And we are in crunch mode.  May 20th is coming up fast and as usual we have lots of things that need to get done before we can actually plant our lavender.
One of the most important things we need to get done is cutting down the winter wheat that is currently growing in our field. While it looks lovely, it has to go. No way for us to just lay the landscape cloth on top of it and mat it down.
Ron and Jo had already gotten the brush hog out of storage and out to THF. Again our fabulous trailer making it all possible.
We had made plans on Tuesday to meet after work at the farm. I brought my work clothes with me so I could change on site. Of course I got hit with computer issues just as I was trying to sign off and was delayed. Sent Ron a text telling him this (Yes, Julie, we have become texters after all) and headed out as soon as my computer finally shut down. I have a hard fast rule about not checking my phone while driving and had assumed that Ron would not even read it. Expected he was already busy mowing. He gets out of work an hour before I do. But I got to THF and no Ron. In order to park, we have to drive past our entrance to the next road and turn around. I then pulled over to call him. He had responded after all telling me he was at home.
I was slightly dumbfounded, but we decided I would head home and we would come back together.  Which was fine.  I had left my boots and camera at the house anyway.
We got back to the farm and walked in to get started with our project.  The brush hog started right up and Ron headed to the field.

We measured out just over 130 feet out from our pussy willow row and Ron started mowing.
Our machine does a great job cutting through whatever is the in way.  My only concern is that we are left with 3 inch high plugs. And they are tough.  I think we will have a bit of a fight between them and the landscape cloth.  We will just have to hope all the walking around we are going to be doing will help knock them down a bit.
Ron took a few trips around our planned field, just to give it shape and then I took over.  I had a good bit of experience with the brush hog from last year and it all quickly came back.

Turns out I like to use the thing.  It does shake you up a bit and is hard on the hands.  You have to hold the lever down in order to make it go.  Ron has rigged a bungie cord to help him with that, but I didn’t try to figure it out.  Next time for sure.  We still have a massive amount of mowing to do.
Ron took over and I went to work checking our measurements.  Using flags to mark 4 foot sections and then 12 foot ones.  We are planning to lay down landscape cloth in between each lavender section.  Trying very hard to keep the weeds down.  Less mowing can be a very good thing.  It was more difficult than I thought to get the measurements right when working by yourself.  But by the end I had figured out the right way to do it and all the flags were in place. Not up to Ron’s specs by any stretch, but close enough for government work.

Field looks pretty good, doesn’t it?  In a few years no one will recognize the place.  We will have our trees and bushes growing and rows of lavender and other flowering herbs.
Did I mention the next project is getting ready for 2018 juneberries planting? Maybe 5 or 6 rows, Ron isn’t yet sure just how many.  But they will each be 200 feet long.

Where do I submit my resignation?