The Rookie
Last winter I bought a new snow blower and a trailer to load it up and snow blow our high school track after a snowstorm. I also wanted to use the trailer to pick up manure for free from local farms, if possible. So, we ended up with two small snowstorms, where it took me 2 hours each time to clear the track.
Today I finally went to pick up some natural cow manure, with nothing but good cow poop and hay mixed in. Derek went along, as I figured we might be able to get two good loads for the day. I had bought the side plywood for the trailer and put them on this morning at 9 am and then we left for the "farm" at 9:45 am. It was only 14 miles away so that was the good part. We find the place, pull in and discover the mound of cow manure at the bottom of this hill. It took a bit of maneuvering to get the trailer down to the right spot. I wasn't sure how I would get the trailer back up and out of the area, but that was not the important thing. What was important was getting this nice, "real" manure. Loading up went fairly quickly as we alternated using the pitch fork to scoop up the stuff while the other used the hoe to pull it to the front of the trailer. All went well until we hitched up the trailer to my car and tried moving it.
Not so fast, said the tortoise to the hare. The light frost from the night before was just enough that the car's front wheels slipped and the trailer didn't move. After some further events we ended up borrowing Derek's Grandfather's 4 wheel drive and included a chain, as his hitch was too large for my trailer.
Now the endeavour took well over an hour and a half until we finally got everything working and the manure is now safely by our house. There will be no second trip for a while.
Today I finally went to pick up some natural cow manure, with nothing but good cow poop and hay mixed in. Derek went along, as I figured we might be able to get two good loads for the day. I had bought the side plywood for the trailer and put them on this morning at 9 am and then we left for the "farm" at 9:45 am. It was only 14 miles away so that was the good part. We find the place, pull in and discover the mound of cow manure at the bottom of this hill. It took a bit of maneuvering to get the trailer down to the right spot. I wasn't sure how I would get the trailer back up and out of the area, but that was not the important thing. What was important was getting this nice, "real" manure. Loading up went fairly quickly as we alternated using the pitch fork to scoop up the stuff while the other used the hoe to pull it to the front of the trailer. All went well until we hitched up the trailer to my car and tried moving it.
Not so fast, said the tortoise to the hare. The light frost from the night before was just enough that the car's front wheels slipped and the trailer didn't move. After some further events we ended up borrowing Derek's Grandfather's 4 wheel drive and included a chain, as his hitch was too large for my trailer.
Now the endeavour took well over an hour and a half until we finally got everything working and the manure is now safely by our house. There will be no second trip for a while.
Our first load of cow manure for Tabitha's garden
Siberian tomato in the big pot (determinate) and Matthew's sweet cherry in the small pot.
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