After years of ignoring a section in my yard, I've been spending the last few days cleaning it up to put it to good use. Before laying down my new stacks, I had to rotate the contents of my compost bins. New "Stuff' goes into the right bin. Usable compost is in the 2 trash barrels. Every year, I empty whatever leftover compost that remains in the trash barrels and broadcast it on a section of lawn that can use it. The middle bin is then shoveled into the trash barrels, and the rightmost bin, is shoveled into the middle bin. I "turn" the contents of the two right bins a couple times of year. You could say, that I have a 3-yr compost plan. ~smile~ However, I digress..... So, to the right of the of the rightmost compost bin, is the area that had become a true eyesore. It had become my "put it there for now" spot. I cleaned it up, and anything that was compostable, got shoveled into the newly emptied compost bin. I then began the actual stacking - Yeah, there's some uglies there..... for now. I'm thinking I can get 5 stacks in this area, maybe 6. First time using T-posts. I needed to adjust that middle one, as it was beginning to be pushed out. Yeah, it has a bend in it. Each stack is resting on fresh cut white pine saplings, of which I have many. This is also the first time I've used cribbing on the other end of the stack. We'll see how they hold up And because Monday was a nice day, I had my moveable redneck fire pit lit, burning up whatever the recent wind storms knocked out of the trees and other collected burnables. There's still lots of branches to burn/clean up. Lessons learned - T-posts - Use the longest you can get/afford and pound them in as deep as you can get them. Expect to hit roots/rocks or whatever else you might have in your ground. Tilt them nack towards your stacks to compensate of any pushing against them of the wood stacks Cribbing - I opted for 2x2 layers. I know I've seen 3x3 layers. We'll see how the 2x2 hold up. Each parallel piece of wood, needs to the same dimension in regards to height. Different layers can have different heights/thicknesses, but keep each layer the same height. The wood is a mix of red/white oak that I've been fortunate to collect from next door. That's been mentioned/documented in a different thread. I plan to leave the new stacks uncovered until the Fall of 2018. As I keep CSS'ing it, I'm thinking that I've got close to 3cord from next door. Probably left another 6-7 there. I'm guessing that I cut and stacked about 2 cords for the guy. He's had other family/friends take what they wanted. I need to be sure to drop off a case or two of cold ones, once he and his new house are in place. That's about it from here. Hoard on!!
Feels great getting everything tucked away before snow, doesn't it? I've built a couple stacks using t-posts, too. I like them a lot! I tie opposing posts together with baling wire,and it makes them solid as a rock. This one I used 6 6-footers, a couple pallets on the bottom. I intend to split the rounds in the spring.
Where I am in the granite state, I have a hard time pounding T-posts into the ground. I don't use them for stacking but I do use them for fencing around the yard and garden. I've found that the best method for me is to just dig down with a shovel til I get to the level I want it. Then backfill. I try to leave the ground undisturbed on the side that the post will lean to. Back filling with the same rocks I pulled out of the hole keeps them pretty much in place. Nice new stacks.. like your compost method.
Thanks. I know compost can be worked into a use able product quicker than the way I do it, but, I'm in no hurry. More roots here than rocks, where I'm working. I have multiple types of stacks. Whatever works, works! Sent from my SM-T280 using Tapatalk
stuckinthemuck when driving in a t post I always try to make a pilot hole using a pointed metal digging bar. I just keep pounding it into ground and wiggling it from side to side to create a deep hole. If I hit a rock move it to side in hole or start a new hole. Place t post in and drive I'd down with sledge. I have a bunch of these bars in different lengths and diameters. Very handy! Also +1 on stringing wire right to left between t posts to keep them from spreading
Unfortunately there is a big difference geologically between NH and Long Island. I have a digging bar. More often than not, I'm using it to remove the rock that was hindering my progress in pounding the post. If I select another location, I find another rock. I find it much less frustrating to just dig the hole rather than fight against Mother Nature who has blessed me with rocks, boulders and ledge...
