A new Vege Garden being built

[FenceFurniture]

I haven't had a VG for about 6 years, and I'm missing it! Had various incarnations for 20 years prior to that. I did sort of make one when I first moved here but it needed possum protection, which I never finalised, so I never planted out.

So, here is the site as it was about 12 months ago:

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=354922&d=1438660503

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=354920&d=1438660409

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=354923&d=1438660514


The mound of fill was from the excavation for the shed extension (still coming......):

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=354921&d=1438660492


The whole garden will be caged with 25x25 Bird Wire as there are numerous possums, birds, and Three Black Cats to keep out. There's a dude building it, and I'm the helper and finisher. Only problem is that the dude is as slow as a wet month. Since the end of April, when the first post went in, it's taken him fully 4 months to erect the other 11 posts. They are big suckers (150x150) in concrete a metre deep, but still - a post every 1½ weeks is pretty slow going.

Here we are as at about two weeks ago:

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=392915&d=1472898566


http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=392914&d=1472898558


http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=392911&d=1472898536


In that last pic I'm standing in the property next door. The retaining wall for the garden will also form the boundary fence.


The posts are not particularly good quality I don't believe. The are crazy green - you can see the juice being forced out when screws go into some of them. That means that they are now cracking badly (lucky they're 150x150mm). I spent a day filling up the cracks (mainly north facing) with Sikaflex, sanded a couple of days later with 40 grit and then painted with SolaGuard Ironstone colour. This is where we are as at this arvo:

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=392912&d=1472898542

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=392913&d=1472898548


All up it is a very generous 7.2x5 metres. Three levels, each dropping down 200mm.

Next task is to finish off the collar ties and ring beam. Then two short posts go between all the perimeter posts, sleepers go in for the walls, yadda yadda.

I'll be 40g sanding and painting the sleepers before they go down as I don't particularly like the idea of Copper Chromium Arsenate leaching into the soil for veges to absorb. They'll be cream colour so it should look pretty spiffy too.

I think that there'll be enough fill with what is available (in the pics) to bring the levels up to 300mm below eventual ground level. At that point there'll be topsoil imported for the last 300mm (about 11 cubes) to bring it up to 100mm below sleeper. That allows a good amount for mulch on top. O'course the levels will drop as the fill/soil settles, so they will start at sleeper top level. I expect about 100mm drop over a few months.

Then it will be on to lighting (3x 30watt LED floodies), plumbing, water tank placement. I hope to be able to start planting......sometime in the future.......

[pjt]

Some serious work going on there Brett, but if you got to keep the beasts out that's what you gotta do, I'm lucky here (so far) that I don't have to fence out critters although not completely critter issue free.


Pete

[crowie]

That's one serious building site....

[aldav]

There looks to be as much work going in to the vege garden as will be going in to the shed extension. :o Speaking of the shed, love that crazy weatherboard cladding on the end. It must surely be a one of a kind. :D

[Uncle Al]

Are you tempted to convert the structure into a rather nice workshop?
You have some good framework there,a skillion roof and a suitable wall cladding would get you going. A nice floor on bearers and joist, and Bob's your Aunty, so to speak.
Fruit and vegies from the local small business will keep you fed while you enjoy your new workplace:D.

Food for thought, eh?

Alan...

[FenceFurniture]

Tempting as it sounds Uncle, I'll still continue with the separate constructions. However, I may employ the post structure strategy after I consult with "those who know better than I".

[FenceFurniture]

Fruit and vegies from the local small business.........may well keep me in composting material....

[FenceFurniture]

Sleepers are finally in! Back at the start of August the grand statement from the guy building it was that it would be completed (including rafters and purlins for the birdwire support) by the end of August or so. Well here we are ~30 days after that forecast finish date, but no rafters and purlins. I said at the time that I would walk bare-butt to Bathurst if that was the case.....

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=396520&d=1475659904

[crowie]

Don't let the handyman bury those good bessey clamps i see on the side of that pile of dirt.....

