit them all with a good dose of dormant oil. I am hopeful that that will finish off any fungus, mildew, bugs, or whatever was attacking my trees! Oh, and i dormant oiled the grapevines too. Looking over that orchard, I think I will need to get even more deer pops and deer bait!
Sorry, but no pictures of the trees - they just look like sticks in the ground right now anyway!
Lathe finally moved off of the pallet!
I had the crane legs positioned a couple weeks ago, but then the snow... anyway, I found some nice 10ft + oak 2x8's and hefted a couple of them on top of the crane legs! Not an easy job, but i got it done. Just needed 2 - those things are strong. Then i chained up the hoist and lifted the lathe off its pallet. I unbolted it and then slid the pallet out from under the lathe. Whew. Was a mighty endeavor!
Here are some pics
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| Those 2x8's didn't even creak or bend at all when they came under load! |
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| I hope thats was an OK place to attach the chains! |
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| Ta-da! |
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| close up of how little room I had to work with |
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| Right up against the edge here too! Amazing that it was this close and that I didn't measure any of this stuff for fitting it in! |
Next step is to get some electrical work done! I need some light circuits and a heavy circuit or two for the woodworking and metal working equipment. Anyway, the shop is starting to look less junky and more like a shop!
Canning shelf work
Well, the ground was not covered with snow, so i decided to plane some more oak boards for the shelves to my oak caning shelf. I did up a bunch of the leftover boards from the woodshed. I also noticed that I have a few boards in the shop under the workbench. I might need those for the chop-saw station though... No picture of the shelves yet, but i got a few of the huge pile of saw dust left from planing!
Locust trees and the search for grape arbor posts
I dared to take the tractor up to the upper edge of the field and clear out some fallen trees. While I was up there I decided to take a couple of the locust trees down that where kind of in the way of where I want to plant my walnut trees. Since I need the locust posts anyway, it was a good thing. My chainsaw is still dull as crap, but I managed to get 2 decent size posts - and one small one. I think I can count on 3 posts total from that work. Was a mess to clean up in that mud! The tractor was really making a mess! I hope it doesn't damage the field too badly. The ruts should back fall in I think long before they make hay there this year (if they are planning too).
