holy batman! I just bought a farm!!

[smilingcat]

I dread trying to hook up an implement/tools to the tractor. It has a thing called a three point hitch. at each point is a pin that goes through the 3 arms/links on the tractor and through the holes in the implement. You can just imagine, trying to lineup the holes just right. What a nightmare...

I have two working tractor a small one and a utility tractor. I managed to connect the wood chipper to the smaller one because it is much easier but when I tried to lift the wood chipper, the tractor front end lifted up. not a good sign. Wood chipper needs to go on my utility tractor. But it has maybe a 2000 pound tiller hooked to it. Thinking of how to disconnect it is making my stomach churn. then attach the 1000 pound wood chipper. After all said and done repeat the process in reverse. Have you ever tried to line up your car to less than a 1/10 inch? I can't budge either equipment to line it up.

just some of the fun on the farm.

[Pax]

Wish I was there to help you, I don't have a lot of skills, but that's one of them.

A little tip, RVers use these thingys to help them line up a hitch, you can also use a one of the Orange flags on a pole like you see on the back of a bike trailer. http://t.harborfreight.com/magnetic-....google.com%2F

[shootingstar]

smilingcat:

Great to read of your farming adventures and stay safe. Are you the only person working the land or is someone else/partner helping you from time to time?

That's great there are courses in your area.
Maybe over time, you'll be able to hook up with an experienced farmer locally who can show you stuff/advise or swap some stuff/work with one another.

My partner was a part-time weekend farmer for a decade. He had 100 acres about 90 km. outside of the city. He had /worked a full time paid job for an oil firm in the city. He is a civil engineer. So he took evening courses at the local university..which was about 70 km. (different direction from farm) outside of home city on animal husbandry since the university does have a top notch veterinary medicine program in Canada.

His knowledge of farm machinery, farming came from a local older farmer that he befriended from down the road. This farmer was like a father-coach farmer to my partner. My partner in turn paid him for checking horses and cattle during the work wk., etc. Don't be embarrassed to ask for advice. People would rather have you safe than hurt. (My partner did nearly lose his leg when a piece equipment fell on him. He was by the tractor out in the field. Meanwhile his ex-wife was in farmhouse with their 2 young children. This is before the days of cellphones.)

[rebeccaC]

I dread trying to hook up an implement/tools to the tractor. It has a thing called a three point hitch. at each point is a pin that goes through the 3 arms/links on the tractor and through the holes in the implement. You can just imagine, trying to lineup the holes just right. What a nightmare...

I have two working tractor a small one and a utility tractor. I managed to connect the wood chipper to the smaller one because it is much easier but when I tried to lift the wood chipper, the tractor front end lifted up. not a good sign. Wood chipper needs to go on my utility tractor. But it has maybe a 2000 pound tiller hooked to it. Thinking of how to disconnect it is making my stomach churn. then attach the 1000 pound wood chipper. After all said and done repeat the process in reverse. Have you ever tried to line up your car to less than a 1/10 inch? I can't budge either equipment to line it up.

just some of the fun on the farm.

youtube is your friend ....it doesn't look easy though

https://youtu.be/bSatF4QoqmI ....if that isn't your set up there are a number of other ones on youtube too

[smilingcat]

youtube is your friend ....it doesn't look easy though

https://youtu.be/bSatF4QoqmI ....if that isn't your set up there are a number of other ones on youtube too

That! just about sums it up. Doesn't it look fun??And he has far more experience than me. I have a pry bar but I don't think it would help.

And today, spent most of the day trying to figure out how to get a riding lawn mower out of blueberry patch. Rear tire is all twisted up and wrapped around the axle.
Thought of lifting the mower out the blueberry patch with my utility tractor but I would have to flatten out few berry bushes. Besides, there are too many linkages that could get bent if I try to lift it up and out with the fork on my tractor. towing it out using a compact tractor might work but the cutting blade and the metal cover on the mower is firmly buried in the dirt.

Managed to jack up the mower to remove the wheel but its rusted on and won't budge!! Make the repair at its current location in the berry patch. hmm oh the weather report says RAIN (at times heavy) for next several days!!

then there are hoof prints where my garlic plants are planted. hooves are about 4" across and goes down about 2" to 3" into the dirt. Amazingly, it only destroyed about half a dozen garlic bulbs.

Then there are things in the greenhouse. I feel like I'm just rearranging the chairs on the deck of Titanic... sigh...

[smilingcat]

First Farmers Market of 2016 for us. Yayyy we are finished and in stupor tonight. First one of the year is tough because you forget your routine. And being so early in the season, we were trying to figure out what we have to sell. We were confused and still confused... Logistic gets to be a real headache. Feed dogs, walk dogs, feed cats breakfast then lunch. Feed 150+ chicken And we were away for almost 9 hours.

What to sell was a pretty slim picking at my farm but we did manage to scrape together kale raab, baby kale, regular kale, swiss chard, wild arugula, few herbs but not many were interested in chervil (french parsley). And eggs. Weather was picture perfect, temp was mild and really couldn't have asked for a better day. Our animals may disagree though.

whats for next week? don't know. I planned on having micro greens for today but its growth stalled for about 3 days this past week so it wasn't ready for today. It WILL BE READY TOMORROW, SUNDAY. Will it hold till next Saturday? probably not. Maybe radish will be ready? Tatsoi, bok choi and others will not be ready for another two weeks.

Will I do this again? yes because I'm bit nutty and glutton for punishment. Besides, I get to enjoy things like baby greens, kale raab. Things you can't buy in regular grocery store.

[Pax]

Can't wrap my head around having access to almost unlimited produce, that is so cool!