[FenceFurniture]

There's another related build going on here:
http://www.woodworkforums.com/f245/wood-storage-shed-209090

[fletty]

I said at the time that I would walk bare-butt to Bathurst if that was the case.....



I drove the Bathurst Road early in September! How close was I to permanent mental scarring?? :o:o:o

[FenceFurniture]

I drove the Bathurst Road early in September! How close was I to permanent mental scarring?? :o:o:oPffffft. No risk at all for two reasons:
1. it was never going to happen
2. it's not ......nah, maybe not.

[Christos]

.... I said at the time that I would walk bare-butt to Bathurst if that was the case.....


Personally I think that's going to be a very long walk.

I might also suggest that yo apply your own sunscreen. :U

[FenceFurniture]

Personally I think that's going to be a very long walk.

I might also suggest that yo apply your own sunscreen. :U:roflmao2:


Although it must be said that the Bathurst destination isn't as big a threat as when I lived in Sydney. Better make sure Adam is out on the farm too.

[Uncle Al]

I'm in Bathurst for the 1000k car races at the moment with my camera, and was going to get a few shots of Crowie's and Keith_1's beloved Fords, but could be persuaded to alter my attention if need be. Not sure the Admin bods on here would appreciate the pics, and as Christos mentioned, sunscreen is a definite requirement.
Let me know if there is a sudden spurt to finish the build in the next couple of days, and we can make some arrangements:D (or not!)

Alan...

[FenceFurniture]

sunscreen is a definite requirement.:no:
Full screen.

[crowie]

I'm in Bathurst for the 1000k car races at the moment with my camera, and was going to get a few shots of Crowie's and Keith_1's beloved Fords,
Alan...

Now you're talking Alan...The Ford's will be heaps better in the viewfinder that what has been suggested.....Crowie

[Sawdust Maker]

Not really sure why this came to mind
but had to share :D

396844

[fletty]

397698

...... me too, me too :roflmao:

[Pac man]

I hope it's well out of the way of the racetrack!

[FenceFurniture]

397698

...... me too, me too :roflmao:Jeez, that was quick!


Oh, and thanks for the crook neck.

[FenceFurniture]

So after many discussions the owner has decided that some protection of the bitumen walls in excess of Geo-fabric is a good idea. Flo-Cell is a product that I had not heard of, but it looks like this:

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=397974&d=1477216369


http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=397973&d=1477216360


http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=397975&d=1477216378

I painted the bitumen on the sleepers a couple of weeks ago.

As you can see, an ag-line has also been laid, so now I think it must be the full Monty?



The funny thing is that I was also looking for ideas on what would be a good floor over the earth in the Woodstore shed I am building (http://www.woodworkforums.com/f245/wood-storage-shed-209090#post1984679). The Flo-Cell is perfect and cheap. I laid out a dozen panels (600x400mm) of it this arvo for a few hours trial, and it's great to walk on. I have to confirm, but it's about $2 or so per panel (in packs of 6).

[Chris Parks]

Wait until you drop a box of screws on it and see what you think then.

About vege gardens, creatures of the night etc, we have had an apple tree stripped of all its foliage several times and put it down to possums. I walked outside late the other night and there was a deer about to do it again so I know who the culprit is now not that it is going to do me any good. It might be the same one Dave nearly hit when he left our place a few months ago at night.

[DaveTTC]

I see another thread I've missed. I need to spend more time on the forum

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[FenceFurniture]

Wait until you drop a box of screws on it and see what you think then.Yeah I did consider that actually but the only time screws will be down there is during construction. You're right - it'll be a nightmare in the shed proper.

[Uncle Al]

A magnet on a stick is a wonderful tool in these circumstances!
Alan...

[FenceFurniture]

Where once there was this (higher than it looks pile of fill):

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=396520&d=1475659904


we now have this:

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=398196&d=1477474865


You may remember previous pics of the bitumen coating on the sleepers and Flo-cell (I hope so - it was only a few posts ago). That was a collaborative effort between the owner's father and myself (him Flo-cell, me bitumen). The levelling was all done by him in about a day (Monday and today). This was a staggeringly good effort - he's just shy of 84! He was doing other stuff as well, such as drilling deep holes into the posts to fill with creosote and plug, excavating around the middle two posts to bitumen them, etc, etc. I'm gobsmacked at how much he can get through in a day.

