After a not so good night, I finally got up about 6AM and made it outside around 9AM to try to learn to load the truck with wood chips with the Kubota.
My first attempt wasn’t as full as it might have been, but there was only 1 tiny orange line on the side of the truck. It took many loads to figure out what configuration of bucket angle and height and how to raise the bucket just right so it would fill or dump properly into the truck.
I got the truck up to the garden and realized there was no way I was skilled enough to back it between this post and the Big garden. This post was to come out anyways, along with 3 or 4 more beside the Big garden.
I’d watched my husband pull up dozens of posts with the blue tractor and it seemed easy. But this little Kubota didn’t have that kind of power. My first attempt rocked the tractor up on 2 wheels on the right side. So I changed angle to the post and tried again, same result. I adjusted the chain multiple times (perhaps 10?), and finally wrapped it around the bucket.
The post gave a little but the tractor rocked up on 2 wheels again. So I tried little yanks and it started to give. I remembered to get a photo when I got it this far out. It took 4 or 5 more small yanks and it came out. It was so hard to get out because it had a big base and was amazingly heavy. It was all I could do to carry it to the side of the garden out of the way.
The goal on Wednesday was to cover the black drip hoses so when the hot weather arrived next week, I wouldn’t cook the little trees trying to water them. So the line is straggly now but all the hoses are well covered and each plant has lots of mulch to hold the moisture.
I filled the truck 3 times and emptied it twice. This 3rd load is to expand the mulched area to at least 6’ across and straighten the way the row looks. I’ll probably need at least 2 more loads to accomplish that.
But it was noon and I was exhausted so I put the tractor away, got a shower and went to bed for the afternoon.
On Thursday my general helper will be here at 8AM. I’d really like to finish the little trees, but I really need to plant peas finally. So I imagine we will do that. My helper friend will arrive late morning and if the peas are done and mulched, perhaps we can finish the little trees.