Want a tip from an old Oregon Farmer/Rancher for testing the hot fence? Instead of grabbing the wire pluck a green, damp piece of grass and while holding the damp blade of grass between your thumb and forefinger touch the grass to the hot wire. It will conduct enough electricity to let you know if it is hot but not enough to give you that non-caffeine jolt. That tip came from my relatives who were spud farmers and cattle ranchers in the Klamath Falls and Madras areas of Oregon when I was not tall enough to get up in a saddle. We live in Hermiston now. I am a lot older and too old to sit in a saddle for very long. When I am in a field and see a strand of electric fence I always test the wire this way and the jolt becomes a tickle. I do some volunteering for Pendleton Round Up. There are a lot of portable hot fences used for horses. You never know when one is hot or turned off. I have taught a lot of younger horseback riders and teamsters this trick. Try it and let me know how that works for you.
I love that you guys are so honest and real. I have been living off grid in Australia now for 10 years and yes, some days, I just shouldn't get out of bed. Doesn't matter what I do, it just goes pear shaped. Most days are 'diamonds' but other days are just 'big rocks '. I love that you show this very real side of this lifestyle as people considering this way of life need to go into it with their eyes wide open. That being said, I wouldn't live in a city for quids.
You guys are doing so well. I think I speak for all of your viewers that we all want you guys to succeed!!!! And are happy when you do, even through the temporary setbacks, all part of the learning curve.
Me too. I'm almost 62 and it takes me 5 minutes sitting on the side of my bed to be able to stand. Too many spine surgeries....well really one is too many. I had one times 6 extras. Each time they swore up and down, yeah this will take care of that pain. Sure did, made it worse. I would've loved to have gone to Alaska to live. But even now, a cruise isn't safe. Well it's going to stay on my bucket list...👍
I wish i could live like this everything you need to survive is through honest hard working couple . You eat fresh fish and vegetables that you guys cultivate .
Watching you both has pushed me to have a simple life. Im hoping in 6 months I will have found a place, widower,,im also hopeful that I will have found a mate that will want the same.. Thank you both.
Just so inspirational, you two wonderful soul's just never give up. Those chicks and their mum's are so happy and safe. Next time Aerial its Eric's turn to test that electric fencing. Brilliant video as Always. Hug's from Australia xx 🐥🐣🐤🐔🐓🌽🐨🦘
Build a stand 10 to 12 feet above ground to set your tank on this will give you more gravity feed pressure , Plus it will give you a place to store whatever you want underneath . Maybe a outdoor shower🚿🧼 underneath ...
You guys are owesome, the way you look after everything from the dear baby chicks to that really cool green house, your seriously good hearted people l love all the work you put in, you have a lovely place. Thank you for sharing.
Ive been addicted to watching your guys videos lately and I just want to say that I admire you guys SO MUCH. To be able to have the motivation and ability to do what you two do on a daily basis is not only impressive, but admirable. I wish the both of you the best and I will continue to tune in and see whats next in your adventure!
You guys make me laugh a pleasure to follow along :) I think the idea about the drip hose where the pressure hardly matters will is a good option take care ..
Hang some blank cd’s with fishing wire in the trees. It will deter hawks especially when the sun hits it. I have done this for years and haven’t lost a chicken since and it cheap. Good luck and great videos!
Eric, what you might do is move that tank to the middle of the garden in the back and run a drip irrigation system from the tank. It regulates the amount of water you use and you can control the length of time used. Andy Bassich uses it on Life Below Zero and his garden and high tunnel are huge. Just an idea.
Agricultural drip line irrigation is very low psi. Also called drip tape, you install and remove a mini irrigation system every year. You’d turn on the line at the tank and check your flow and everything would get watered...
Regardless of the little set backs. You all apply the awesome sauce and make it all work. Maybe more height of the storage unit might provide a little more pressure 😉 💯 thanks so much for sharing.
Regarding your hoop house for the corn as well as the water tank problems. The plans were good. In the Army we had a saying that “no plan survives first contact with the enemy”. After contact you have to adjust your original plan because all your assumptions, planning factors etc change as a result of that initial action. Your ability to adapt and continue to move forward on your projects is admirable.
People here in Spain will paint the tank a darker color depending on how cold the well water is. Also keeps alge from turning tank green from no direct sunlight and temp from sun heating tank. I'm setting up a homestead with my sons next 2 years when we can finally make return back home on 🇺🇸 soil..Keep the great videos coming. Some good ideas I'm sure many are benefiting from. 👏💪
You could also try collecting rain water off the back of the shed, near the garden. Free and it's much warmer in the summmer.You would be surprised how much water can be collected in a small area with eavestrough. I collected 550L in one storm this weekend off the greenhouse. Really handy! GL!!!
