Nova bonsai garden

[CarolinaBonsai]

So the deal is done and I’m relocating from Houston to Virginia. It’s a beautiful piece of property about halfway between Front Royal and Warrenton. Best of all - I’ve claimed a pasture for my garden! It’s going to be a journey - I’ve got a well to drill, a greenhouse and a cold frame to put up, a barn to build and a bunch of trees to relocate. So I’m making a little thread to document my journey. It’s exciting for me and I thought that perhaps there is interest in following the construction of a garden from a pasture. So I’ll record all my trials and tribulations here.

Here’s a picture of the pasture when I flew my drone over it back in the summer. The elevation is about 660’. There’s a small stream that runs through the woods bordering the property to the NW. The pasture consists of rolling hills - it’s been in hay and cattle primarily for many years.

View attachment 413698

Virginia so beautiful! Looking forward to future posts. Congratulations!

 

[markyscott]

Lots of progress on the rainwater system today.

1. Tank went in the ground
2. Using 4” pipe, the system was plumbed into the gutter downspouts.
3. The pressure tank and filtration system was installed. I’ll insulate this area under the stairs and keep a small propane space heater in there to keep the temps above freezing.

Tomorrow, we’ll drop the pump in the tank and run the lines to the hydrants in the yard. After that, we’ll just have to wait on the next rain!

- S

 

[PiñonJ]

Lots of progress on the rainwater system today.

1. Tank went in the ground View attachment 451871View attachment 451874
2. Using 4” pipe, the system was plumbed into the gutter downspouts.View attachment 451872
3. The pressure tank and filtration system was installed. I’ll insulate this area under the stairs and keep a small propane space heater in there to keep the temps above freezing.View attachment 451873

Tomorrow, we’ll drop the pump in the tank and run the lines to the hydrants in the yard. After that, we’ll just have to wait on the next rain!

- S

What are you doing to exclude debris from the system? Will you ever need to get silt pumped out of the cistern?

 

[markyscott]

What are you doing to exclude debris from the system? Will you ever need to get silt pumped out of the cistern?

I took several precautions. First - the roof is metal, not composition. So it won’t shed debris like an asphalt roof will be. Second, the building is out in the open with no overhanging trees. Third - all of the water from the downspouts is run through a vortex filter before it gets to the tank. That filter needs to be cleaned regularly. Finally, the pump inlet is connected to a float so it always draws water from the top of the tank.

I considered putting in a first flush system as well, but was assured that it wasn’t necessary. In my case, they didn’t think it will need to be cleaned often, but I’ll get the rundown on system maintenance later today after the finish up and let you know.

- S

 

[Maiden69]

Third - all of the water from the downspouts is run through a vortex filter before it gets to the tank.

Very smart. I seen a few coastal cities using this type of filters to clean up debris from storm water drains. Which one are you using? The one I was considering one similar to the one in this link. But for what I need it is overkill, so I am just going to go with a downspout filter.

 

[Carkybones]

@markyscott i can't remember if I asked this before but do you have a heater for the tank or are you burying it below the frost line?

 

[markyscott]

Very smart. I seen a few coastal cities using this type of filters to clean up debris from storm water drains. Which one are you using? The one I was considering one similar to the one in this link. But for what I need it is overkill, so I am just going to go with a downspout filter.

Here’s the model I went with.

Fine WISY WFF150 Vortex Rainwater Filter

Order a durable Fine WISY WFF150 rainwater filter online at Rainwater Management Solutions. The Fine WISY WFF150 vortex rainwater filter is designed to separate solids from water and can be used for buildings with 5,500 SF of roof area. Shop for a new Fine WISY WFF150 rainwater filter at...

rainwatermanagement.com

 

[markyscott]

@markyscott i can't remember if I asked this before but do you have a heater for the tank or are you burying it below the frost line?

Hi. The access ports are at the surface, but most of the tank is well below the frost line. I won’t have to worry about it freezing.

S

 

[markyscott]

Fence progress, the high tunnel location is graded, and the first bench is done.

 

[Arcto]

Fence progress, the high tunnel location is graded, and the first bench is done. View attachment 453181View attachment 453182

Looks like you’re all set for cattle. Any concerns about deer? I don’t think that fence will do it.

