Fitting Sweet Chestnut Palings

 I managed to find a bit of time to fit the palings I ordered from Say It With Wood back in the winter. 

I was so impressed with them. Generally I hate buying anything I can make, especially when it's wood, but there's no way I could make these! I don't have the machinery for a start, but when I saw how well these were made, cleft and smoothed up I was so impressed. A lot of hand work goes into these palings.

New Rose Arch - Some Assembly Required...

For a while now I've wanted the veg garden to look a bit nicer. I've wanted to have somewhere to sit and have it as slightly more than just a productive area. 

One thing I've always wanted was a nice entrance to it, rather than a few gates made from old pallets. A few years ago, (7 in fact) I fenced mums garden with sweet chestnut and I've always loved the look of that, it blends in more as it ages. The other advantage is the wood is all coppiced locally and is sustainable. 

 When I enquired about an arch they said there was quite a wait but I could buy the timbers and make it myself instead. So I did just that. They're based not far from here so didn't take too long to get there, although we had to dig out a few logs to make the order right! 

What I got is quite a few poles of sweet chestnut, there is enough in the picture for a few fence posts I need, enough timber to build a shaving break (for splitting the chestnut down into lathes) and the wood for the rose arch. I've also got some paling on order as well for fencing around the garden and greenhouse. 

I'm really looking forward to working on this project. I think I'll get the children to help as much as possible, they should be able to strip the bark as an easy first job. 

Have you ever worked with sweet chestnut? What type of fencing would your dream garden have?

Chestnut Fencing

I wrote this post before the lock down and went to get the posts before it as well! 

I've been planning on doing some fencing for a while now.

The area I want to tackle is around the polytunnel. I've been warned that rabbits do like to get through the plastic and so it's best to fence around it.

Infrastructure Work - More Gates

At the top of our land, runs a footpath. Generally this is a positive thing, as most people are friendly and nice. But in the past we have had issues with dog walkers dogs attacking chickens or just running onto our land and juumping up on the children. 

It seems very few read the "keep your dog on a lead" sign.

So a number of years ago (2014) I planted a hedge across the top to give a wide access to a tractor but to also separate the footpath off. This has given us loads more privacy and made things much better.

Like all good jobs though, I hadn't finished it!

Capping Fence Posts

Ever since I put the fence posts in with my dad a few years ago he's been on at me to cap the tops of the larger telegraph poles that we used as gate and corner posts. 

I know he's right on this one, left they start to rot from the middle out as the preservative is near the outside of the post.

Around the same time I saved a load of lead from a roof I was repairing to do the job, but never got round to using it!

This weekend I finally managed to get the job done. Pretty simple and it didn't take long, I just cut out some circles of lead with snips, bashed it round the top of the posts and fixed it in place using a few copper nails.

Storm Damage

During the snow storms I noticed a bit of storm damage in the one field I rent. 

 A poplar tree had fallen over. In fairness to the tree I'd been on about taking it down since the two  next to it fell over a few years ago. The first one is here and the second one is in a post here.

 Now although I do get the wood from this tree (I've asked the landlord and they've had so much storm damage in their garden that they've got enough firewood for years), there is also a fair bit of work that'll go into sorting this out.

I'm going to have to log and split all the wood. Good because we burn a lot of wood, but it's not he best firewood in the world, but you don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

 I'm also going to have to repair the fence.

I've already repaired this section of fence before in atypical farmers fashion but shoving a few hurdles in the holes. I think when I get the tree out it might have to be a more permanent fix with fence posts and wire!

Trying To Manage The Grass For The Sheep

I'm trying to manage what little grass we seem to have at the moment so we'll have some fresh grass to flush the ewes on when it comes time for tupping (that's not yet - I want to lamb late).

Two little helpers
(sorry about quality of my photos they're off my phone as my little camera has broken)

At the moment only the big field (about 6 acres) has any amount of fresh grass on. So rather than give them the whole lot I split it in half (where an old hedge used to be) using electric fencing. It's been a few years since I put any electric fencing up but I certainly hadn't forgotten how to do it. When I was at school in the autumn dad used to pick up my brother and I, we'd get changed in the school car park and then go move fencing in different fields that we rented. The girls enjoyed helping but I did make them walk along way - up and down with me each time they were pretty tired by the end. 

Then yesterday morning I got up early and got the sheep in, drenched them for worms and put them out on the fresh grass (all before the wife left for work at 7). A few are looking a little thin and have lost a bit of condition so I want to fatten them a little bit. I also need to be keeping a look out for a good tup for sale to run with my ladies soon. 

Happy sheep on new grass

Drench and gun

The old field was looking a bit bare

Settled in their new patch

Hopefully the two little fields I've just taken them off will recover enough now to have some fresh grass in a month or so. It's another juggling act and one where it will take a bit of learning. Each patch has different grass and conditions and it all grows back at different rates and is weather dependant so it'll take me a few years to learn how long each patch will last when the sheep move in and how long it takes to come back. 