The following things are preventing the Volume of water you need to water your garden. Since Pressure is limited you need more Flow(pipe/valve size) to get the same amount of volume without running a pump(Pressure). 1: All valves need to be at least 3/4" id high flow ball valves including the wand mixer valve. Cheap PVC valves work also. (The valves you have in the video look like 1/2" id, upgrading to 3/4" id increases the area of flow by 225%) 2: 3/4" id hose for garden. 3: Put the tank on the top of the shipping Container roof edge or corner to get more pressure. 4: Shutoff valve at ground level with piping of greater Diameter to increase flow pressure and able to upgrade sizing in future. Ive watered my garden on a slope for the last 3 years this way. 500 gallon tank on a trailer with a range 5ft to 50ft of water level difference(tank to gardens/trees) with no problems. The pressure isn't needed when higher volume flowing hoses and valves are used.
We have had a busy summer and haven't kept up with watching any videos, so I'm binge-watching your channel to catch up. I love seeing the hens and chicks interacting the way nature intended. People don't realize what we take away from these lovely, maternal girls when they are in battery cages. The chicks that can be with their mother(s) learn how to be healthy chickens (dust baths!), how to find wild vegetation that is best to eat, and how to avoid predators. A flock of outdoor chickens that raises the next flock passes down local chicken wisdom. I've seen a protective rooster take on a hawk and win while the ladies herd the babies into the bushes. But bird netting sure doesn't hurt!
Years ago I bought a 12v water pump that is used on asphalt rollers to wet the large steel wheels. They are readily available. I used it to pump water from my boat pontoons and it worked great. Fast forward 25 years, I gave it to my brother that has a landscaping business and he uses it to water trees and shrubs that he maintains from a tank similar to yours. It works absolutely great and has very good pressure. He just pulls the tank and trailer around with his four wheeler and runs the pump off the 4 wheeler battery. Never had an issue.
Oh and....he uses a simple garden hose nozzle. When the pump is running it is fine not pumping as long as water is in the impeller. And it is about 1/2 the size of a car starter, so it would relieve you from having to use the generator. Use the Polaris battery with it running and it should be fine.
I know your "failures" musr be frustrating!! However you showing the bumps in the road only makes you guys more real honest and relatable. I'm 45 and trying my first garden ever, no clue what I'm doing, but figured I'd start somewhere! Keep going!😉
Thank you for sharing❤️💗 Good luck on the bird netting. Corn, YAY.... And a holding tank for water👍 SENDING A BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT OF LOVE TO SURROUND THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYONE 🤗❣️❣️🤗💞
Sorry things didn't go well. I love your channel tho. You two are such hard workers. We live where it stays cold for longer too so I love all the ways you get around that with your gardens.
Hey guys, for your PVC pipes over your cornrow, can you get a connector to put between 2 of the pipes, then curve them from one rebar to the other. That way you don't have to find another use for those pipes and it may be cheaper to connect 2, till you run out and then you could buy longer ones. Even putting a branch between 2 PVC pipes and using a screw on the end of each pipe into the branch. I was watching and thought it might work. Thanks for the videos
You should try raising the water tank! The water pressure comes from the difference in height between the top of the water line in the tank and the end of the hose. So when you tested it because you were holding it nearly level with the tank you would have super low pressure. Every foot you raise it should give you a little less than half a psi of additional pressure
It would be a very cool project. A couple of long posts, a little cross bracing and stand back the first time you fill it. Could be cheap too if they can harvest their own posts
thanks for sharing it all...the good, the not so good, and the I've-got-to-think-about-this-again stuff. I find that that is really what all life is about. I've been at this for over 50 years and I'm still learning and seeking out answers. I live in Minnesota and we've had 3 nights of 28 degrees in a row and first night I lost 3 special tomatoes that were next to the sides of the greenhouse....I pulled in all the plants about 12" the second night and so far they've survived. Greenhouse is over 80 (but I do ventilate at that point) during the day. Our chickens here do fine too at 30 below. No extra heating. Thanks for all you show us.
As always, never a failed project (with you, two), but a learning & gaining knowledge! Which we all need to remember. Thank you! Looking forward to your next video. 🙂🌞🌽🍓🥒🥒🥔🧄🧅🥕🐕🐓🐤🐝
Like many of the suggestions, I came here to mention raising the tank to get your pressure. This is what I did up at our off-grid cabin in Wyoming, we run the generator to power the pump to fill the tank that we have lifted off 12 feet up on a set of pallet racking I got for cheap off craigs list. We also painted our tank black to aide in heating the water.
1. Carve wooden plugs or use some other plug to connect the shorter PVC pipes back together. 2. Ground Emitter Hose works fantastic as a low pressure way to water gardens with much less hassle while giving more free time to do something else. 3.. NICE JOB YOU TWO ARE DOING!
You guys really worked hard! Everything is a learning process... the things that you are learning will help you figure out more stuff in the future! So just look at all you have accomplished in the short time you have been there... thank you for letting us see the effort you exerted in your learning process! Also, I really enjoyed the longer video... really awesome!
Could you use longer rebar to make the low tunnel higher off the ground and then put the hoop on the rebar? Weird as it sounds it is great that you are showing the "failures" and the successes! You are helping people! Thanks!