 

[markyscott]

Looks like you’re all set for cattle. Any concerns about deer? I don’t think that fence will do it.

This fence is meant to keep out cattle. Actually - I’ll probably run a strand of electric also.

I am concerned about deer. We‘ll see if they bother the trees there - I don’t have anything behind deer fence now and haven’t had trouble yet. If it turns out to be the case, I’ll have to come up with a plan.

- S

 

[markyscott]

Took a break from fence making to take a helicopter tour with my daughter. Stopped at Natures Way on my way to New York. Missed Jim Doyle - hope to catch him on the next trip.

 

[Arcto]

This fence is meant to keep out cattle. Actually - I’ll probably run a strand of electric also.

I am concerned about deer. We‘ll see if they bother the trees there - I don’t have anything behind deer fence now and haven’t had trouble yet. If it turns out to be the case, I’ll have to come up with a plan.

- S

My personal experience with electric fences are that they are easier and cheaper to install. But the maintenance is much higher than a permanent deer fence. Effective over 90% of the time, but it’s that other 10% you remember. The deer constantly test the fence. Winds, snow, ice, etc cause breakage and shorts. I had one doe that learned to go between the strands in spite of the voltage and taught her fawns as well. Usually resulted in a broken wire which then let others through. One trick I learned was to smear a little peanut butter on a hot wire. That trained a lot (but not all) to avoid the wires. Since then I have always put up a permanent 7’ deer fence and never had a problem.

 

[ShadyStump]

I have always put up a permanent 7’ deer fenc

This is your best option, but good luck finding game fencing, especially if you're on a budget.
Before the divorce, I built a game fence like that for my ex around the garden, and it was a half acre plot. Between the fencing - which involved a 6 hour day trip to pick up - and the posts - bolstered 10'x8" wood posts at the corners, and 10' t-posts between, all hunted down from different sources - and a stock gate to match the height, it was a little over $3k, and that's without paying for labor and machinery in a rural area that does allot of this stuff. Hiring out would be a one day $10k job here, at least, and the cost doesn't scale down much from that project, though it CERTAINLY scales up readily.

 

[Thomas Mitchell]

Here’s the model I went with.

Fine WISY WFF150 Vortex Rainwater Filter

Order a durable Fine WISY WFF150 rainwater filter online at Rainwater Management Solutions. The Fine WISY WFF150 vortex rainwater filter is designed to separate solids from water and can be used for buildings with 5,500 SF of roof area. Shop for a new Fine WISY WFF150 rainwater filter at...

rainwatermanagement.com

I have the same filter in my rainwater catchment system. It works great. I bought a spare insert and I just swap them out every month and run the spare through the dishwasher. My barn is in a hole in the middle of the rainforest so screening fir needles is s a big deal. Your place will be much easier out in the open.

 

[rockm]

This fence is meant to keep out cattle. Actually - I’ll probably run a strand of electric also.

I am concerned about deer. We‘ll see if they bother the trees there - I don’t have anything behind deer fence now and haven’t had trouble yet. If it turns out to be the case, I’ll have to come up with a plan.

- S

You hunt? shoot em, eat em...Bow season starts Oct. 1...

Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons

Regulations, restrictions and seasons regarding the seasonal hunting of deer within Virginia for 2024 through 2025

dwr.virginia.gov

 

[mike3m]

You hunt? shoot em, eat em...Bow season starts Oct. 1...

Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons

Regulations, restrictions and seasons regarding the seasonal hunting of deer within Virginia for 2024 through 2025

dwr.virginia.gov

FYI, this year Fauquier Co is included in the early firearms season on private lands for antlerless deer, Sept 3-30. Not encouraging/discouraging the practice, just a heads up to new arrivals

 

[markyscott]

Fence is nearly complete, field is covered with blue mistflower, high tunnel arrived, a break to hike Mary’s Rock with my daughter (who dragged me up the mountain agin), and the water tank is full after a solid rain over the past couple of days.

 

[AnutterBonsai]

tank is already full? nice!

 

[markyscott]

Fence is done, gates installed and I‘ve started the high tunnel installation.