Snow....

[markcg2000]

You know, when I saw your pictures I thought a blower might be a good idea. It can loft the snow far enough away that you don't need the FEL... and even if the stuff comes down as heavy as you get, the blower can put it over mounds pretty well, too.
I've only had mine this past season, and I can't recall ever getting a base down like you show, but we did get a couple of very heavy, wet snow falls. The blower handled it just fine. The only thing that might drive you nuts is having to look over your shoulder (mine's a 3PH style), but it's really no different then using a backblade, I would think.
Also, a blower goes slower than a plow. However, if you add in all those FEL hours, you might stilll work out better with a blower /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

mark

 

[Bird]

Yep, DFB, that would definitely be easier than my one row, human powered "precision planter", but can it stick those plants in the ground, too?/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Bird

 

[jimmoore]

DFB, What is that machine used to plant? we have some here that looks like that, used to plant tree seedlings and strawberries.

jim

 

[Thomas]

Bird,
If I recall last year about this time or was it early April you folks needed rain.
About whats the sq footage of your garden,for it sounds like a good size.
Rememeber those old root cellars and the shelfs loaded w/pickle beets,cukes,tomatoes etc.. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Kinda hard to believe,for I shall be digging out my to road culverts under 5 plus feet of snow today,while you are finishing planting your garden.

Have a pleasant day and don't over do. it.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[MReeter]

Derek,I can tell by the pics that our property value is going up.After this Winter,I can see a major migration of folks heading South this Spring,as soon as they can get out of their driveways that is!

 

[Bird]

<font color=blue>about this time or was it early April you folks needed rain</font color=blue>

Actually we had plenty of rain last year until June 19 - that was the end of it. And of course, before that date the grasshoppers had taken over. Weather is a peculiar thing. I keep a chart of the precipitation at my place, and would you believe, for the calendar year, I had more last year than any year in the last 6; trouble is that it all came in May, June, and November instead of being spread over the year.

<font color=blue>Rememeber those old root cellars and the shelfs loaded w/pickle beets,cukes,tomatoes etc..</font color=blue>

We had lots of canned vegetables, jams, and jellies in the cellar, as well as potatoes not canned, when I was a kid.

<font color=blue>whats the sq footage of your garden</font color=blue>

It's not all that big; only about 9,000 sq. ft.


Bird

 

[DFB]

Hey Guys,

That first planter is used to put in the plants that are started in peat pots. Up HERE /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif we have to start just about everything in the greenhouse except for the root crops, potatoes, beans and corn. The key thing with that unit is that it can plant thru plastic garden mulch. You feed a potted plant onto mechanically rotating spades. It cuts thru the plastic, scoops the hole, drops in the plant, and backfills. It is used for the tomatoes, peppers, early cukes, and squash plants. Dang, what won't they think of next! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

The rest of the greenhouse starts are in pop out type trays and are planted bareroot with this other unit. Cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower. Strawberry plants have been planted with it too. And it's also used to plant the potatoes. The pics aren't very good they were taken with a throw away camera back at Christmas time.
Anyways the green house is going now. About 8 more weeks to go. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif


BTW, there was a story on the weather in our local paper and that back in 1816, Maine had killing frosts in June, July, AND August of that year. /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

DFB

 

[Thomas]

Interesting piece of equipment.
Does it have motor and is that one complete unit.
Two chairs and two pillows..looks like one could have a long day ahead. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

<font color=red>WHAT</font color=red><font color=black>spring and mud season has arrived over there, /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gifno fair..foul../w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gifheck by this time the town and city here would have the roads post for light travel weight,but instead frost heaves and narrow road do to snow. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Enjoy the day and think warm weather.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Bird]

DFB, I don't guess I've ever seen anything like those planters, but your description sure makes me wish I had something like that.

Bird

 

[Thomas]

Did you mention Coffee...how do I get to Pete's home. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

The last noreaster the city brought up there blower to reopen the road from the drifts,and like a small child I was there to watch.
The only time it seem to have trouble when it enter where the drift had pack,other than that the sloppy snow was no problem nor were the news paper.

