Infrastructure Work - Security Gate

Last year I did some work for someone and as part of the deal I got to take away some security gates before the place was demolished. I had no idea what I'd do with the gates at the time but I knew they'd be handy somewhere!

Removing the gates and cutting off the posts. Major downside was I killed my generator in the process! Doh!

It was only when I installed the field gates the other day that I realised it made the place feel much more cut off and safer for the children. I decided that one more gate by the workshop would mean that to get into our area of play/work you'd need to either open or climb a gate.

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!

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! 

Gates For Sheep

Last night I was hanging a little gate I'd made a couple of months back. It had been leaning up against the shed for all that time and as the girls weren't back when I got home from work I seized the moment and hung it. 

New gate hung (made out of pallets)

 The reason being I need to get the small bottom field ready for the sheep as they're in desperate need of fresh grass but It has three gate ways and only one gate (well two now). This little gate fixed the hole into the orchard (which is pretty important to keep sheep free) and I already have a swinging gate onto the road, but the other gate might just have to be tied with baler twine for now.

The bottom field almost ready for sheep

This was something I didn't want to do as it's the being of a slippery slope. I grew up on a farm which had two swinging gates across all it''s fields, my childhood was spent jumping out of the Landrover or tractor to drag open the gate for my dad. Normally held in place with three bits of string and you had to leave it in a certain place or it would fall over. Sometimes when checking the sheep I would have to open three of these gates and close them again, it used to drive me mad. 

As the land was rented there was never a huge incentive for dad to hang them but I was always certain mine would all swing. 

Maybe one day! 

Who else ties their gates with string and has to drag them open?

Making Simple Garden Gates

It's my forth year in my veg garden and until now I've been using three bits of weld mesh as temporary gates to keep rabbits out of my garden.

 Each year I say I'm going to make some gates and I kept thinking I was going to make some fancy ones to show off my skills. This basically meant that they just didn't get built because I've never got the time to dedicate them.

So I decided to just knock up some quick and cheap ones so I get to use gates over the summer rather than struggling with mesh panels every time I leave the garden.  

My littlest helper sorting screws

 For the wood I stripped some old fencing apart (this fencing was in turn made from some pallets I'd taken apart a few years ago) and I just made up some simple ledges and braced gates. The slats are spaced so no rabbit can't fit through (hopefully).

Spacing the boards out

First gate hung

Good chunky hinges

Second gate - the main one

 If your ever hanging anything with a brace on the back make sure that the brace points down towards the bottom hinge, otherwise it's not doing anything.

Bottom gate into the soft fruit garden

 Although I didn't spend any money on the wood, I did splash out on the hinges and brought some good quality hoop and band hinges. This means that if I want to lift the gate off for any reason I can and if I ever get around to building some better gates I can reuse the hinges. Cheap ironmongery is a waste of money, I find cheap T-hinges the worst as the knuckle rusts up in no time and you end up replacing them anyway.

Back of gate, added by request!

Another job done that's been on the list for a long time. Hopefully these should last a while and make it less likely that I jump the fence each time I go in the garden! One day I'll build some good gates out of hardwood (but probably not).

Anyone else done a job you've been putting off because you wanted to do it properly? 

Free Ranged Children

Tuesday was a glorious day, The sun was shining so we spent as much of it as we could outside.

My eldest sticks to me like glue, she likes to dig where I dig and pull up the same weeds as me. My youngest on the other hand, likes to wander off. 

My little one likes the freedom of a large garden, but doesn't like to be confined to it!

 One minute she's by my side and the next she's at the far end of the garden heading for the drive, and when I shout her she laughs and speeds up - everything is a game! Being only one year old I like to keep her where I can see her without being a "helicopter" parent - I hate hovering over them, I much prefer to let them explore and do things in their own way and time. 

Gate and pallet to the side

 So I decided to put a few barriers in place so they can have the full run of the back garden. There always used to be a gate between the front and back but I removed it when we first got here, putting that back on (a little higher to miss the slabs) was easy. I then found an old pallet and fixed that to the side to block off where the water butt stand is. 

Chicken wire panel "gate" should do for now

A few years ago I got given (for the time of taking it all down) an old chicken pen made up of wire panels, I've been using these for everything over the last couple of years and they've come in again to herd the children. I hinged one at the top by the other gate and another was tied by the clump of hazel at the bottom. 

Bottom of the garden sealed off 

One child proof garden. Well not child proof, but they can't get out!

I managed to dry a whole load of clothes!

On a separate note I was also very excited to dry my first load of washing outside! As I get older I get excited by the weirdest things!

Anyone else got their smalls out on the line yet (in the northern hemisphere)?