Yeah you pretty much have to get the tank up about roof height or a little higher. 4 posts and a platform? posts angled slightly in kind of tower style? Everything looks good, and drier. 🙂👍
Suggestion... Cover your row beds with black plastic when you put them to bed, and add the hoops to increase the temperature. Your beds will brake down better.
I think my favorite things about you two is how even when things don't go as planned you just keep at it and tweak what you are doing until it does work. You never give up. Plus the fact that you still share those plans or tasks gone wrong with us. You do the trial and error for us and I am very thankful. ;) The chicken run looks amazing. Tons of cover,but also tons of shade for the chickens to keep cool this summer. I look forward to seeing how the corn does for you. I am hoping to be able to grow it when we get moved to Alaska.
Sorry about the water pressure but i know you will find a solution...your plants are looking awesome...all the best, stay safe and thanks for sharing your great videos.
We use a sump pump for our water catch. We have a 2,500 gallon tank and five IBC totes. We use a 1.6hp pump and we get incredible pressure and we can use soaker hoses this year. Last year we gravy watered the garden and it took well over an hour.
put the tank on top of conex put pvc pipe from it to ground level so you can hook a hose from the well to fill it up. put a shut off ball valve in the pvc pipe it will not restrick the flow as much. Then you can T- off from that line also for a hose to the garden. by the way me and my wife love your videos, we are from MS and moved here to Palmer,AK about the same time y'all moved to AK.
When testing any electrical line with your bare hands do not use the palm side of your hand. If there is enough current it can cause your hand to spams shut which makes you grip the line. Alway use the back side of your hand.
Hi guys hope your doing well. You need to set up an irrigation system in the greenhouse so you won’t have to manually water the plants. You need to run an overhead hose with holes in it. Eric is a smart guy so I know he’ll figure it out.
My folks controlled their cows with a single strand of electric fencing a couple inches over knee high. When you went to step over it it was wise to check the positions of any companions else they were sure to give the wire a kick right when you were mid-straddle.
If you get the tank higher you will have more pressure. We have a water catchment system for our garden. The higher the tank the more pressure you have. Also I would recommend blanking the tanks black to prevent mildew growing inside the tank
Very useful information about the water pressure. I use water troughs to catch the water that comes off my roof. Will help in the decisions ahead. much appreciated.
Sorry things didn’t go as planed. That’s half of this life right.😂 looks like that netting will help from the birds this year..!! 😊 Can’t wait to see the garden this year. Have a great day you two.
Enjoy your story, I also lived in Oregon for about 12 years on 3 acres just outside of Oregon City, raised animals and had a ball. On one of your videos you were dealing with a water tank for the garden, in a large part of the world your water supply and water pressure comes from a tank on top of the roof. Raising the tank height will increase your water pressure. 3/4” pvc supply line to it and you might be satisfied with the results.
I agree with many others who suggested drip irrigation in the garden! It is used a lot in desert environments and really saves water. Plus once it’s set up you just turn it on and go. Waters just the roots and very little runoff or evaporation
3\4 " hose and smaller spray nozzle like the old hand squeeze or single twist brass style nozzle and, was the lid on tight creating a vaccum in the video it was on, also boat washdown pump running off 12 volts
3/4 hose, lid open or with an airvent should solve it. Judging from the height of the pallets, you should be having 1,5 atm/bar pressure which is more than adequate for watering.
33 ft of head gives approximately 15 psi (1 atm) of pressure so with the water surface in your tank only about 6 or 7 ft off the ground the maximum you will get is about 2 - 3 psi. By holding the hose end at chest height you reduce that to about 1 psi (or basically nothing)
You can get around 14 Psi (1 Bar) pressure per 33 feet in hight (10m) so if you build a 10-15m water tower you will have sufficient pressure to water a garden. You won’t get a great spray but it won’t be a trickle. 👍🏻 great videos. You can build a “water tower” platform up in the trees and set the tank on that if building such a large structure is impractical. The tank size is ideal and the weight is more than manageable for a tree (or two) to carry.
Best lain plans of mice and men. I hope you get all the water you need for the garden. I am glad you are not standing in 2feet of snow. Chickens look great
If you make the coupling coming from the tank smaller leading to the hose, it will create more pressure leaving the tank by decreasing the amount of flow through
It was interesting to watch you build the water storage. Some thing that I learned is it takes a column of water 30 feet tall to generate a pressure of 15 psi. That is why water towers for towns are around 90 to 120 feet tall to generate 45 to 60 psi. At the height of 3 feet you would only generate about 1.5 psi. Either increase the height or run the tank into a pump as suggested below to increase the pressure for a useable flow.
Kudos to you, showing even the stuff that does not work out as planed. You will figure everything out. Part of doing is failing and trying again. My grandfather keept the water for the greenhouse plants in the greenhouse itself, filled up buckets and watering cans and left them in there so the water had the same temperature as the plants, air and ground in there. That Tank will help you guys so much and you will find a way to use it for watering the garden. I would have no problems just using 2 watering cans and water by hand, but that is just me and i know lots of people who look at me weird when i start watering 1 - 2 acre with watering cans.
