Harrowing times.... and finishing the tractor barn

Our group was led by Olivier today and our task was to finish the ridge cap of the tractor barn and complete the siding on the upper east wall.  We also had the opportunity to harrow Ida's field with the tractor.

View from the tractor seat

I was first up on the tractor.   There are hydrolic arms that hold the bucket loader  and first we had to take the bucket off.  Once that was done, then I had to attach the fork lift.  A bit tricky but not too difficult with Andrew's able coaching.  Then I drove the tractor down the road to Hazel's field where the harrow was last used.  This was the view when arrived at the field.

Carrying the harrow

Next, I had to scoop up the harrow on the fork lift and lift it up high.  It felt very strange and unsteady but I drove it down to Ida's field just the same.  When I got to Ida's field, Andrew coached me on how to lay the harrow down.  It was a fun thing to slowly lower the forklift and reverse the tractor. Once I had laid it down on the ground and detached it from the forks, I pulled the tractor around and back up to it.  The chaining was simple and then I was off.  I took one lap around the field, dragging this wicked chain behind me.  It tore up the grass matting and the cow pies and spread everything everywhere.  It felt gratifying to do such a good thing for the field, spreading the manure and loosening the soil.  This particular field needs a pH adjustment with lime next week, and eventually some seeding of clover and it will be ready for the cows again in the spring.

Before the Harrowing

After the Harrowing

Sophia, Brian and Nora with a ridge cap section

Back at the tractor barn, my fellow students were putting together the ridge cap for the barn.  The barn was the project of previous students and needed the very top of the barn covered as well as the back upper wall.  The ridge cap planks had to be cut at about a 30 degree angle to be able to fit the pitch of the roof as well as overlap so that no rain could leak through.  It was fun to use the circular saw at an angle.


There was a lot to be done at the back of the barn, putting up a flashing board and the applying the siding planks.  I enjoyed climbing up the ladder to see the work but to actually push on a screwdriver and maneuver oneself took a little getting used to!

Emma and Lee installing the flashing

The view from the scaffold

Putting in the first screw

Struggling with an unfortunate angle

Kiyoshi starting the siding in a tight spot.

Here is Kiyoshi starting our siding phase.  It wasn't difficult to figure out the size and shape of the wood, but it was tricky to get the screwdriver in there and drive in the fastener.  Another group will get to continue on with this task and hopefully we can work on it again before it is complete.