So Friday wasn’t too chaotic, just aggravating in the beginning. I needed a place to hang garlic to cure as I’d decided to harvest it. The plan had been to hang it in the 6’ area from the collar ties. In order to do that, I had to move all the wood out of that area. So I got that done first. Then I realized there were no collar ties in there yet. I’d have to drill into the rafters.
Next I went to the workshop in the cellar to get the drill and while I was there I would open the bulkhead so I could get the folding chairs out. But when I went to open the door, somehow the pallet holding stuff from the freezer room had gotten pushed back and the door couldn’t open. So I had to rearrange all the stuff on the wall so I could move the pallet. Aggravation #1.
Next I collected all the stuff I would need to make the hanging rack. Because the pieces of wood were so small, I was going to pre-drill the holes before putting in the nails. But I managed to select a too big bit, even though I compared it to a nail. So I went hunting for the galvanized 20d nails as they would fit my holes. Could not find them anywhere and they are something often used. Aggravation #2.
So I came back to the house, did the milk order and went out to try to get something else done until my helpers showed up at 8AM. Then it occurred to me (light dawns on marble head…) just get a smaller drill and make new holes….sigh So I did that and got my 16d nails hammered in just fine, even at a nice angle so the twine stays on.
I had the forethought to charge up my son’s screw gun and I was attempting to use it when I realized the bit was worn out. So I went hunting a new bit. Aggravation #3
I was just trying to screw in the screws when my helper friend arrived. Thank goodness! I just don’t have the hand control to use power tools. So he got the screws in and then got the rack hung up. It’s not as sturdy as the old one, but it will work for this year. I expect the contractor will take it down in September to put up the last 2 collar ties anyways.
My backup helper had arrived and she collected the totes and shovels and we went out and started digging garlic. It wasn’t a very hot day and the humidity had dropped, so it wasn’t bad. But I got pretty tired from all the up and down stuff, like moving mulch to dig.
Next week we will have to bring some of the bales over and re-mulch this area properly.
We got 3 totes full and set up on the north side of the house by the faucet. I miss my big picnic table I used to do this job at. Someday I will have a new one made.
So I took the get-wet job of washing the mud off and my helper did the QC checks, cut off the roots, and bundled them in lots of 8.
She got the photos on my camera of this operation.
Then she took them over to the shed and hung them up, 2 bundles to a nail. I had reduced how much garlic I planted last November and there were just under 200 bulbs all told.
I’d damaged quite a few as I got tired when digging, about 22 of them. That’s one of the worst amounts yet. But I still have plenty for seed and cooking and will be able to sell some too. I already have 2 customers asking for it.
It will hang for about 3 weeks to cure, maybe longer. Then it will have the stalks cut off, be graded and stored in onion bags and go to the old root cellar, as the new one isn’t finished. It hangs up near the ceiling there.
I am glad that job is done and it wasn’t as bad as some years. Now on to the other 5 critical jobs…