Today is such an April Showers day. Rainy, rainy, then more rain.
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.
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. 
It’s been a wet start to the month here in Central Missouri. Exactly what we needed and right on time to get the morels popping. It looks like the rain has mostly moved out so I should be able to take a lap through the woods later today.
I made some good progress in the garden over the weekend. Spuds are planted. Snap peas are planted. Beets are planted. 20 more asparagus crowns added to the row. Ag lime and urea applied to the new garden patch. Watering hoses are out. New hoop house cleaned out and filled with finished compost. I feel pretty good about what I was able to get done out there, and more importantly, I didn’t aggravate my back while doing all that stuff.
Pops went with Mrs. Augie and I on our hatchery run to Lebanon Tuesday. He hadn’t been down that way for many years and was amazed at how different things look compared to when he was last there. After we picked up the chicks I followed my nose and found the house my great-grandparents lived in after they got too feeble to stay on the farm. I hadn’t been there in over 50 years and was able to drive straight to it. How is that even possible?
Yesterday wasn’t much fun. I got to experience the invasive prostate exam for the first time. The urologist shoved a camera scope up my pecker and an ultrasound scope up my bung. Very unpleasant and not recommended as a leisure activity that’s for dang sure. He didn’t see anything that alarmed him but I am going to need a little resection work sometime in the semi-near future. I’ve got other priorities for now so I’ll think more about that come winter.
I’ll take some of those April showers please.