Drill a hole in the top of your water tank and put a valve stem for a car tire in it, and take an air compressor and add air to itvto pressurize the tank. Then just add air as you need it for more pressure. 👍👍👍
If you can find so old disc blades to put on top of the post it will help the netting from tearing. Used when I raised pheasants. Had netting to keep the birds on. One of or major predators for the pheasants, chickens and turkeys were owls.
Man... that’s the reality of life. Things not working out the way expect and envision. Thank you for sharing the truth of it all. I’m sorry your day was one of disappointment & aggravations. You are learning each time you go through these trials. Keep your chin up &carry on, you’re doing great 💙
Place the water tank on top of the shipping container. You may need to build a bracing based on the strong points in the corners and edges of the container. That should provide enough head for pressure.
A 12 volt RV pump off the solar would suit this job well. They turn off and on with the flow. Its what I use in our off-grid cabin. We use it for showers as well through a instant hot water much like what you have. Your fence system would likely run it. I run our entire cabin off 4 of the same panels and two batteries year-round. Use the back of your hand to test an electric fence so your hand doesn't accidentally close on it.
Instead of using rebar my husband came home with the metal clothesline props, (really cheap!) One prop made two posts to slot the plastic pipe over. Works great and only cost a few £'s. Loved the video your plants look good. To water the greenhouses, I usually fill up all the watering cans and leave them in the greenhouses to warm for the next day. But like you say watering can take sometime, hope you get the system working ok. Looking forward to the next video. England
We use a small electric tire pump and pressurize the tank. I put a valve stem on the lid or another part of the tank and attach a 12 volt car tire inflator that was an automatic pressure setting. It will run a hose with drip or a spray nozzle ( water breaker).
you can put a smaller water tank (large enough to hold sufficient water for daily watering needs) with a large tap next to the garden or high tunnel and connect this new tank to the tank which you installed today with a float valve to shut off automatically once filled. then you can fill your watering can as many times as you want without much of walking & carrying.
Shure-flo RV pump, 12vdc. Plumbed onto the outlet of the tank and run off of a solar setup or the truck battery, you'll get plenty of pressure down 100' of hose to water your beds. There is a pressure switch built in too. Cheers!
My seeds are started in the garage on heat mats in Solo cups. The cups are placed in garden flats. The "light" came on for me this year the first time I watered the seeds with cold tap water. It is hard enough for heat mats to warm up 18oz cups, let alone cold water introduced into the mix. So the "light" was that I needed to water with very warm water to help the mats and the seedlings ... duh! Sometimes the solution is hiding in plain sight. Take care you two.
Hello again from Fairbanks! We use that same kind of tank for our water catchment system and garden watering. We use a Superior Pump 1/4HP pump and it runs our sprayers & irrigation systems quite well. (It's not auto pressure, but handles back pressure without much issue and we just turn it off when we are done watering.) One of the other problems you'll face is algae growing in the tank. Fine for veggies, but you'll want to filter your pump output to prevent sprayers from getting plugged. Plus, maybe questionable for food, your call. We cover our tank in a couple of tarps and it's still not good enough. Wish I had one of the black tanks they sell at HD, that'll be one of our eventual upgrades. Garden is looking good, we are excited to get started here too!
Want a tip from an old Oregon Farmer/Rancher for testing the hot fence? Instead of grabbing the wire pluck a green, damp piece of grass and while holding the damp blade of grass between your thumb and forefinger touch the grass to the hot wire. It will conduct enough electricity to let you know if it is hot but not enough to give you that non-caffeine jolt. That tip came from my relatives who were spud farmers and cattle ranchers in the Klamath Falls and Madras areas of Oregon when I was not tall enough to get up in a saddle. We live in Hermiston now. I am a lot older and too old to sit in a saddle for very long. When I am in a field and see a strand of electric fence I always test the wire this way and the jolt becomes a tickle. I do some volunteering for Pendleton Round Up. There are a lot of portable hot fences used for horses. You never know when one is hot or turned off. I have taught a lot of younger horseback riders and teamsters this trick. Try it and let me know how that works for you.
I love that you guys are so honest and real. I have been living off grid in Australia now for 10 years and yes, some days, I just shouldn't get out of bed. Doesn't matter what I do, it just goes pear shaped. Most days are 'diamonds' but other days are just 'big rocks '. I love that you show this very real side of this lifestyle as people considering this way of life need to go into it with their eyes wide open. That being said, I wouldn't live in a city for quids.
You guys are doing so well. I think I speak for all of your viewers that we all want you guys to succeed!!!! And are happy when you do, even through the temporary setbacks, all part of the learning curve.
Nice homestead. That's the kind of lifestyle I would want were I much younger.
