[Diana in Wisconsin]

[FamiliarFace]

Today is such an April Showers day. Rainy, rainy, then more rain.

[torqemada]

Hoping to connect with other moldy oldy gardeners willing to share tips, tricks & secrets on how to cope with age related mobility/disability issues out on the garden. In recent years, I’ve transitioned to metal raised beds, added a small greenhouse, planted some perennial crops like berries, chard, rhubarb, figs, herbs, and a few select dwarf fruit trees. I’ve transitioned to some vegetable crops that work well for cut-and-come-again and succession planting. I’m looking for any ideas that curtail stooping, kneeling or groveling on the ground. Hit me with your best work-arounds that relieve the physical stress on the old body.

[Albion Wilde]

[Pollard]

Went out and did a little more burning this morning. Started a little after 7 and the rain finally showed up at 9 and put it out. It was one of those dicey areas where I'm basically parting the forest so it was nice to get that done. One more day would do the rest.

I lost five fence posts. I saw one last night and it was one of the 3.5" x 6.5' cheap ones. Lost three of those plus a couple of 5" x 8' ones that looked fine last night but were burnt off at the bottom this morning. I was needing to rework the fence for a smaller area anyway so I won't need to buy any replacement posts. Just five posts I won't have to yank out.

Tractor woes. Radiator started leaking badly from the bottom. I think the 45 year old copper tubes have become thin and brittle. Did some searching for custom radiator pricing and found out they make radiators for Yanmar tractors with 3cyl diesel. Same basic size tractor as mine and mine also has a 3cyl diesel. Went out the took measurements and it looks like the Yanmar ones can be made to work. I'd probably have to drill new mounting holes in the radiator support because I doubt they'd be the same.

When I built signs, including some for Disney, they had a specification; "All dissimilar metals must be separated by a mutually compatible material". In other words, no aluminum up against steel because both will corrode really fast. A nylon or rubber strip between them and use stainless steel bolts.

$109 and of course for that price, made in China. Same overall size, tanks top and bottom, side flanges for mounting, hoses on right side with bottom one being 90 degrees. A third small outlet which is for a hose that goes down to a lower spot and has the petcock for draining the coolant. If it holds water/coolant at 15psi, it'll work. Get that, the new thermostat and maybe try and find a place for a small overflow/recovery tank which it never came with but would be good to have. Should fix it right up.