Irrigation Step 7, Continued

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Dayphoto

gated-pipe

Some of our irrigation is set up with either a dirt ditch or cement ditch, which uses siphon tubes or the easy way….gated pipe!! (My personal favorite)

It is easier to use, costs more to set up, harder to fix if the pipes become broken. The easier to use part is why I like it.

on-no

Here is an example of what you don’t want to have happen. The water gets caught in a low spot and starts cutting over into another furrow until you have a bog hole. The only way to fix it is re-dig the furrow by hand, er shovel.

now-what

Our Water is HERE!

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Dayphoto

Our water, for irrigation, comes about because of the Uncompahgre Valley Water Project. The project has one storage dam, several diversion dams, 128 miles of canals, 438 miles of laterals and 216 miles of drains.

The project canal runs right by our road and is the source of all water for our crops and my yard and garden.

Usually the water isn’t turned on until closer to the 30^th of March, but when a grower calls

for early water (because of raising onions or lettuce) the water is turned on early.

water-001

I love the canal, I love hearing the music of the water as is trips along on its way to the states of Arizona and Nevada and California. I think of it as a friend, one who goes away for the winter and then comes back bringing life to our farms.

Spring Work Has Begun

Posted on March 13, 2009 by Dayphoto

building-fence

Always there are fences to fix and re-fix

dude-waiting-for-spring

The canal bank has to be burned readying for the water coming on the last week of March

Both Fuzzy and Sammy Sam like to help us (Monkey never leaves the house, the fresh air messes up her fur)

sammy-and-the-ditch

Other farmers are burning so a haze hangs everywhere, creating breathing problems for me and others (but spring rains help clear it out)

smoke-filled-sky

Hoolie wants to get out and help us also, but her parents said no!

hoolie

And I finally got the hedge cut down so I can start over this spring! YEAH! I’ve been trying to do this for two years.

cutting-down-the-hedge

Another Rite of Spring!

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Dayphoto

We were over at the equipment hillside when we saw smoke coming from the area where our house is

fire

Since one of our neighbors caught part of our place on fire three years ago, the smoke made us hoof it over the old corn field rather fast.

Then we found out it was the ditch company getting the canal ready for water.

ditch-is-burned

What a relief!

Hidey Holes

Posted on February 25, 2009 by Dayphoto

This time of year we start to get ready for water. Water on our farm is transported through culverts, ditches, underground transport pipes, and gated pipe.

These same pieces of transportation for water are also really good homes for critters: fox, skunk, feral cats, and feral dogs from the rigors of winter. The problem of making these things their homes is instant death as soon as the water is turned in.

Therefore, we like to check all everywhere making sure there is nothing living there.

Getting them out of their burrow (the water transportation unit) can sometimes be a real problem, especially if we are talking about skunks.

home-in-a-pipe

But this year we are safe (so far).

somebodies-home

Skunks are mating right now, and will be looking for a nice warm nest, but water is just a few weeks off and if we cover the ends they will move on to dens in the ground.

The coyotes have dens on the hills on our place, but I’m not brave enough to go poking my head where they are. I have been thinking I might, MIGHT, go to where they live and see if I could get any baby pictures, but I haven’t worked up enough courage.

Signs of Spring

Posted on February 24, 2009 by Dayphoto

drain-ditch

Water in the drain ditch

black-cows

The cows ready to have babies

And

green-grass

GREEN GRASS! HAPPY, Happy, JOY, Joy!

Clear as Mud

Posted on July 25, 2008 by Dayphoto

For some reason the irrigation water is especially muddy this year, it seems to be more so than last year.

Even after it runs for awhile, it is still rather muddy.

If it isn’t one thing, then it is Another!

Posted on June 24, 2008 by Dayphoto

This hasn’t happened in Years! We have water in the basement! Not just a small amount, but about a foot.

This happens if the neighbor waters his corn at the same time Terry has water in the field in front of the house.

What a mess, but it does dry out.

Water Under the Bridge

Posted on May 28, 2008 by Dayphoto

The river has reached full strength lapping at the railroad bridge.

The Water is in the Ditch

Posted on May 15, 2008 by Dayphoto

This is the same ditch I just wrote about in Waiting for Water.

Siphon tubes are one of the oldest farm tools still in use. They have been lifting water from irrigation ditches and putting water into waiting furrows for thousands of years.

Once this field gets wet, then the water will be moved. Probably to one of the fields with gated pipe.