Me too. I'm almost 62 and it takes me 5 minutes sitting on the side of my bed to be able to stand. Too many spine surgeries....well really one is too many. I had one times 6 extras. Each time they swore up and down, yeah this will take care of that pain. Sure did, made it worse. I would've loved to have gone to Alaska to live. But even now, a cruise isn't safe. Well it's going to stay on my bucket list...👍
I wish i could live like this everything you need to survive is through honest hard working couple . You eat fresh fish and vegetables that you guys cultivate .
Watching you both has pushed me to have a simple life. Im hoping in 6 months I will have found a place, widower,,im also hopeful that I will have found a mate that will want the same.. Thank you both.
That is real life. Sometimes things don’t work out the way you planned. But that’s how we learn.
Wow, know nothing about what you are showing in this video but as you explain little by little it makes sense…as always, I learn from you. Thanks.
Just so inspirational, you two wonderful soul's just never give up. Those chicks and their mum's are so happy and safe. Next time Aerial its Eric's turn to test that electric fencing. Brilliant video as Always. Hug's from Australia xx 🐥🐣🐤🐔🐓🌽🐨🦘
You guys are making nice videos , keep them coming.
Nice work 👍👍
Measure twice cut once is a lesson best learned first hand. It happens to the best of us .🤔😎🐣🐔🐥
Build a stand 10 to 12 feet above ground to set your tank on this will give you more gravity feed pressure , Plus it will give you a place to store whatever you want underneath . Maybe a outdoor shower🚿🧼 underneath ...
You guys are owesome, the way you look after everything from the dear baby chicks to that really cool green house, your seriously good hearted people l love all the work you put in, you have a lovely place. Thank you for sharing.
Ive been addicted to watching your guys videos lately and I just want to say that I admire you guys SO MUCH. To be able to have the motivation and ability to do what you two do on a daily basis is not only impressive, but admirable. I wish the both of you the best and I will continue to tune in and see whats next in your adventure!
You guys make me laugh a pleasure to follow along :) I think the idea about the drip hose where the pressure hardly matters will is a good option take care ..
Look at that smile on Bo come on what a love a dove
Hang some blank cd’s with fishing wire in the trees. It will deter hawks especially when the sun hits it. I have done this for years and haven’t lost a chicken since and it cheap. Good luck and great videos!
Eric, what you might do is move that tank to the middle of the garden in the back and run a drip irrigation system from the tank. It regulates the amount of water you use and you can control the length of time used. Andy Bassich uses it on Life Below Zero and his garden and high tunnel are huge. Just an idea.
Try weep hoses don't need all the higher pressure
Agricultural drip line irrigation is very low psi. Also called drip tape, you install and remove a mini irrigation system every year. You’d turn on the line at the tank and check your flow and everything would get watered...
Perhaps the pipe could be part of the system?
A black tarp over the tank will keep it from getting algae on the inside.✌
Regardless of the little set backs. You all apply the awesome sauce and make it all work. Maybe more height of the storage unit might provide a little more pressure 😉 💯 thanks so much for sharing.
Hey guys, you have your good days and not so good days but always worth it in the end. Thanks for sharing!
You win some, you lose some. At least your willing to try new things. It is all a learning process. I am always impressed either way.
Regarding your hoop house for the corn as well as the water tank problems. The plans were good. In the Army we had a saying that “no plan survives first contact with the enemy”. After contact you have to adjust your original plan because all your assumptions, planning factors etc change as a result of that initial action. Your ability to adapt and continue to move forward on your projects is admirable.
People here in Spain will paint the tank a darker color depending on how cold the well water is. Also keeps alge from turning tank green from no direct sunlight and temp from sun heating tank. I'm setting up a homestead with my sons next 2 years when we can finally make return back home on 🇺🇸 soil..Keep the great videos coming. Some good ideas I'm sure many are benefiting from. 👏💪
Truck bed liner
You are honest and real guys. I love both of you 😍😍😍
You could also try collecting rain water off the back of the shed, near the garden. Free and it's much warmer in the summmer.You would be surprised how much water can be collected in a small area with eavestrough. I collected 550L in one storm this weekend off the greenhouse. Really handy! GL!!!
Thanks again, guys. Even when you have setbacks the video is still very entertaining.
The following things are preventing the Volume of water you need to water your garden. Since Pressure is limited you need more Flow(pipe/valve size) to get the same amount of volume without running a pump(Pressure).
1: All valves need to be at least 3/4" id high flow ball valves including the wand mixer valve. Cheap PVC valves work also.
(The valves you have in the video look like 1/2" id, upgrading to 3/4" id increases the area of flow by 225%)
2: 3/4" id hose for garden.
3: Put the tank on the top of the shipping Container roof edge or corner to get more pressure.
4: Shutoff valve at ground level with piping of greater Diameter to increase flow pressure and able to upgrade sizing in future.
Ive watered my garden on a slope for the last 3 years this way. 500 gallon tank on a trailer with a range 5ft to 50ft of water level difference(tank to gardens/trees) with no problems. The pressure isn't needed when higher volume flowing hoses and valves are used.