Who else has to constantly juggle their stock into different fields to manage their grassland? Although it is more labour intensive it is a much better way to manage the land I have here and I'll get much more from the land in the long run because of it. 

Swinging Gates

The sheep have eaten the hedges bare on the field they're in, and they seem to have dried up (milk wise), so I decided it was time they moved.  The trouble was I had to hang four gates first. 

I'd been putting the job off as I've not hung many gates, but to be fair it went fairly easily. I had a little generator going and my electric drill to drill the holes, didn't take that long once I was set up, but it was tricky trying to line up the hinges and gates on my own. 

The only downside is the one gate is on the footpath so I'm not holding out much hope in it staying shut everyday, I just hope the sheep don't get out if it's left open (some hope!). 

I think I've got more swinging gates on my little smallholding than Dad's whole farm! 

Fitting Cleft Sweet Chestnut Fencing

After I nearly wrecked my mothers garden with the rotovator on Saturday I finished a fencing project I'd been doing for her (not selflessly - I'm getting paid!). 

 It was fitting some cleft sweet chestnut from Say It With Wood, a nearby firm that makes there own sweet chestnut fencing. Some bits came assembled (trellis and arches) and some came as just big bundles of split wood (palings). 

It took a bit of figuring out which bits went where but once it was all up it looked really good. It's very rustic and not to everyone's taste but I really like it. Being sweet chestnut it should last a long time and needs no regular maintenance. I was lucky with the weather when fitting this which made it a really nice job - the sweet chestnut was terrible for splinters though! 

What would be your favourite type of fencing to have around your garden? I'd love this if I could justify the cost but for now I'll stick to stock fencing and rabbit wire!

Beginning To Fence The "Second" Garden

As I dragged by post thumper out of the shed I cursed myself for creating more fencing with my new garden. I thought I'd pretty much finished it! Still it's only a small patch so it shouldn't take too long with rabbit wire. 

This home made tool brings a little bit of dread into my arms when I get it out!

The patch is roughly 30m by 5m plus a 1m path down the one side. I still haven't made a planting plan yet so I'm not sure what's going where or how many plots I'm dividing it up into, I do like to make a plan and stick to it (my plan for my main veg garden can be found here) but by introducing trees that could potentially tie up a plot for two years, it makes planning a little harder. 

No need for a line with this fencing - just follow the ploughing

Posts ready to be knocked in

An hour or so work and I didn't knock any teeth out so it was a good afternoon!

 I'm definitely going to have a bean plot, a squash plot and maybe another one for roots plus I'm considering a patch for outside tomatoes and one for a small scale grain patch - I guess I'm going to have quite a few plots! 

I keep referring to this as my "second garden" but I think it could do with a name - any suggestions? in fact I could do with a name for my main vegetable garden as well really!

A Spot Of Fencing On A Sunny Sunday

Yesterday turned out to be a perfect Autumn day, with crisp sunshine. 

I decided to take advantage of how wet it was under foot and finish putting in some fence posts I've been meaning to do all year.

 This finishes off the bottom area of the coppice around some old larch trees. Because of where these are I had to put them in by hand - never a fun job! 

I also added the bracing so I'm now ready to install all the wire. Another few weekends and about 8 rolls of wire and I should have the whole place fenced ready for some stock. 

I've also got about 6 gates to hang. I'll have to do these with an old fashioned brace and bit (believe it or not I was taught to fit locks with one when I was an apprentice) as the power won't stretch that far. Hanging gates on your own isn't easy but I'm sure by the end of them I will have found an easy way to do it!

How does everyone elses fences look at time of year? Many repairs needed?

Stock Fencing - Putting In Posts

Over the past few years I've got much better at putting in fence posts. I guess from necessity.

A rather unflattering picture of myself putting rabbit fencing up in my mothers garden a couple of years ago. The post basher was made by my father.

 The most basic method I use is a two handed post driver.  I always start the posts by first using a large iron bar that I work into the soil to make a "pilot" hole. I then tap the post in with a sledge hammer, I won't knock them in all the way with just a sledge hammer as it always seems to wreck the top of the posts.

Once the post is started in the ground I start using the post rammer. Just lift it up and slam it back into the post, not a huge amount of skill needed but it takes a fair bit of strength. After a few hours of putting in posts this way  you can see why mechanical methods were invented! 

It's still a handy method for putting in posts where machinery can't get to or if the ground is soft. Just be careful if you use one of these, as you never want to lift it higher than the post or it might catch the top as you bring it down and you loose your teeth in the process!

Using the loader to push the posts in

 The next method we used was the front loader on the tractor. This method is very quick with small to medium diameter posts, but it's difficult to keep them upright. Dad made a simple jig to stop the posts slipping off the tines and in the end it was taking longer to move the tractor to the next point than to put the posts in.

The dangling ratchet strap serves as a crude depth stop.

 I'm lucky as with my father being a farmer I have access to a lot of kit (and knowledge) that your average smallholder might not, without it all costing a lot of money to buy or hire.

