Small Projects: Need Daylight Hours

[lakngulf]

The pictures below have one thing in common: They represent small projects that I need to complete but have trouble finding enough daylight hours to work on them.

(1) Moving the dirt in TopSoil 1 to the garden boxes in TopSoil 3
(2) Repairing my yard where some of the seawall has eroded (SeaWall 1)
(3) Putting the 20 foot 6x6 posts (RopeSwing 1) along side the mid point of my pier (RopeSwing 3) to build my grandsons a rope swing
(4) Move some of the topsoil to my wifes herb garden (HerbGarden 1)
(5) Install 40 feet of culvert (BoatParking 1) and repair my driveway
(6) Finish the lean-to to house the tractor, equipment and sea doo
(Lean To 1)
(7) Prepare hunting land for planting a few acres of clover (Clover 1)
(8) Not pictured: 8-12 inches of soil over my septic field lines, planting of blue berries over same, planting of pear trees alongside pond at hunting land, whatever my wife comes up with for her new yard projects.

At this point I am wondering if (1) I had lots of projects so I bought a tractor OR (2) I bought a tractor and now have lots of projects. In any event I look forward to spending some tractor time on them and will post progress along the way. I remember my old neighbor in the country where I grew up. I would ask him why do you have mules, and his answer was, so I can grow corn? I would ask him why do you grow corn, and his answer was, so I can feed the mules?

I know the first question will be what about the water? Lake Martin is an Army Corps of Engineers reservoir lake and used for water management/flood control as well as power generation and general recreational enjoyment. As such, it is lowered 10 feet each year, normally this time of the year. Hurricane Ida, and numerous rainfalls, have it much higher than normal. Soon, I hope, the draw down will continue and I will have tractor access to the lake bed.

 

[Obed]

lakngulf, I'm right there with you. It's dark when I get up to go to work and it's dark when I get home. Makes getting anything at all done outside during the week near impossible.

Obed

 

[woodlandfarms]

Blueberries over a leach field? Calling them Poo Berries? Sorry, couldn't resist. Actually I didn't know you could do that. I thought that an plant would cause blockage issues.. Then again, I don't install septics so all I know is usually 3rd hand.

Hey, at least you have good weather. You could be up in No Dak trying to accomplish your list. Make your own daylite. Get a couple of worklites and go at it.

Carl

 

[Thomas]

Going to work and coming home in the dark sure makes long day,than the weekend just enough day light..if old man winter doesn't decides to visit..to get the basic done outside...always looking forward to mud season.

 

[lakngulf]

Blueberries over a leach field? Calling them Poo Berries? Sorry, couldn't resist. Actually I didn't know you could do that. I thought that an plant would cause blockage issues.. Then again, I don't install septics so all I know is usually 3rd hand.

Hey, at least you have good weather. You could be up in No Dak trying to accomplish your list. Make your own daylite. Get a couple of worklites and go at it.l

I have always heard that the grass is greener over the septic tank. In my case there were four or five huge trees around septic and leach field. Did have some problems a few years back. I rented TLB and increased the leach field four fold but need more soil over a few spots, after I remove the hydranghas that are there now. The Poo Berries should taste better than hyrdrangha blooms, and I have plenty of them elsewhere.

Regarding the lights, one of my first posts had to to with work lights. I have read as many of the posts as I could, and just today purchased some lights from Wally World. Now for a rookie to get them hooked up without blowing a fuse.

 

[matt_isserstedt]

What I did where one project is to be worked on is to buy a 16' x 4x4 and sink it into the ground. Atop which I mounted two 70 (?) watt CFL yard lights on adjacent 90 degree faces, that I got at the Homme Depot. They run on a 100' #10-4 SO cord that I pull from the house, center tapped 230vac with GFI outlets on the other "leg". Only pull out the cord out when it is dry and I plan to work....as late as I can stand the cold weather and still get up the next day on time.

The yard lights and GFI receptacles will eventually be recycled into service in my shop bldg when it is up and ready.

 

[ToadHill]

Woodlandfarm: I've had Blueberry bushed over my leach field for over 20 years and they have not been a problem. hey are "very" shallow rooted and once planted it is not recommended that you even cultivate around the roots just mulch.

 

[lakngulf]

UPDATE: (5) Install 40 feet of culvert (BoatParking 1) and repair my driveway

The weather finally cooperated with some dry days and allowed me to work on one of my projects. I was able to install some pipe along one side of my driveway, to smooth over some area for boat parking in the winter and trailer parking in the summer. The first picture shows the BEFORE shot of the area that I want to smooth over. The second picture shows the same shot after some hours on the CK30. Just behind the tree on the right will be the area to back in the boat and trailer. The last shot shows the same area from the top of the hill. With this shot the parking area is more noticeable. I will probably move some more dirt to that area to continue the leveling process. I revised plans along the way and put in 70 feet of pipe.

It is amazing how much better a box blade will smooth dry dirt than MUD!

 

[Mousefield]

Thanks for posting pics of your projects. Much easier to understand what is being done as well as give us ideas for our future projects. Is your driveway graveled or is that the natural ground material?

 

[lakngulf]

The drive started out as natural material (well in 1996 when I bought the place it started out as WASHED OUT! At that time my brother brought his man-size back hoe in and did the original fix-up, which included putting on a layer of the gray stones. Since that time I have re-stroned it at least once, and some parts twice, but that has been a while back. At this point I will make sure ditches are in order, smooth the road with the box blade, and put on a new layer of the #57 gray rock.