We have had a busy summer and haven't kept up with watching any videos, so I'm binge-watching your channel to catch up. I love seeing the hens and chicks interacting the way nature intended. People don't realize what we take away from these lovely, maternal girls when they are in battery cages. The chicks that can be with their mother(s) learn how to be healthy chickens (dust baths!), how to find wild vegetation that is best to eat, and how to avoid predators. A flock of outdoor chickens that raises the next flock passes down local chicken wisdom. I've seen a protective rooster take on a hawk and win while the ladies herd the babies into the bushes. But bird netting sure doesn't hurt!
Years ago I bought a 12v water pump that is used on asphalt rollers to wet the large steel wheels. They are readily available. I used it to pump water from my boat pontoons and it worked great. Fast forward 25 years, I gave it to my brother that has a landscaping business and he uses it to water trees and shrubs that he maintains from a tank similar to yours. It works absolutely great and has very good pressure. He just pulls the tank and trailer around with his four wheeler and runs the pump off the 4 wheeler battery. Never had an issue.
Oh and....he uses a simple garden hose nozzle. When the pump is running it is fine not pumping as long as water is in the impeller. And it is about 1/2 the size of a car starter, so it would relieve you from having to use the generator. Use the Polaris battery with it running and it should be fine.
It's nice to see how well you care for your chickens. Looking forward to seeing the garden. Enjoy.
I know your "failures" musr be frustrating!! However you showing the bumps in the road only makes you guys more real honest and relatable. I'm 45 and trying my first garden ever, no clue what I'm doing, but figured I'd start somewhere! Keep going!😉
Thank you for sharing❤️💗
Good luck on the bird netting.
Corn, YAY....
And a holding tank for water👍
SENDING A BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT OF LOVE TO SURROUND THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYONE 🤗❣️❣️🤗💞
Sorry things didn't go well. I love your channel tho. You two are such hard workers. We live where it stays cold for longer too so I love all the ways you get around that with your gardens.
Y'all are doing great the best laid plans of men and mice setbacks produced progress
Love watching your videos. So much a person can be independent about while living a good life.
Life is all about trial and error. Keep trying and you'll find what works for you 🥰
So glad you've got netting now
Hey guys, for your PVC pipes over your cornrow, can you get a connector to put between 2 of the pipes, then curve them from one rebar to the other. That way you don't have to find another use for those pipes and it may be cheaper to connect 2, till you run out and then you could buy longer ones. Even putting a branch between 2 PVC pipes and using a screw on the end of each pipe into the branch. I was watching and thought it might work. Thanks for the videos
You both are doing very well. We all make mistakes. No worries sending an air hug for both of you from Australia ❤️💙
You should try raising the water tank! The water pressure comes from the difference in height between the top of the water line in the tank and the end of the hose. So when you tested it because you were holding it nearly level with the tank you would have super low pressure. Every foot you raise it should give you a little less than half a psi of additional pressure
Yay! Water tower project!
Yes! was going to say this too. I water my gardens from above ground water tanks the hose just can't be held too high, works okay.
Yes. Put the tank on top of the shipping container, with a permanent filling devise.
It would be a very cool project. A couple of long posts, a little cross bracing and stand back the first time you fill it. Could be cheap too if they can harvest their own posts
Oh and strap the tank down. Dont want it blowing away when its empty
thanks for sharing it all...the good, the not so good, and the I've-got-to-think-about-this-again stuff. I find that that is really what all life is about. I've been at this for over 50 years and I'm still learning and seeking out answers. I live in Minnesota and we've had 3 nights of 28 degrees in a row and first night I lost 3 special tomatoes that were next to the sides of the greenhouse....I pulled in all the plants about 12" the second night and so far they've survived. Greenhouse is over 80 (but I do ventilate at that point) during the day. Our chickens here do fine too at 30 below. No extra heating. Thanks for all you show us.
So nice to see! Thank you for sharing. Lovely and hard working couple. God bless. Greatings from Holland
You have to empty the tank a bit and leave it open on the top. Will work perfect. We have home same one. If you leave it open it will work for sure.
As always, never a failed project (with you, two), but a learning & gaining knowledge! Which we all need to remember. Thank you!
Looking forward to your next video.
🙂🌞🌽🍓🥒🥒🥔🧄🧅🥕🐕🐓🐤🐝
Like many of the suggestions, I came here to mention raising the tank to get your pressure. This is what I did up at our off-grid cabin in Wyoming, we run the generator to power the pump to fill the tank that we have lifted off 12 feet up on a set of pallet racking I got for cheap off craigs list. We also painted our tank black to aide in heating the water.
1. Carve wooden plugs or use some other plug to connect the shorter PVC pipes back together. 2. Ground Emitter Hose works fantastic as a low pressure way to water gardens with much less hassle while giving more free time to do something else. 3.. NICE JOB YOU TWO ARE DOING!
Love your “shit happens” attitude.... whatever we’ll find a use for the pipe! Perfect👍🏻😊
You guys really worked hard! Everything is a learning process... the things that you are learning will help you figure out more stuff in the future! So just look at all you have accomplished in the short time you have been there... thank you for letting us see the effort you exerted in your learning process! Also, I really enjoyed the longer video... really awesome!