Heh, heh, he's been enjoying the shade recently provided by the woodstore roof having just gone on - it's right next to the VG.

[DaveTTC]

Im sure you have explained this earlier bit I came late to the party. Why all the posts through the middle?

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[FenceFurniture]

The middle posts are to support the ridge beam, which will support the rafters, which will support the purlins, which will support the bird wire enclosure.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=392912&d=1472898542

They also will have sleepers running across them to allow for the terracing.

[DaveTTC]

Oh yes you did mention bird wire when I helped with the shed roof

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[Chris Parks]

Oh yes you did mention bird wire when you helped me with the shed roof

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

Fixed that for you Dave.

[FenceFurniture]

Cross sleepers are in, and levels can now be sorted out.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=398648&d=1477992962

[Sawdust Maker]

looks a bit flimsy, you probably need a bit more bracing :whistling2:

[DaveTTC]

Another fine erection

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[FenceFurniture]

Hmmm, I have to say this one wasn't much fun (dealing with the guy giant PITA who built it.....)

[FenceFurniture]

Switched back to vege garden duties today (from woodstore build, which is nearly done, and pretty much weather proof now). A bit of faffing about move this to here, that to there, to facilitate various things that need to happen (fill levels etc).

[DaveTTC]

Pics?

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[FenceFurniture]

Pics?Of what eh?

Choice 1: the giant PITA, and I value my camera
Choice 2: me shovelling dirt. Fairly boring, and I've finished, and it's dark.

Yer outta luck buddy :D

[DaveTTC]

Till tomorrow

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[FenceFurniture]

Choice 1 or 2? Giant PITA won't be back until next week.

[DaveTTC]

2

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[FenceFurniture]

Crikey, some people are easily pleased.

[DaveTTC]

Is it tomorrow yet

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[wheelinround]

Talk about elaborate over the top extravagance or is that opulence......its beginning to look like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Imagine the tourist $$$$ you could make charging entry to see it Brett starting with impending GtG crowd.......although they should get FREE entry, cuppa and lunch as they will be the ones passing on the word. However I am sure a bag of Gold coins donation would go to future improvements and upkeep.

[FenceFurniture]

I'll have some pics in a few days, but it's nearly finished! And thank gawd fer that!

In the interim we have put the rafters up, battens on the walls that don't have Weldmesh panels to support the Birdwire.

Currently about halfway through the Birdwire after three days at it. Doing the walls is pretty straight forward - cut to length,staple the top, pull it taut, staple the sides and then use copper wire to join the panels together at the seams. When I say"staples" I'm talking 20x2mm staples that are hammered in - over 1 kilo so far which I estimate is around 800-900 (must weigh and count them).

Doing the roof is another kettle of fish altogether. I would rate this as THE worst job ever. :~ It has all the tedium of the walls, but thrown into the mix is working at height, constantly moving the ladder and plank, not being able to reach the other side to staple it.....and three stinking hot days to do on. It's mighty slowwwww.........

When that's done I have to make the two sliding doors up. I'll be using UniStrut channel and wheel assemblies for this. At that point I'll be able to plant out at least something for the remainder of the season (really dirty that he took so long that I've missed 3 months of growing), and there will remain the one last task of doing the plumbing. I can't do that until a retaining wall is built behind the shed, as the plumbing will be attached to that. The wall is currently underway (same builder) but I don't know when he'll be finished. Before Xmas (2016!) I hope.

[DaveTTC]

Hanging out for pics

DaveTTC

Turning Wood into Art

[FenceFurniture]

Hanging out for picsBest not to make a similar comment in the Woodstore build thread (http://www.woodworkforums.com/f245/wood-storage-shed-209090#post1993410) (you'll see what I mean).

