Perfecting the irrigation

Sunday, June 1 was a muggy day in Culpeper County. Although it rained violently in the surrounding area, the Hall property was skipped and, unfortunately, remained dry.

The lack of rain did allow us to redo two of the irrigation wires and finish the remaining two. The irrigation wires now sit 1.75 feet above the ground. The dripline for each row is finished, but is lying on the ground until the endposts can be securely anchored into the ground. I am hoping that the package from Orchard Valley arrives before this weekend so we can get the endposts and first trellis wire done this weekend. The height of almost 40 vines has exceeded the grow tubes.

This is exciting and also scary because the vines are now exposed to the elements and are at the mercy of the deer and other pests. We attempted a crude deer deterrence program three weeks ago. It consisted of two spray bottles and some human urine. Crude it was; effective we hope it will be. We need to make our farm as unattractive to deer as we can until a proper fence can be erected. The pack of dogs is doing their part as well. I fear, though, that one morning we will find that deer destoyed all of the vines that are showing.

More pictures to come after this weekend. Included will be some of the new rain barrels.