Could you use longer rebar to make the low tunnel higher off the ground and then put the hoop on the rebar? Weird as it sounds it is great that you are showing the "failures" and the successes! You are helping people! Thanks!
Yeah you pretty much have to get the tank up about roof height or a little higher. 4 posts and a platform? posts angled slightly in kind of tower style? Everything looks good, and drier. 🙂👍
Suggestion...
Cover your row beds with black plastic when you put them to bed, and add the hoops to increase the temperature. Your beds will brake down better.
I think my favorite things about you two is how even when things don't go as planned you just keep at it and tweak what you are doing until it does work. You never give up. Plus the fact that you still share those plans or tasks gone wrong with us. You do the trial and error for us and I am very thankful. ;) The chicken run looks amazing. Tons of cover,but also tons of shade for the chickens to keep cool this summer. I look forward to seeing how the corn does for you. I am hoping to be able to grow it when we get moved to Alaska.
Sorry about the water pressure but i know you will find a solution...your plants are looking awesome...all the best, stay safe and thanks for sharing your great videos.
ariel is so possitive! i love it
35 amazing chicks 👍
We use a sump pump for our water catch. We have a 2,500 gallon tank and five IBC totes. We use a 1.6hp pump and we get incredible pressure and we can use soaker hoses this year. Last year we gravy watered the garden and it took well over an hour.
I just set up a 12 volt pump to water. Works good and you can run it on solar. The place is looking good guys.
put the tank on top of conex put pvc pipe from it to ground level so you can hook a hose from the well to fill it up. put a shut off ball valve in the pvc pipe it will not restrick the flow as much. Then you can T- off from that line also for a hose to the garden. by the way me and my wife love your videos, we are from MS and moved here to Palmer,AK about the same time y'all moved to AK.
When testing any electrical line with your bare hands do not use the palm side of your hand. If there is enough current it can cause your hand to spams shut which makes you grip the line. Alway use the back side of your hand.
You guys handle adversity very well!!!
Very nice peppers and eggplants!
Hi guys hope your doing well. You need to set up an irrigation system in the greenhouse so you won’t have to manually water the plants. You need to run an overhead hose with holes in it. Eric is a smart guy so I know he’ll figure it out.
As a kid us grandkids used to play with the electric fence at our grandparents house.
My folks controlled their cows with a single strand of electric fencing a couple inches over knee high. When you went to step over it it was wise to check the positions of any companions else they were sure to give the wire a kick right when you were mid-straddle.
If you get the tank higher you will have more pressure. We have a water catchment system for our garden. The higher the tank the more pressure you have. Also I would recommend blanking the tanks black to prevent mildew growing inside the tank
My wife and I installed 50x50 of that netting, takes a lot of patience for sure
Thank you for sharing your wonderful life with us. I love how you live. I love where you live too.
Very useful information about the water pressure. I use water troughs to catch the water that comes off my roof. Will help in the decisions ahead. much appreciated.
Sorry things didn’t go as planed. That’s half of this life right.😂 looks like that netting will help from the birds this year..!! 😊 Can’t wait to see the garden this year. Have a great day you two.
Enjoy watching your video
Enjoy your story, I also lived in Oregon for about 12 years on 3 acres just outside of Oregon City, raised animals and had a ball. On one of your videos you were dealing with a water tank for the garden, in a large part of the world your water supply and water pressure comes from a tank on top of the roof. Raising the tank height will increase your water pressure. 3/4” pvc supply line to it and you might be satisfied with the results.
I agree with many others who suggested drip irrigation in the garden! It is used a lot in desert environments and really saves water. Plus once it’s set up you just turn it on and go. Waters just the roots and very little runoff or evaporation
You two are seriously good at endurance! Love seeing the realistic stuff, my life always goes just like that too.
Some of these suggestions seem like good ideas. I like the raised water tank idea myself.
A year down the road he says "oh by the way I've had this tester I use when I test the fence". 😂
3\4 " hose and smaller spray nozzle like the old hand squeeze or single twist brass style nozzle and, was the lid on tight creating a vaccum in the video it was on, also boat washdown pump running off 12 volts
Stevie Donaldson tight lid on the tank may be the problem. Open valve wo hose n see what you have.
3/4 hose, lid open or with an airvent should solve it. Judging from the height of the pallets, you should be having 1,5 atm/bar pressure which is more than adequate for watering.
And try to automatize the filling. Dc solar pump, with a floating switch for on/off. Dont need to be strong, can run all day...
33 ft of head gives approximately 15 psi (1 atm) of pressure so with the water surface in your tank only about 6 or 7 ft off the ground the maximum you will get is about 2 - 3 psi. By holding the hose end at chest height you reduce that to about 1 psi (or basically nothing)
You can get around 14 Psi (1 Bar) pressure per 33 feet in hight (10m) so if you build a 10-15m water tower you will have sufficient pressure to water a garden. You won’t get a great spray but it won’t be a trickle. 👍🏻 great videos.
