One of the neighbors next to The Property graciously gave me permission to hook up a hose to one of her outside spigots.
I filled a 110 gallon stock watering tank and a couple of 30 gallon tubs. Then I lugged the water in two, five gallon buckets. Because of losses due to sloshing, I only carried eight gallons per trip which noodles out to twenty round-trips (160/8).
The median distance I carried them was a round trip of a bit over 400 feet. If I get another 100 feet of hose I can shorten that median distance by a hundred feet on each leg. 200 feet times 20 round trips is 0.8 miles or about fifteen minutes of walking time that I can eliminate with another $30 worth of hose.
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| Elevation plot of the outbound leg I had to walk to reach the median tree. |
There were trees I didn't get to. So I probably need 200 gallons. The entire sequence of events took 2-1/2 hours for the 160 gallons so I better plan on three hours for 200 gallons.
I am resigned to executing this evolution every week until September first if that is what it takes. The weeks that it rains enough so I don't have to do it will be a bonus. I am in the market for another 110 gallon stock tank.
An IBC or bulk water storage tank plus a decent sized tarp can collect a LOT of water for your trees. Placed uphill from the bulk of the trees is nice.
ReplyDeletehttps://modernsurvivalblog.com/survival-skills/calculate-gallons-of-rainwater-runoff-from-a-tarp/
Buy 3/4" garden hose as the friction loss is far less than 5/8". If you use any Y fittings or valves, make sure they are the full flow (larger orifice) models (see Amazon). Doing this will increase your water flow by a third, especially in long (300-500") runs.
ReplyDeleteRemember the work smarter idea?
ReplyDeleteWorking hard on hot weather can really harm you as I understand Joe works alone a lot of the time. As in who calls 911 for you?
The start of an ER Nurses hot weather digging story here:
https://areaocho.com/i-should-know-better-3/
Well, you're not having to pay for a gym membership...
ReplyDeleteMore truth in that than you know.
DeleteI go to the gym so I can function at this level when "push" time comes. My old body can adapt but it takes longer than when I was younger. It is just easier to not let it get out of shape. It is my belief that I am at lower risk for debilitating injuries than if I let myself get out-of-shape and then tried to work this hard.
Your riding mower might be able to pull a small trailer with a 55 gallon drum. I have heard of making a four-wheel garden trailer from the chassis of a dead riding mower. The drawbar hooked to the tie rods and steered the front wheels as needed.
ReplyDeleteI would need several thousand feet of hose to water our newly planted trees that replaced those decapitated in our recent tornadoes.
ReplyDeleteI carry 4 gallons in each of two buckets on the ‘running boards’ of my old 4-wheeler.
Very little lifting is much better for my back!
NWArkansasMike