IrrigationStation

It feels like we spent weeks and weeks bemoaning how wet it was...rain rain rain, drizzle drizzle rain...and now, all of a sudden everything is DRY.  Did the growing season really only last a week?  Not good for grass farmers (we're essentially grass farmers, with ruminant herds eager to consume said grass).

At Sweet Home Farms River, we have water/irrigation rights to the lovely Calapooia River, which flows right behind the house.  (This gives us the opportunity to keep the grass growing and extend the length of time the animals can graze--for this reason, the finishing cattle are here!)  Today was the day for the arduous task of setting up the irrigation system: pump, pipe, and sprinklers.  I can't stress how important it is to water the grass BEFORE it dries out, so timing is essential!

I'm sure other places have newer, fancier equipment...ours is a bit funky and clunky:

Danny and The Pump.

The foot valve, which will draw in the fresh water.

Upstream Calapooia.

Downstream Calapooia.

The fuse box.

Red to red, white to white, black to black, and the ground.

Serious electrical cord.

Water gets pumped up from the river...

...And out to the field.

View from the orchard, water is pumping!