Fixing the pump

After numerous defeats, the pump and irrigation system is finally working. Saturday we spent some time priming the line with a rigged-up 44 gallon drum and some pipe, but found the water appeared to be running up hill to a large saw cut (which we discovered when water started bleeding out of it). We cut through the rest of the pipe and glued an 80mm joiner in place. Had to wait overnight for it to dry, so couldn't try starting the pump. Early Sunday, braving the frosty conditions, we headed over to and tried starting the pump. We tried turning it over about 20 times, but it refused to start. I began to think it was flooded (due to my 'over priming'). G thought it was a dirty fuel filter. Either way, it didn't start. G went home and I returned with some tools to open the motor up, but I thought I'd give the motor one more go - and it started first try. Elated, I turned the tap on, only to find there was not a drop moving through the system. I thought we'd primed the line and pump - I couldn't work out what was wrong. Then I realised that there was a valve that stopped water flowing back into the dam, and while we'd primed both pipes, the pump itself remained dry. Seems easy now, but before we unscrewed the pressure valve, filled the pump with water and started it up, it was very frustrating. It was successful - one of the best sights of the year was seeing water shooting out of a valve in the vineyard. Now I'll have to look at the irrigation in more detail for repairs.

And another valve:

ONE thing I'm looking forward to, since you asked, is the warming of the ground in late August - early September. Vegies are growing impossibly slowly. Our seeding program starts in August, using the window heat of our 'main room'. Of course, carrots and beetroot have pushed through any logical biological barrier.

Chard and Fetta Pie

Caralyn has once again garnered universal acclaim for her home-grown spinnach, fetta and free-range egg pie. Here's a shot. It's on the way to work tomorrow for public consumption.

Here's an example of what is known as a 'wind' egg, or 'fart' egg (on the right). This egg was laid by our silkie cross (not prudence) named Miss Brown. It's her first attempt at an ovulation, so we didn't judge her too harshly. It didn't even have a yolk. We're selling these eggs at $3 per dozen, but the bantam eggs really count for two, so they're not included.

Araucanas and Transylvanian

Here's a little film of the Araucanas and the Transylvanian Naked Neck we got last week. You'll note the white silkie cross running about in between - just ignore.

replacement posts

I dropped out a few replacement posts for the vineyard after dropping all of block 2's vinestakes. Made it just before the rain. Before the cloud cover, it was quite a pleasant day.

New Chickens

Last week saw the arrival of four new chooks: two Araucanas; one Transylvanian Naked Neck; and one large Wyandotte. The Wyandotte and older Araucana have taken to the chook house readily, but the younger Araucana and Naked Neck (Elvira) are roosting under the deck. The effort to extract them every night and drop them on a roost in the chook house is beginning to tell - we've got to come up with a better solution (for my sake). Also, I was led to believe that the Naked Necks were a placid breed - Elvira has pecked me numerous times, and one night, started this hysterical clucking when I picked her up. Madness. Anyway, here's a pic of our Wyandotte, Winny.

Well, I'm back

After a few months off, I'm back this weekend to blog some more. Got some heavy work planned, stay tuned for some pictures.