[DaveTTC]

Best not to make a similar comment in the Woodstore build thread (http://www.woodworkforums.com/f245/wood-storage-shed-209090#post1993410) (you'll see what I mean).
But I did make another comment. Almost time for me to head to work. Got the harvest work at a storage facility. It dont pay like building but its is close to home

DaveTTC

Turning Wood into Art

[FenceFurniture]

Day 6 of bird wiring......

104 of 105 square metres in place.

1 square metre to go!

Pics tomorrow, I promise.

[DaveTTC]

I'll be looking

DaveTTC

Turning Wood into Art

[Chris Parks]

I suppose if it doesn't work out as a vege garden it will make a good aviary.

[FenceFurniture]

I suppose if it doesn't work out as a vege garden it will make a good aviary.It looks just like one!

[FenceFurniture]

So, I have an aviary.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=401792&d=1481364108


http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=401794&d=1481364118


http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=401789&d=1481364097


This is from the Woodstore roof, which shows the two structures joined at the corner>

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=401795&d=1481364128


http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=401797&d=1481364148


http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=401796&d=1481364138



Not all of the copper wire joins are as neat as this, but there are mostly pretty good. I had (have) a split in my right forefinger and pushing 40 metres of copper wire through those 25mm holes was MURDER!
http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=401798&d=1481364156

There are 1.85 kilos of staples in it, which represents about 1850 staples. A professional would have probably used less, but they prolly don't have to satisfy any over-engineering bug.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=401799&d=1481364166


http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=401800&d=1481364174



These board-walks are the Western Red Cedar skirting boards that came out of an old house reno a few months ago. Given the durability and lightweight, I thought this might be a good use for them. They have a billion layers of old lead paint on the bottom side, so I covered that with two coats of bitumen (didn't fancy taking it off with the thicky for a few reasons).

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=401785&d=1481364088

There's 13 cubes of Vege Topsoil mix (@ $75 per) under those boards - all barrowed down from the front footpath 40 metres up the hill.

The Unistrut channel and wheels should be here pretty soon, so I can make the sliding doors. In the mean time I'll recommence work on the plumbing, and start planning the plant-out (in Excel, of course, as one does).

[Sawdust Maker]

nice chook house!

[FenceFurniture]

nice chook house!That's coming......like Xmas......2018.....

[Chris Parks]

When does the workshop extension start?

[FenceFurniture]

When does the workshop extension start?Next year. Maybe after summer.

[fletty]

There's a Summer in Katoomba :sleigh: ?

[DaveTTC]

There's a Summer in Katoomba :sleigh: ?
A period of potentially less cold and less rain. They only real tell is the longer daylight hours 😂

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[rwbuild]

You do realize that we expect to see the prize winning vegies at the Royal Easter Show after a gold plated effort on the construction, not to mention a gourmet spread at the next GTG

[JohnQ]

Brett,
Looking good, but there's one problem. Using copper wire to tie the gal mesh together is going to cause corrosion between the dissimilar metal.

Copper and Brass If an installation requires contact between galvanized materials and copper or brass in a moist or humid environment, rapid corrosion of the zinc may occur. Even runoff water from copper or brass surfaces can contain enough dissolved copper to cause rapid corrosion. If the use of copper or brass in contact with galvanized items is unavoidable, precautions should be taken to prevent electrical contact between the two metals. Joint faces should be insulated with non-conducting gaskets; connections should be made with insulating, grommet-type fasteners. The design should ensure water is not recirculated and water flows from the galvanized surface towards the copper or brass surface and not the reverse.
Source, https://www.galvanizeit.org/hot-dip-galvanizing/how-long-does-hdg-last/in-contact-with-other-metals

JohnQ

[FenceFurniture]

I had a nagging doubt about that the other day John, and was wondering what the situation might be. I think I saw a pliers-like gizmo in the hardware that looks like it seals a gal loop around wire. Better check it out.....

[JohnQ]

Just had look at the big green shed, 1000 Jambro rings $25, ring gun $80. Also known as Hog Rings.

Good luck with the rings if you use them. Hopefully no more sore fingers.

JohnQ

[Chris Parks]

Brett, I have tie wire pliers and heaps of gal tie wire if you want and it is a pretty quick process after you get the hang of it.