The big machinery needed to push posts in like that

 The last method we've used is the purpose made post rammer that fits on the back of the tractor. These are hydraulically powered and quite dangerous if you're not paying attention.

We used two different types. Ken, our neighbour, had an old offset one that would knock them in steadily, whilst you stood at the side of the tractor operating the controls and keeping the post upright.

Ken using his own little tractor and off set post basher. Note the metal ring on a pole to keep the posts upright but also top keep his hands far away from danger.

The other one we used was a massive rear mounted one where you had to back up to each post. This one was great for knocking in our huge corner and gate posts (old telegraph poles) but it was too violent for the smaller posts, with the plate that they sat into being too big, so when it struck them the posts would move all over the place or break.

A professional post basher - not as handy to use as we thought.

Nearly all the posts have been put in now (using all the methods), with just a few left to put in by hand and the wire to go up on about half of it. Fencing can seem a little never ending!

How does everyone else go about putting their fence posts in?

Removing Some Old Fencing

I'm trying to get all the fencing done this winter so we'll be free to get some stock if we want to later in the year.

 The only trouble with adding new fencing (besides the cost, effort and time) is removing the old fencing. It's too wet to use a tractor on the field at the moment so I used brute force and ignorance on Saturday afternoon to remove as much as I could.

 It wasn't easy going as the hedge had grown through it in many places and a lot of it was buried with roots through it as well. I cut and pulled out as much as I could.

My main worry with leaving it in was the fact that I'm only fencing one side of this particular hedge. So if an animal gets between the two runs of wire (the old and the new) then they could get trapped and it would be difficult to get them back out, also it's just bad practise to leave it in as you can guaranty that any future work I'd do in the hedge I'd hit some old wire and blunt my tools!

Anyone else doing fencing at the moment?

Sally Tree

I seem to be on a fencing rampage at the moment and every spare moment (in day light) is spent trying to get the fields fenced.

Over grown willow

In between the bottom field and the orchard there's a large, over grown willow growing in a boggy bit of land.

Where I grew up, they'd call a willow tree like this is a "Sally Tree" which I guess comes from it's Latin name salix although I doubt too many could tell you if it had or not. I've also heard it called a crack willow due to how the branches break with a crack. Willow trees are notorious for growing fast in wet boggy ground and they're ridiculously easy to root.

In fact in the old orchard where I grew up they staked every tree with willow posts (the people who had the land before dad) and most rooted so there's a lot of half apple - half willow trees about the place, although I think the willow is taking over slowly.

Dad came to help yesterday - managed to get him to pose for a photo!

 To get the fence across this bit of field I had to - to use a technical term - "hack it back a bit". Any other tree I possibly wouldn't have been so chainsaw happy with, but I know this willow will come back in leaps and bounds with lots of whippy new growth at the ends of the branches I've cut.

Pile of brash to sort out

I need to tackle the other side of this tree at some point, as it keeps spreading further and further into the orchard, but at the moment this bit of a hair cut lets us get the posts in and gave me a bit of (not very good) firewood for the fire and a pile of brash to sort out.

Anyone else have any local names for willow trees?

Recycling Old Fence Posts

With my full time homemaker job role approaching in the spring I'm always on the lookout to save money, and I managed to save a few pounds this week with some old posts.

Ken, one of our next door neighbours, was ripping out a section of fencing on the boundary to our field (not our fence though so we don;t have to pay for it) to replace it with new, higher fencing, that would keep in the mad boxer dog Jilly.

 The old fence post broke off at the ground, rotten where they were in the soil, but otherwise sound. The only trouble was they were destined for his bonfire. I intervened.

 10 minutes with the chainsaw and they all had new points added to them.

Voila! 11 new fruit tree stakes.

They'd be no good for fencing now, too short and not really a big enough diameter, but they'll easily last the few years they're needed to support a fruit tree and as I'll plant a few more this winter it's saved me a bit of money.
Anyone else got a use for old fence posts?

A Poultry Investment

The Ex caged chickens have done there job in the garden and eaten all the weeds and grass off.
The trouble is I now want to get tidying up and planting in there but the nine chickens somewhat stop this. I even tried to keep them out of the fruit section of the garden with a fence but everyday they get through (or over despite having their wings clipped).

Fencing them in

They need to be moved.

So I need to do two things: build a new coop (their current one is an old shed which will fall over if I look at it funny), and put up a fence.

For a while I've liked the idea of having some movable netting so every few weeks I can move the chickens onto a fresh bit of grass. Today, armed with a 15% off voucher, my daughter and I went down to countrywide and brought a 50m roll of poultry netting complete with posts. I've already got a fencer unit (well dad has but he's not using it) so that makes it a little cheaper, although at well over a hundred pounds we've got a few eggs to sell to make our money back!

It'll be nice to be able to move the chickens onto fresh grass and I'm sure the eggs will benefit, the trouble is I've now got to build a coop fairly quickly.

Any ideas for a quick build coop?

Also does anyone use this netting and if they do is it any good?