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Do you have, or have access to cheap (or free!) cattle panels? My BIL made some collapsible tomato cages long ago. Those things could withstand a tornado!

https://www.1905farmhouse.com/make-your-own-tomato-cages/

(This is a helpful site all the way around.)

As far as uniformity on the crops you’re growing, if you are going to sell tomatoes in the future, grow ‘Celebrity.’ That’s the one we grew for restaurants and for market. Pretty much a perfect red slicer. :)

And, at my other farm I had great traffic flow, so I sold extra starts of tomatoes and peppers in the spring, as well as eggs, pesto, cut flowers, etc. It was a fun little enterprise. Won’t work here, as I’m 2 miles from a not-well-traveled road. And all my neighbors garden, so they don’t need to buy my stuff. 12 miles to town. Profits would be eaten up in gas running things here and there.

But, there are a lot of ‘income streams’ you can have when you have some land. I am still trying to talk Beau into taking advantage of all the woods we have, as far as FREE hardwood (we have a TON of Black Walnut and that stuff goes for a good price!) and firewood (Governor Dodge State Park is nearby, as is Blue Mound State Park - campers!) and wood for home heating/fireplaces.

So many ideas, but so little ambition the older we get, LOL!

Proving that Basil can do just about anything, I present the Coconut Basil Mojito!

This coconut mojito is delicately flavored and zesty. You’ll love the fragrant basil, juicy lime juice and sweet aromas of white rum and coconut water.

1 sprig basil, plus more for garnish
¾ oz fresh squeezed lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
2 oz white rum
2 oz coconut water
2 oz soda water

Instructions

Combine basil, lime juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Gently muddle the basil to release the flavors.

Add rum and coconut water, then fill with ice and shake until chilled.

Strain mixture over fresh ice into a highball glass. Top with soda water and garnish with a sprig of basil.

https://www.withspice.com/blog/coconut-basil-mojito/#tasty-recipes-3051-jump-target

So many ideas, but so little ambition the older we get, LOL!

I hear ya. I slept wrong last night and woke up with a hurt back.

Do you have, or have access to cheap (or free!) cattle panels? Free in cattle country? LOL

Funny you should mention that. I was just thinking yesterday about how useful a cattle panel ceiling of sorts would be in a high tunnel. Hang anything anywhere, attach overhead infrastructure. Then I started adding up $30+$30+$30+$30+$30+$30+ and .... Cattle panels with a frame for gates is new to the to do list.

I wrapped cattle panels around my little front yard garden this year because the goats got over the field fence last year and stomped the plants down that they didn't eat. Being a fabricator, I have lots of ideas for them and get them for $30 at the feed store. I already have a firewood rack, 24" x 24" x 78" tall firewood rack sitting next to the wood stove. I made it a few years ago out of one panel. No real frame so it has to be attached to the wall/studs but it's been stuffed and the shelves hold up good. A 16" panel cut into 4 pcs would make a nice newly planted tree protector. We have pot/pan racks made from them before that I did 20 years ago from small sections I found.

But, there are a lot of ‘income streams’ you can have when you have some land.

I've started growing shiitake mushrooms twice now but done a piss poor job at it. Mostly at keeping the logs moist because I had no good way to do so. That tank sprayer will help with that. The woods are too rocky for things like cultivated ginseng and the various roots that grow here wild and have value.

I am still trying to talk Beau into taking advantage of all the woods we have, as far as FREE hardwood

I cut a couple of TRUE red oaks when putting in fence. They were over 2 foot in diameter and the branch/knot free logs would have brought some money but were deep into the woods. We kept really warm that year. It's the top rated wood for heat production.

First time we lived in MO I cut a Black Walnut down because it was in the way. Got $250 for a 18" log, 16' long. That was 20 years ago. There happened to be a buyer there that exported them for laminate use in Oriental countries. They still like their dark wood tone interiors.

I have some TRUE white oaks here and those are very valuable. There are a couple of hot spots for white oak for making wine barrels and this is one. A forest in France is the other. We have stave companies here.

I really don't have enough trees to do anything but slowly harvest for our own use which is firewood and smoker wood. We've got hickory. I'm a tick magnet so on my knees in the woods? naa. Shiitake logs are doable on the edge of the woods with some protection from sun and critter. Pallets are definitely free and the right ones would give the right shade.