Lebanon airport at one time had a blower attach to a 2wd 6yd dump truck w/a sander,also use the unit to clean the landfill...sure wouldn't have wanted to get blind sided by that beast. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif
By the looks of your pictures and the hours you put in Derek it could be the answer. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Rest up and enjoy the sun for a change.


Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Thomas]

A 9,ooo sq ft garden pretty good size for a family in my area now a days..plus the wildlife.

I guess you have a darn good plan on weed control,never care for weeding. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Bird]

Thomas, 9,000 sq. ft. here would be far too much just for us, but we furnish vegetables to my brother and his wife, a sister, two grown daughters and their families, and I even sell just a little bit.

<font color=blue>I guess you have a darn good plan on weed control,never care for weeding</font color=blue>

I always hated that job myself. My brother-in-law and the adjoining neighbor pretty much let the grass & weeds grow in the off season (and to a considerable extent during the growing season). But I keep mine pretty much weed free by doing two things differently. I till the garden several times during the off season, too, to keep any weeds and grass plowed under. And I hand water in the rows with a high volume, low pressure wand instead of a sprinkler so I'm not watering weeds and grass between the rows.

Bird

 

[Boondox]

Yeah, I'm a geek at Green Mountain Java. Spend my days figuring out how to automate much of what the shop floor has to do manually. But with 11.5 million pounds of coffee to choose from, I rarely feel tired at work!

I envy Derek his room to maneuver. We're just a few miles south of him so have the same snow depth, but my road is flanked on both sides by 200 year old stone walls. Guess the only way to deal with it is to blow it up and over the walls, but the Wife, having just paid big bucks for Clementine, is unwilling to part with more cash. Can't say I blame her, but am practicing my Long Suffering Husband face when I come back from plowing in the hopes she'll feel sorry for me. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Looks like the ideal setup would be the rear blade coupled with the front-mounted blower. But man are they expensive!!!

Pete in Brrrmont
www.gatewaytovermont.com

 

[Rowski]

This is what I did this afternoon. A slight change in pace. I'm the guy in the rear of the picture. Sure hope you guys (gals) from the warm climate know what this is/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. We'll probably be doing this till May!

Derek

 

[Rowski]

I wish I could find someone to rent a blower from so I could see how it works. We plow a 100 drives. So plowing is needed to get the drives all plowed in a timely fashion. I run into the trouble with high side banks along with end banks creeping in and limiting turn around areas. I wonder to if a blower can chew into a frozen end bank. Would you need creeper gears (gear drive).
It's tough and expensive to buy something and not have it work out. So I figure if I can try before you buy or at least see the equipment work I'll be much happier and make a better choice.

Has anybody heard of Fair Mfg. "snocrete" (registered trademark) blowers?

Thanks for all the comments and advice!

Derek

 

[Rowski]

Fair Mfg. is out of Menno South Dakota.

Website http://www.fairmfg.com

They make units from 3' to 10'. Can get them self powered, 3pt for tracotrs, or other power power source. They have a video showing them blowing a wind row of dirt, a guy throwing cement blocks into a running unit, throwing in a three foot section of chain. Seems pretty impressive.

Derek

 

[Thomas]

I agree w/you Derek about to Mid May w/all of this snow. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Whats you got in your hand there. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Look on the good side,the wells shouldn't go dry this summer. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Thomas]

Yikes...
thats one beast for sure.
Wonder how much noise that unit makes,and I pity anybody mailbox etc..


Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[RobS]

You know, back in December I would have thought that snowblower was pretty cool /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif But after another 2 inches last night I'm just plain sick of snow for this year /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif I picked up a landscape rake yesterday but now between snow and rain predicted for later this week, I won't have a chance to "play" with it for who knows how long. I guess my consolation is your misfortune Derek, for my two inches is probably two feet for you /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Hope you're all dug out by now /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Derek,
I have a B2710 with a 5' front mount blower on it. I had no problem this past Thursday/Friday moving 14"
of wet heavy snow. Also my driveway goes up hill. Syms heated cab does'nt hurt either.
More snow predicted for tonight... maybe this weekend also, here in New Hampshire anyway.
John