You would not believe some of the things I do in support of Ron’s adventure. Last week I spent hours cutting out strips of what is actually insect cloth. Each was about 10 inches wide and 6 feet long. The end result was to be a tube that we could slip over the paw paw cages. This is another one of Ron’s experiments to see what he can do to safeguard his investment. There is a lot of info about baby pawpaw trees getting scorched from the sun in their early years.

All sorts of agreement on the internet that while pawpaws need full sun to produce the best fruit, they need to be shaded until well established. Not so much agreement on how to do the actual shading. With 38 trees planted in 7 rows that are 60 feet long, we needed a “frugal” solution. Of course Ron came up with one. He hopes.
Saturday was expected to be a hot one so the plan was for us to get going early. Somehow I actually slept until 5 am. So it was then a mad dash to get the 9 last of the tubes sewed. I had folded each strip in half and then ran a narrow seam on each side, leaving just the bottom open. Turned them right side out and done. Easy enough, but I had to sew 38 of the things.
Ron headed out while Jo and I gathered the last of the supplies. Not only did we have to get the tubes on the cages, but we had to water all 88 of the plants and our garlic patch, check on the Shiitakes and move some of the bolts around. Jo and I would then escape leaving Ron to putter.
First we had to get the 4 wheeler and trailer set up with the water tank Ron bought. Oh, I didn’t tell you that story. After adventure last year of hauling water from the stream to the mushroom logs soaking tanks, we realized that we were wasted our efforts. About half the water we scooped was lost to bumpy trip. So Ron was on the hunt for at least 50 gallon tank we could full and empty with a hose. He found a great one at a local store but came home without it and annoyed. Apparently they sell water tanks without offering the any of the connections needed in order to make the thing actually work.
We had much better luck at Runnings store in Rome NY. Not only did we find a good tank but the staff members were extremely helpful. Came home with everything we needed to get this up and running. (I just realized what I typed; a spot of absentminded silliness) And I found a pair of good boots that I can wear on the Farm through the water, muck and weeds.
Last week we did our first run with the tank and it went pretty well. We found out those square, plastic cat litter bins work great for scooping water out of our small stream. Much better than the round white buckets. But it was work and easily a 3 person job. One to scoop, one to lift onto the trailer and one to pour into tank. We filled the tank halfway and headed to our orchard. First issue was that the hose we had was too long but that was an easy fix. Ron drove between the rows and handled the hose while Jo and I filled the coffee cans and watered each plant. Then back for more water. This time we filled the tank and were able to not only finish the job but water the garlic too. One tank full should do the entire process.
Back to Saturday. All the watering was done, so next project.

I told you – there was a lot of sewing involved.

This was definitely a two person job.  The cages were not a solid tube, one side was open so you could fit them around the tree.  Made it easier to get them set around the trees, but harder to get the tubes on.  Lots of raw edges that caught on the cloth.

In a couple of days Ron will pull the tubes off to see how well his pawpaws are doing. Fingers crossed that my hard work is not for naught.

Our field of ghosts.
The good news is that I will get to sew 38 more of these things come winter time. Ron wants some made out of a heavier cloth so they will protect the trees from our winter winds. Lucky me.