Water

The new irrigation connection point for one of our new fields; it gives us several options for accessing water.

Even though our rainfall has been fairly average this spring (slightly above average for April and slightly below average for May, according to Accuweather), it has seemed dry. And warm. That means we need to irrigate.

Tapping into the existing pipe.

One of the things that influenced our decision to buy this farm was its irrigation infrastructure. There were pipes underground that came up at various fields around the farm. It was great last year; all we had to do was set up some above ground pipes to get the water where we wanted it. Not bad at all.

Ready to glue the pipe together

This year is a little different. We opened up two new fields; fields that had been fallow, natural area. There weren’t any underground pipes bringing water to these fields, so we would have to do it. Steven had already drawn out a plan for new irrigation lines to the new fields we would put into production. Phase I started this year. During the month of May, Steven tapped into the existing irrigation line underground and added a new section that will eventually provide water for five fields. One we used last year, two are the new ones we opened up this year, and two are waiting for future needs. Over Memorial Day weekend, the essential parts were completed and the water began to flow. And none too soon. I was more than ready to plant in those fields. In fact, I had started planting in those fields, but since I had to water with a very temporary, inadequate, jerry-rigged contraption or by hand, I could only do so much. Now the planting continues in earnest.

It is good to have water.

The end of the line; the small pipe at the end is for draining the system.