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.

Happily home, watching the news and drinking a glass of Pinot Grigio. Maybe I should say guzzling, though a wine aficionado would be horrified. Having showered of course. Another great day at Tiny House Farm. And we are home before the most welcome rain storm.
Ron and I met Don and John at 8 am this morning with the plan of getting most of our 88 trees/bushes planted. Shelly came again; she apparently really enjoyed our mushroom inoculation event and was wiling to come back to play with us. Then Jesse arrived and our crew was complete and the work could begin. For all 88 plants we needed to back fill the holes as our plants arrived smaller than expected. Don and John got started combining the compost and top soil that we would need. Then we needed to lay out the long strips of weed cloth, making sure it was relatively straight. Though I have tried for years to get Ron to accept that nature abhors a straight line. Next step was cutting an X where each plant would be set and getting the plant in. And more back filling. Then we needed to stake down the weed cloth so it didn’t blow away. And repeat. After all we had 7 rows of elderberries and 7 more of paw paws to plant.
Ron and Shelly got started with planting the paw paws.

I wonder if she is looking for my jars of cash. Rumor has it that I have them stashed all over the place.  Or she is just wondering why Ron is so excited about planting these scrawny looking plants?

Jesse, John, Don and I tackled the larger amount of elderberries. Our field doesn’t look like much of anything right now, does it?

Thank goodness this is my project as we were not that good at getting them set in a straight line. But somehow I think it will be all right. By the time we get the weed cloth covered in straw and wood chips and the trees fill out in a few years, no one will ever know that we were not spot on with the planting.
It took us a bit of time but we found a rhythm and started making progress. It was a prefect day for working outside. Cloudy with an occasional breeze and moderate temps. It did warm up as the day went on, but never got brazing hot. By 11 am Ron and Shelly had gotten 2 1/2 rows done and we had almost 4 rows of elderberries done.

Shelly had to leave and Ron was sorry to see her go. They had worked well together.  While the 4 of us kept working on the elderberries, Ron started working on getting the cages on his paw paws.

Armchair General, hard at work. He wants to handle this part of the process himself. And I am just as happy to leave it to him. I don’t want to be responsible for damaging any plants. These cages are to protect the trees from too much sun and possible critters.
Thank goodness, we are finally done with all 49 bushes.

It will take a few years for them to start looking like a proper orchard. But so nice to have them all planted.

I do love my work hat. I wear it all the time and it keeps me protected from the sun and bugs.
Lunch break. Most welcome. But it will be hard to get going again. All of our muscles are started to stiffen up. But we need to get the rest of the paw paws done, so back to work we go.

Ron had to give us directions in how he wanted us to plant them as he would really like straight lines. Our first row was pretty good, but the second, not so much. We did better on the last rows and what a relief it was to get to the last 4 plants.

Not quite done though. We still had to stake down the weed cloth, water all the plants, all while Ron worked to finish putting on all the cages, pick up all the tools and equipment.  Then we had to load it all back in the Transit and finally, finally head for home.

Ron’s paw paws. You cannot see the trees as the cages are currently about 12 inches taller than them. Now we just have to watch over them for the next few years, keeping them watered and protected from whatever. Then with luck we will have yummy paw paws and elderberries in abundance. I cannot wait. Have all sorts of recipes I am itching to try out. Going to have some great fun. Though I don’t think I will go so far as to try making my own paw paw beer or elderberry wine. My life is complicated enough.