You can build a “water tower” platform up in the trees and set the tank on that if building such a large structure is impractical. The tank size is ideal and the weight is more than manageable for a tree (or two) to carry.
Best lain plans of mice and men. I hope you get all the water you need for the garden. I am glad you are not standing in 2feet of snow. Chickens look great
If you make the coupling coming from the tank smaller leading to the hose, it will create more pressure leaving the tank by decreasing the amount of flow through
I second the weep hose suggestion
It was interesting to watch you build the water storage. Some thing that I learned is it takes a column of water 30 feet tall to generate a pressure of 15 psi. That is why water towers for towns are around 90 to 120 feet tall to generate 45 to 60 psi. At the height of 3 feet you would only generate about 1.5 psi. Either increase the height or run the tank into a pump as suggested below to increase the pressure for a useable flow.
Kudos to you, showing even the stuff that does not work out as planed. You will figure everything out. Part of doing is failing and trying again.
My grandfather keept the water for the greenhouse plants in the greenhouse itself, filled up buckets and watering cans and left them in there so the water had the same temperature as the plants, air and ground in there.
That Tank will help you guys so much and you will find a way to use it for watering the garden. I would have no problems just using 2 watering cans and water by hand, but that is just me and i know lots of people who look at me weird when i start watering 1 - 2 acre with watering cans.
Drill a hole in the top of your water tank and put a valve stem for a car tire in it, and take an air compressor and add air to itvto pressurize the tank. Then just add air as you need it for more pressure. 👍👍👍
Your plants look so healthy!
If you can find so old disc blades to put on top of the post it will help the netting from tearing. Used when I raised pheasants. Had netting to keep the birds on. One of or major predators for the pheasants, chickens and turkeys were owls.
Man... that’s the reality of life. Things not working out the way expect and envision. Thank you for sharing the truth of it all. I’m sorry your day was one of disappointment & aggravations. You are learning each time you go through these trials. Keep your chin up &carry on, you’re doing great 💙
Place the water tank on top of the shipping container. You may need to build a bracing based on the strong points in the corners and edges of the container. That should provide enough head for pressure.
A 12 volt RV pump off the solar would suit this job well. They turn off and on with the flow. Its what I use in our off-grid cabin. We use it for showers as well through a instant hot water much like what you have. Your fence system would likely run it. I run our entire cabin off 4 of the same panels and two batteries year-round. Use the back of your hand to test an electric fence so your hand doesn't accidentally close on it.
good morning show
Instead of using rebar my husband came home with the metal clothesline props, (really cheap!) One prop made two posts to slot the plastic pipe over. Works great and only cost a few £'s. Loved the video your plants look good. To water the greenhouses, I usually fill up all the watering cans and leave them in the greenhouses to warm for the next day. But like you say watering can take sometime, hope you get the system working ok. Looking forward to the next video. England
We use a small electric tire pump and pressurize the tank. I put a valve stem on the lid or another part of the tank and attach a 12 volt car tire inflator that was an automatic pressure setting. It will run a hose with drip or a spray nozzle ( water breaker).
Awesome to see your progress. Keep it up!
you can put a smaller water tank (large enough to hold sufficient water for daily watering needs) with a large tap next to the garden or high tunnel and connect this new tank to the tank which you installed today with a float valve to shut off automatically once filled. then you can fill your watering can as many times as you want without much of walking & carrying.
Shure-flo RV pump, 12vdc. Plumbed onto the outlet of the tank and run off of a solar setup or the truck battery, you'll get plenty of pressure down 100' of hose to water your beds. There is a pressure switch built in too. Cheers!
Nice video guys!! I set my 330 gal tote on top of my shipping container and change your watering nozzle to one more like your water cans.
You could always use an RV water pump for your water tank. That would give you plenty of pressure and flow to water with.
Love and Hugs from Sapulpa, Oklahoma
My seeds are started in the garage on heat mats in Solo cups. The cups are placed in garden flats. The "light" came on for me this year the first time I watered the seeds with cold tap water. It is hard enough for heat mats to warm up 18oz cups, let alone cold water introduced into the mix. So the "light" was that I needed to water with very warm water to help the mats and the seedlings ... duh! Sometimes the solution is hiding in plain sight. Take care you two.
Hello again from Fairbanks! We use that same kind of tank for our water catchment system and garden watering. We use a Superior Pump 1/4HP pump and it runs our sprayers & irrigation systems quite well. (It's not auto pressure, but handles back pressure without much issue and we just turn it off when we are done watering.) One of the other problems you'll face is algae growing in the tank. Fine for veggies, but you'll want to filter your pump output to prevent sprayers from getting plugged. Plus, maybe questionable for food, your call. We cover our tank in a couple of tarps and it's still not good enough. Wish I had one of the black tanks they sell at HD, that'll be one of our eventual upgrades. Garden is looking good, we are excited to get started here too!