Well, well, well... Look what I got myself into

[MikeS_in_GA]

This shall be a quick overview of the last 2 years worth of progress on getting a well and making a structure around it.

Here are some pics of the well drilling rig, clay from 80 feet and granite from 120 feet deep.

 

[MikeS_in_GA]

Here is the PVC liner going in and the finished product.

I didn't get a picture of the really hard part of this phase - handing over a check for 4K

 

[MikeS_in_GA]

Here's the method I chose to run power to the well from the pole, and run water lines from the well. Highly recommend this method, $95 / hour gets the job done fast. No frost line here - 12-15" deep is plenty good (so far at least)

Also included an "after" shot of the long leg - running water out to the "oasis". (serves as my garden in the spring and an irrigated food plot the rest of the year)

 

[MikeS_in_GA]

Next big phase of the job was making a foundation to set a building on. Had a friend in town for a weekend to help with this. 40 bags of 80# quickcrete. Foundation is 12" wide and 8-12" deep. (we went with the 'looks good' engineering on this one)

(We also built a shooting bench with roof this weekend)

Next day we stripped the forms and started some block work - my first time ever setting block - it was slow going at first.

 

[MikeS_in_GA]

Took a long time doing the block. 5 courses worth. Can't find any progress pictures of that.

Fast forward to this summer and now it's time to get serious about a roof over it. I thought about this for a long time trying to figure out what I wanted vs needed. In the end I went with a slightly oversized building so I have the ability to store some of my irrigation equiptment and made it tall enough so I can walk in without hitting my head on the rafters.

Lots of work was done in my basement shop such as drawings and pre-cutting most of the parts. Much easier doing this at home and makes my day at the farm much more efficient as well.

 

[MikeS_in_GA]

People laugh at my car, especially when I am headed out to the farm like this. But I had a choice... nice truck or buy my farm. It was a no-brainer for me. I know probably a dozen people who have much nicer cars than I do, but nowhere to hunt deer

Anyhow - load everything up and make it to farm just before dark. Unload and keep an eye out for vermin. (always carry a sidearm - especially after a run in with a wild pit bull a couple years back)

 

[MikeS_in_GA]

These 3 deer where there to greet me when I got there.

 

[MikeS_in_GA]

Just because it is dark doesn't mean I can't get some work done. Time to set j-bolts. 6 x 80# bags of quickcrete and that job is done.

 

[Thomas]

Morning Mike.
Don't you love it when a plan comes together...looking good.

"But I had a choice... nice truck or buy my farm. It was a no-brainer for me."
So true...they make pick ups everyday,but they stop making land a long time ago.

 

[MikeS_in_GA]

The next morning I started framing the walls. Having a cordless nail gun made this job much easier.