Or maybe I should be.
While I was at work today, Ron and Jo planned for the arrival of our pawpaws and elderberry plants. First they had to take advantage of the calm day to lay out and cut lengths of our weed cloth. We are going to be doing all we can to help our new plants survive their first years. Keeping the weeds in check is an absolute necessity. The cloth will help with that and with some added mulch, it will also help reduce the amount of watering we need to do. We have 14 rows so that meant cutting 14 lengths of 60 and 65 feet. They used the street in front of our house and the curb gave them a great straight edge. Using chalk, they marked off the needed length and hauled the huge rolls of weed cloth to the curb. Too bad Jo couldn’t take pictures of the two of them working in the street. It must have been a sight. They would have been keeping a close eye out for cars; our road being a pretty busy one with cars, people and bicycles going up and down all the time. One of our neighbors watched them for a few minutes, wondering, I am sure just what they were up to. Maybe thinking that she needed to call the men in white coats. But she wandered close enough for Ron to give her his spiel. A few minutes of conversation and she was assured that he was no danger to anyone. But himself.
Brother Don arrived just as Ron and Jo finished loading the cloth strips into the Transit. They started puttering with the soil sifter, trying to get it working smoothly. A phone call from the truck driver gave them between 2-5 as time frame for delivery. So they had more than enough time to hit a local diner for lunch. At 1 pm they had just gotten started on another small project when the truck pulled up. Early is always good.

A majorly big truck here to deliver our 88 trees. Just how big are they going to be?

A bit of a let down, isn’t it? We were almost the last delivery of the day. I imagine the truck was quite a bit fuller when it headed out this morning from Syracuse.

My elderberries.

Ron’s pawpaws arrived this way.

The three of them loaded our new babies onto the trailer so they could be taken out the Tiny House Farm. Once again, Ron is so glad he bought the trailer. It has been a life saver more times that we can count.

Jo and Don busy unloading the pawpaws. All of the plants are safely out at THF waiting for us to plant them on Saturday. Will have to check on them tomorrow to make sure they are not drying out. Fingers crossed that the weather holds for the weekend, because rain or shine, plantings got to happen. Another fun day in the works.

We have 38 pawpaw trees and 50 elderberry bushes heading our way.  They should arrive just after May 15th so we are planning on getting them into the ground the weekend of the 21st. In case you missed it, that is a subtle hint thrown out there to anyone who might be interested in joining us.

Once we finished tilling up the rows for our pawpaws, Ron rented a power auger for Saturday April 29.  No way were we going to be able to dig 88 holes by hand.  We be too old for that nonsense.  Jo had the weekend off so she was a welcome assist.  Once again we planned for lunch at the farm with lots cookies for all workers.   Ron and I headed to rental place to pick up the auger while Jo planned to meet us at THF.   Just after 9 am we were unloaded and getting set up.   Brothers Don and John soon arrived and the real work began.

Even though the rows for pawpaws were already laid out and the plan set, there was some serious talking to be done.  Just how deep the holes should be, and just how carefully would the plan be followed.   It was going to be a long day for the 3 brothers.

Jo and I focused on the elderberry patch.  Ron has decided they were my idea so I am fully responsible for them.  First we got out the brush hog and mowed down the rye grass in a 50 foot square.  Then we got busy with stakes and measuring tapes.  Had to mark planting spots 8 feet apart down each row and 10 feet between each row.  You will remember from school that when you mark out a square, the way to check your measuring is to go diagonal.  The two measurements should match.  In our case, not so much.  Cannot figure out what we were doing wrong.  But no matter,  unlike Ron, I am a firm believer that nature does not grow in straight lines.   With a combination of stakes and flags, Jo and I marked out the area.  Then we counted.  And we were short.  So back to the brush hog so we could widen the patch.

Of course part of the plan was for us to pick up rocks along the way.  This is the pile we collected.  So many rocks.  We were done with our marking and it was time for lunch.

Now we tackled the holes for the elderberries.  These did not have to be as deep and we had not bothered to till the entire row.  But we still got lots more rocks.  Every hole we had to stop the machine and pull out the rocks.  Into the wagon they went and then across the stream to be dumped onto the road.

We could not have gotten it done without John and Don.   This was definitely not a one or two person job.  While the auger did the actual digging, there was a lot of shifting around, pulling and stabilizing involved.   By the time we got to hole number 88, we were all pretty beat.  But it had been another good day at THF.  One step closer to being a going concern.

Not the most excited picture, but this is our soon to be filled with fruit trees field. Two weeks to go and then we just have to wait a few years for actual results. Learning patience has been an added bonus with this adventure.