[pjt]

I had a nagging doubt about that the other day John, and was wondering what the situation might be. I think I saw a pliers-like gizmo in the hardware that looks like it seals a gal loop around wire. Better check it out.....

Wire netting clips are what you want, look like a capital C, there is a couple of sizes, put one clip into the pliers and squeeze closed.


Pete

[FenceFurniture]

Looks like these are what you mean Pete:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/whites-wires-aviary-clip-plier-with-20-clips_p3040886

and this shows the clips a little better:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/whites-wires-flat-aviary-clips-200-pack_p3040887


I can't be certain, but there seems to be some concern about Stainless Steel in contact with gal, but it seems to depend on the surface area. None of what I read gives a definite conclusion.

However, those Whites SS clips are designed for their own Bird Wire, so one can hopefully presume that they are ok.

It certainly looks like a fairly quick process.

[crowie]

I have a pair like this Brett...

https://www.bunnings.com.au/whites-wires-red-netting-clip-plier_p3063423

[FenceFurniture]

Thanks crowie, but I think I'll invest in the flat type - sadly this won't be the last bird wiring that I'll do (chookies). What's the bet that Bunnings Valley Heights don't stock them and I have to go to Penrith....

[FenceFurniture]

What's the bet that Bunnings Valley Heights don't stock them and I have to go to Penrith....Ah yup, they don't stock them at Valley Heights. Although they did actually have one - sans bonus clips - and they didn't have any extra packs of clips. Apparently this one must have been a return from another store.

So, to Penrith and back, and they work really well - in the order of 15-20 times quicker than pushing copper wire through holes too small for fingers......wish I'd done some research.....:doh:

I got the bird wire at Masters 3 months ago (the day after they went on sale) and the copper wire was right next to it so I assumed that was the stuff to use.

Big thanks to JohnQ for spotting the problem. :2tsup:

I have replaced one wall, and removed the copper wire. There was indeed evidence of corrosion already, and that wall has only been done for 10 days.

[FenceFurniture]

Brett, I have tie wire pliers and heaps of gal tie wire if you want and it is a pretty quick process after you get the hang of it.Funnily enough I discovered a roll of gal tie wire in the garden shed yesterday, during a routine tidy up. It would have been left by a previous occupant (I'd have remembered it if it was something I put in there). I will have to use some of this to attach the birdwire to the weldmesh, as the J clips aren't quite big enough. I don't have proper pliers, but a normal pair will do for the small number of these ties, or maybe a careful grab with the end-cutters.

[Christos]

There's a Summer in Katoomba :sleigh: ?


Yes..... There is......

If you blink you will miss it.

[FenceFurniture]

There's a Summer in Katoomba :sleigh: ?Yep, Christos is right - it's shorter than most - and a WHOLE lot more pleasant (although still 30°) than it is in Camden today and tomorrow......:D

[Sawdust Maker]

hmm, I probably should have given you some pointers on the fine art of affixing this sort of stuff. I was a fencer in a former life

[FenceFurniture]

On Saturday I did the plumbing inside the garden, using Pex Pipe and Sharkbite fittings. It's a really easy (but not cheap) system to use. Just push the fitting on (about 25mm) and it's done. DaveTTC put me onto it.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=402727&d=1482312186

You can see the pipe which has to be to be joined onto more pipe which is currently only to the back of the shed. Waiting on a retaining wall to be built so I can do that, but I may have to do a temporary job so I can use the water (very keen to sow some seed for what is left of the season).


That was the penultimate task. The very last is to make the rolling gates. Here it is during a test fitting yesterday (sorry 'bout the sideways - I tried):

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=402728&d=1482312196

I'm using Unistrut channels and wheels for this. Very good quality but REALLY expensive. $120 for 6m of channel, and $200 all up for the two gates.....which makes them about $175 for each gate with timber, birdwire, paint etc.

