I think tomatoe season is over . . . .

[Kathie in Thorp]

We had a light frost last night. Went out this afternoon and picked 3 big bags of the best-looking, still-green, heirloom tomatoes. I hope they'll ripen in a cool, dark place inside. The rest are up for grabs on my area FREECYCLE list for anyone that wants to do any sort of green tomato relish, fried, or salsa, or . . . whatever.

Had near 60 mph winds night before last -- blew a lot of our apples (they get by -- don't get sprayed) off the trees. Half dozen head of mule deer does and fawns were out taking care of those grounded apples while I was messing w/ tomatoes -- paid no attention to me at all at 30 ft. away. Whatever is still on the trees is also up for FREECYCLE.

 

[Nesikep]

whereabouts are you located? sounds like you're mighty close to us... we nearly had frost last night, but we didn't get the wind.. 2 weeks ago was miserable for wind... probably 50 MPH wind for a whole week

 

[Kathie in Thorp]

100 mi. due east of Seattle. Pretty big winds here are normal. I hate them at 50-60 mph, and wonder if the roof will blow off!

 

[Nesikep]

OK, so I'm about 250 miles north of you

when we moved onto or place in december 1990, the previous owner said "it's not very windy here", the night we moved in we got gale force winds, lost half the roof, and the temps went from 7C to -27C overnight and we were frozen solid in the morning.... it's never again been that bad... Mother nature's way of welcoming us???

 

[Kathie in Thorp]

Nesikep, when I first moved here, I was told by the soon-to-be-spouse that we would have regular gentle breezes. HAH!!!! Gentle breezes, my a$$! 20-30 mph is pretty much a regular day. Fortunately, we don't often have very low temps. We freeze, and livestock water is a constant issue, but it could be alot worse. Been there/done that, in the midwest.

 

[Nesikep]

We're in the middle of digging a 1500 foot ditch 6-8 ft deep for winter water for the cattle in the field... it's quite a job, but it'll be nice to water them away from the house

 

[3waycross]

I picked all but one bed of tomatoes today. I could not bring myself to pick the better boys they are all perfect. I do however have them covered with moving blankets. We are supposed to drop to 16 degrees tonight. Woke up to a bunch of snow but most of it melted.

 

[Kathie in Thorp]

3Way -- I have a brother outside of Denver -- near Morrison. Yesterday he posted on his FB page that they were expecting 6-10" snow last night.

 

[3waycross]

3Way -- I have a brother outside of Denver -- near Morrison. Yesterday he posted on his FB page that they were expecting 6-10" snow last night.

Well they weren't wrong! We got easy 6in. It's gone now but the mtns are covered and it's cold as a hore's heart here.

 

[Kathie in Thorp]

Ouch! Should be good for hunting season, though . . . . . ??

 

[Kathie in Thorp]

We're in the middle of digging a 1500 foot ditch 6-8 ft deep for winter water for the cattle in the field... it's quite a job, but it'll be nice to water them away from the house

How will you keep water moving and open into that ditch during the winter? Do you have a spring you can pump from, or ??? Graduated edges as you get to the deep part? That's a big project!!!

 

[hillsdown]

We're in the middle of digging a 1500 foot ditch 6-8 ft deep for winter water for the cattle in the field... it's quite a job, but it'll be nice to water them away from the house

How will you keep water moving and open into that ditch during the winter? Do you have a spring you can pump from, or ??? Graduated edges as you get to the deep part? That's a big project!!!

Pretty sure they are putting in a water line Kathie , thus the need for a 6-8 foot "ditch" ;-)

 

[hillsdown]

3Way -- I have a brother outside of Denver -- near Morrison. Yesterday he posted on his FB page that they were expecting 6-10" snow last night.

Well they weren't wrong! We got easy 6in. It's gone now but the mtns are covered and it's cold as a hore's heart here.

I'll book hubby a ticket asap, that cold damp weather aught to be great for the rods and pins in his ankle .. :lol: :lol2: :hide:

 

[Kathie in Thorp]

We're in the middle of digging a 1500 foot ditch 6-8 ft deep for winter water for the cattle in the field... it's quite a job, but it'll be nice to water them away from the house

How will you keep water moving and open into that ditch during the winter? Do you have a spring you can pump from, or ??? Graduated edges as you get to the deep part? That's a big project!!!

Pretty sure they are putting in a water line Kathie , thus the need for a 6-8 foot "ditch" ;-)

Ahhhh, "I see!" said the blind woman.

 

[slick4591]

That's one heck of a ditch for a water line.

 

[3waycross]

That's one heck of a ditch for a water line.

Gotta get below the frost line. You would need to go that deep around here also!

 

[Kathie in Thorp]

Here, 30-36" inches, to be safe.

 

[slick4591]

More like 24" down here.

 

[Kathie in Thorp]

Young couple, with 3 ambitious young kids, came out this afternoon and picked most of our green tomatoes -- she cans, home-schools, and was delighted. Still have apples that need to go . . . .

 

[Nesikep]

I think we'd be safe at 3 to 4 feet here, but by going deeper the water actually gets warmed, which means you can just have a trickle of water running in the water trough and it will never freeze... it's worked fine for us at temps as low as -25C (-15F?)... just as long as the intake system doesn't freeze up on us and the lines stay full.

The spot where I went 8 feet deep is on the top of a hill which I may eventually shave off, and I don't want to have to worry about the line there.