Nova bonsai garden

[markyscott]

A couple of weeks back, I had the excavator that put in the cistern grade the pad for the high tunnel. I laid out the 20x40 square and marked the locations of my sidewalk poles. A local metal worker built me a couple of spears. One is about 1” diameter and the other is 1 3/4”. I drive the first to 32”.

 

[markyscott]

Then I pulled up the spear and poured water into the hole.

 

[markyscott]

Next I drove the 1 3/4” spear to 32”, pulled it up and poured water into the hole again. This one is a beast. The metal top lasted 7 poles before I broke it off.

 

[markyscott]

Daughter #3 helped a ton. She said she could skip CrossFit today.

 

[markyscott]

After the two spears were driven. I drove the pole. There is a cap you put on to protect the end. It went in pretty easy.

S

 

[markyscott]

I put up the sidewalk posts for both end walls then one in the middle. I strung a mason line from one end to the other to make sure I got all the sidewall poles sunk to the same level. One wall done today.

 

[penumbra]

yes — I know there are tools to make this easier. But there’s something cathartic about manual labor and the knowledge that, at the end of the day, it’s something that you built with your own hands. So the sledge it is (for this job anyway).

That'll wear off some day when you are gasping for your breath, your heart is racing and all your joints are screwed.

 

[ShadyStump]

That'll wear off some day when you are gasping for your breath, your heart is racing and all your joints are screwed.

But until then...
BEAST MODE!!!!!!!!!

 

[Paradox]

That'll wear off some day when you are gasping for your breath, your heart is racing and all your joints are screwed.

Yup I am a proponent of work smarter not harder

 

[penumbra]

Yup I am a proponent of work smarter not harder

I should have followed this path when I was younger, but I didn't. Now every joint I abused is here to remind me.

 

[markyscott]

I should have followed this path when I was younger, but I didn't. Now every joint I abused is here to remind me.

A little sore after a days work. And very glad I didn’t go for the 32’x80’ version. Lol.

 

[BrianBay9]

Ok I'm not sure I know what a "high tunnel" is.... like a poly covered hoop house?

 

[penumbra]

A little sore after a days work. And very glad I didn’t go for the 32’x80’ version. Lol.

LOL, my high tunnel is 12 x 6 feet

 

[ShadyStump]

I should have followed this path when I was younger, but I didn't. Now every joint I abused is here to remind me.

Youth is NOT wasted on the young.
It's the only way they SURVIVE it!

With any luck, when my legs and feet; which have somehow never once failed me; finally give out and I can no longer hit the hills, I'll have a garden full of wondrous tiny trees to hobble through in stead.
Or was that not the point of bonsai?

 

[markyscott]

Ok I'm not sure I know what a "high tunnel" is.... like a poly covered hoop house?

Yes - that's it.

- S

 

[Maiden69]

The metal top lasted 7 poles before I broke it off.

It was too big, and any hit not on center probably weakened the welds. If you have a need for it again, ask the metal worker to make a cylinder about 3-3.5" in diameter instead, and drill it 1/2 way through before welding it.

 

[markyscott]

I broke the top on the big spear again and had him add gussets for support. That did the trick.

 

[markyscott]

Lots of progress on the high tunnel. All of the sidewall poles are in. The trusses are assembled and up. The corner braces are installed. And the center purlin is in. Here are some pictures.

 

[cmeg1]

wow some awesome ground you got there welcome to some good cold winters complete with the other seasons as well!!!

A change up from Texas I’m sure!

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Truly Awesome job!
cheers
DSD sends