Big shout of thanks to fletty for picking up the Unistrut from near his home and delivering it last week. :2tsup:


So of course, at that sort of money I wanted to absolutely minimise the amount of channel required. This involved more thinking than I had reckoned on :think:

The position of the wheels (distance from the gate edge) is quite critical, as is the positioning of the lower channel, as are the lengths of the pieces etc. An Excel doagram provided the answers (and I had to give fletty the cutting lengths before he could pu - 6m of channel on the roof is a bad idea).

The top channel is almost twice the length of the gate

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=402730&d=1482312213

A Channel Nut on each end stops the gate from rolling off. Much planning went into calculating the exact positioning of the wheels and the channel length, but as it turns out, the big square washer is what the wheel housing hits up against :B

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=402731&d=1482312221


I didn't use the roller wheels for the bottom because that would have meant another lenght of channel. Instead, I've been able to get away with a very short piece and a guide board attached to the bottom of the gate. Those pieces of H4 pine have had a couple of licks of creosote, as they are now buried in soil.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=402732&d=1482312231

The guide board on the bottom is Merbau (nice and easy to find and retrieve from the new woodstore shed :D) which has very good life outdoors in my experience, but again it got a couple of licks of creo.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=402733&d=1482312238

The pale grey that you can see is Sikaflex which I used liberally in the half-lap joints of the gate (8 of them). It is particularly good at sealing end grain from the elements, and it readily accepts a paint finish.

[FenceFurniture]

And the final result.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=402734&d=1482312249


Had a few brass handles hanging around.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=402735&d=1482312257

The handle for the inside has to slide past the post, so needs a concealed position.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=402736&d=1482312265

So, one more gate to make, connect the middle bit of the plumbing, and it's complete!

Just talking to DaveTTC a few minutes ago and he asked me how I made the joints ("half-lap"). He was curious as to how a floating tenon would compare for strength and durability. I may just make the second gate with floating tenons for a giggle, and a vast time saving, so Dave, I'll get back to you in about 10 years on the answer to that :2tsup:

I don't actually have any "outdoor" dominoes but if I use Sika instead of glue they should be fine - if water can't get in there should be no problem with durability/rot - let's see.

[rwbuild]

Just as well you aligned all the Robinson head screws the same way otherwise I would have to take a mark off for that :rolleyes:

[FenceFurniture]

Just as well you aligned all the Robinson head screws the same way otherwise I would have to take a mark off for that :rolleyes:Heh heh, just glad someone noticed they'd been set - not much point otherwise....

[Pat]

Looks like a Dog house for when you raise Lola's ire . . .:q

[Uncle Al]

If the wire mesh was a tad smaller, you could house all the sparrows in there that are causing you all the problems.:D

The whole structure will look great with some greenery in there to contrast with the grey framing. Don't let too many neighbours see it, or you will end up with a new business building green houses. (or should they be grey houses??).
Alan...

[crowie]

If the wire mesh was a tad smaller, you could house all the sparrows in there that are causing you all the problems.:D

Alan...

You could use the whole structure as sparrow trap...

[Chris Parks]

You could use the whole structure as sparrow tray...

And plant the veges outside where they can't get to them.

[DaveTTC]

Looking sweet. Wonder what will br on the menu at the mext Katoomba GTG

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[Lappa]

Talk about a secure "veggie garden" ! What are you growing in there? - Mary Jane?:D

[FenceFurniture]

The garden is finished!

About an hour ago I mounted the second gate (no need for a pic - picture something taller and skinnier than the first one).

I made this one with loose tenons rather than half-laps, and it was certainly a lot quicker and less messy to make (the DE on the Domino is virtually 100%). However, because of a problem I had with the Domino machine (http://www.woodworkforums.com/f58/maddening-domino-211004) the cross members and sides (are they Stiles?) are not flush. This is no real big deal on a garden gate of course, but.....

Actually there was a little problem surface from the lack of flush - the gate has a slight twist from top to bottom, probably about 15mm out of flat. I ummed and ahhed about whether to correct this with the bottom guide board the goes through the channel. I figured that if I corrected it then there would be more resistance to sliding. This was very much the case when I did a dry-fit as it was quite stiff to push, but now that the guide board has a lick of creo it's no longer a problem.

