Garden Tractor Progress - 3 Cultivator and Bumper

Made some progress on the Garden Tractor this week. Photo 1) The cultivator is coming together. Drilled the holes for mounting the implements, got the up rights for the gauge wheels built, and tack welded everything together. Now I need to make the tongue, and hitch. Once I get the tack welded mock up to my satisfaction I'll finish welding everything. Photo 2) I built a receiver style hitch for the front. The front bumper, and weight box (not built yet) will be interchangeable. This also allows for other attachments to be added if needed in the future. Photo 3) Here is the mocked up front bumper. I'm using as much scrap/free materials as possible so not everything is nice and shiny. When I'm done everything will get painted. AH

Build a Garden Bench

Build this beautiful garden bench. If you can cut a 2" x 4" with a 90 and 10 degree cuts, drill a hole, and use a screw driver you can build it. The instructions are listed above. If you follow the instructions it can be built for about $35. Less if you already have some of the materials laying around. I have built two so far. One for my Mother which she has in her vegetable garden. And one I built for my wife. They are solid, and should last a long time with minimal care. AH

Seed and Plant Supplier

I order my seed from Harris Seed. I use to by them locally at a Feed store. But they are no longer in business. I guess now that homes and business now cover the once open land there is no need for a Feed store in our area. I tried other local sources for a couple of years. The most disappointing thing about gardening is when the seed don’t germinate, or Plants don’t produce well. There is a lot that goes into a successful garden but, good seed is where it all starts. I have a neighbor, and older gent, who grow produce for market on a small scale. A few years ago he gave me some corn seed. It was the best corn I have ever grown. So I started ordering my seed from Harris Seed. I have not had a disappointment yet. Last season I ordered tomato plants from them. I was a little concerned about what kind of condition they would be in after traveling through the mail. But they where in great shape, and produced very well. I’m sure there are lot of sources for excellent seeds and plants. Just find one you’re happy with.I like to order my seed from Harris Seed. I use to by them locally at a Feed store. But they are no longer in business. I guess now that homes and business now cover the once open land there is no need for a Feed store in our area. I tried other local sources for a couple of years. The most disappointing thing about gardening is when the seed don’t germinate, or Plants don’t produce well. There is a lot that goes into a successful garden but, good seed is where it all starts. I have a neighbor, and older gent, who grow produce for market on a small scale. A few years ago he gave me some corn seed. It was the best corn I have ever grown. So I started ordering my seed from Harris Seed. I have not had a disappointment yet. Last season I ordered tomato plants from them. I was a little concerned about what kind of condition they would be in after traveling through the mail. But they where in great shape, and produced very well. I’m sure there are lot of sources for excellent seeds and plants. Just find one you’re happy with. AH

Garden Tractor Progress - 2 Building a Cultivator and Bumper for the Garden Tractor

Well no gardening today! We got pounded with snow. Spent most of the evening plowing out my driveway, a couple of elderly neighbor's drive ways, and the side walks, and walkways for the elementary school kids. With all that's going on these days it feels good to take a little time and do for others. And I got to spend a little time outside. That's a bonus for me. Got a little work done on the tractor the last couple days. Started the front bumper, and got the basic cultivator frame cut out and mocked up. Still a lot to do, but I have all winter. AH

Garden Tractor Progress -1 Building a Sleeve Hitch for the Garden Tractor

So, here's the sleeve hitch for the Garden Tractor almost complete. Made it from scrap metal, and hardware I had lying around. Cost so far $0. It took twenty one different pieces, cut, bent, drilled , and welded to geSt this far. It will raise and lower with the same lever as the mowing deck. I'm happy with my progress so far. AH

Winter Project - Garden Tractor

Here is one of my many winter projects. I purchased this little garden tractor to help with the yard, and garden chores at the Idaho property. I have been using a old Gravely two-wheeled walk behind tractor to care for the potato patch. It's time consuming, and wears me out. So this is my solution. Finding a decent, cheap Garden Tractor in this area is not easy. There are a lot of riding mowers, but finding a Garden tractor that will do a little more than mow the lawn are harder to find. So this one needs a little work but, is in good running order. It has a 18 hp twin cylinder motor, and a high / low transmission. (Guy talk!) The up side is, I get too spend a little time in the garage this winter. My plans are to build a rear hitch, a cultivator, front bumper, and a set of rear wheel weights. This project has very limited funds, so I will be building with materials I can get for free, or cheap. Once everything is built I will take the tractor apart, and paint it. Hopefully I can be done with it by spring in time to start preparing the soil for the potato patch and garden. So expect to see some up dates to this winter project as it progresses. AH

Wild Flowers

Potato Harvest 2009

Thought I would post a couple of photos of the potato patch this last summer and the fall harvest. This is a little family project we have had the last couple of years. It continues to get larger every year. There were sixteen rows. We had Red Norland, Red Pontiac, and Russets. In all we harvested about seven hundred pounds. They did real well this year. The Pontiac's have some scabbing be cause the soil is a little to hot. It doesn't look good but does not effect the potato other than the skin. The insides are beautiful and white. They are good eating. That's what counts. The Norland, and Russets don't seem to mind the hot soil. AH

Fall Clean up

Well the ground is now frozen, and covered with snow. I did manage to clean up garden area, and till in the compost before the the snow. Just a pile of vines that don't compost well left. In the spring they will make there way to the city dump. I like to compost everything I can but, just don't have time to chop up the vines. AH