As previously described I used Sikaflex instead of glue, and so to answer your question Dave - I think it's plenty strong enough. Probably about as durable too. For outdoor use I would not really recommend using glue (even though Titebond III is for outdoor). The Sikaflex will give much better waterproofing to the joints. Even if I had used glue I'd still have to put Sika over the outside of the joints anyway.

[FenceFurniture]

So when I say the garden is finished, that is technically correct. :; The plumbing inside the garden is done, but I only have a temporary connection to the rest of the plumbing, which can't be completed until after a retaining wall is finished later next month.

That means there are a few leaks when I charge the Pex Pipe with water, but only where there are 3/4" thread joins. I've already put quite a bit of white tape in those joins but obviously have to add significantly more. The problem is that the Hoselink plastic males are not long enough for the Sharkbite females, and so they don't tighten properly before no more turning is possible. No big deal - it just means I have to turn the original tap on and off when I want to water.

Sowed my seeds on Boxing Day, and need to get a few herb seedlings and Strawberry pots happening. I didn't bother with any of the things that need a long growing season this time because I'm so late (tomatoes, corn, capsicum), and I'm probably wasting my time with Zucchini, Squash and Cucumbers, but then again it's only a few seeds.

One really good thing I've noticed about the topsoil mix is that there are nil weed seeds in there. A month after putting it in, and with a reasonable amount of rain there are still no weeds at all.

I wish I could say the same for plastic/glass/ceramic chip inclusions though. There's heaps of the crap, particularly little pieces of plastic film of various colours. Not at all what I expect for $75 per cube. It's mainly visual pollution, but the glass and ceramic is a bit of a cut worry.

[DaveTTC]

You've left me no questioms to ask

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[Simplicity]

It's looking fantastic Brett .
Well done.
So ,will we all be going organic at your next gtg if of course your considering having another gtg .
And if I'm not banned lol.

Cheers Matt

[FenceFurniture]

Thanks Matt. Yes to all questions. :;

[Simplicity]

I'm banned lol
I just send Sally then [emoji849]

[Uncle Al]

I'm banned lol
I just send Sally then [emoji849]
That seems fair!

Alan...

[FenceFurniture]

Not bad - seedlings 3 days after sowing. Cucumber on the left, Rocket on the right.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=403084&d=1483000230

I begin to understand how Rocket got its name.


Pink Strawberry seedlings planted today:

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=403085&d=1483000239


And some Herbs:

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=403086&d=1483000249

[FenceFurniture]

I was pretty happy with the progress, at this point - 32 days from seed.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=406495&d=1487291667



http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=406496&d=1487291675


but now, after 55 days it's starting to go crazy. The Zucchini, Squash, Cucumbers and Silverbeet are all heroic performers:

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=406489&d=1487291562


http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=406490&d=1487291572


I'd sort of forgotten just how satisfying it is to grow your own produce. This morning I was able to make 1½ litres of Pesto in two different flavours (http://www.woodworkforums.com/f120/pesto-basil-coriander-212135).

We've been eating great Zucchinis and Silverbeet. Bok Choi too, and last night we were able to have 2 beans and 3 Snow Peas each! :D Oh, and for dessert Lola got two Strawberries.

[rwbuild]

So the next GTG will be a black tie affair, all we will need is the appropriate liquids to go with it :rolleyes:

[rob streeper]

Brett,

Impressive cage work. Are the critters in your area so bad?

Cheers,
Rob

[FenceFurniture]

Yeah, stacks of Possums and birds Rob. Apparently possums are dead keen on Basil - I thought it would be too strong for them. Useful for keeping cat scats out of there too. Blackadder really likes it in there, lounging around under the Zucchinis. He's a pretty smart boy, so I've more or less got him trained not to dig in there.

It's actually quite a useful staging point for getting him in at night. In this hot weather he likes to nick off down the back and not come in for tucker, so if I go to the garden and he follows, at least I can harbour him there. Mind you, trying to catch him amongst that lot is......well, like trying to herd cats. :D