Sunday, March 28, 2010

Deconstructing


Years ago, when I first built the pig pen, I wisely chose pig panels, 16 foot long semi rigid fence sections, rather than wrestling floppy field fence.
Good boy, FC.
Even as a pig newbie, I knew that a pig might dig out from under the panels, so at the time I trenched the perimeter and laid in sections of old fencing under the soil. This was tie-wired to the hog panels.

Any future Hogdini escape artist would be foiled by my cleverness I thought.
And I was right.

The only escape we ever had was a gate left poorly secured.

The last thing on my mind, eight years ago, was how hard it would be to disassemble this pen out there in future land.


Well, future land is now present land and ... yowza!
I worked most of yesterday, bolt cutting and pulling fence staples out, nipping wire ties with my linesman pliers, digging trenches, pulling on rusty underground fence ... no wonder these pigs never dug out!!!


Apparently back then, I tossed any escape obstacle I could find into the perimeter trench. So far the shovel has brought up old lattice scraps, concrete blocks, and miscellaneous cement chunks.


All of that labor took place beneath a beautiful wild black cherry tree that I planted from seed years ago. It's in full bloom now, unlike it's neighbor the wild hog plum tree which was a cloud of bee-filled blossoms a week ago.


The hog plum is done with showing off and is now involved in the serious business of making tiny tart fruits.
The chickadees were busy in the plum tree, but not too busy to scold me constantly as I worked.
The nest box they used last year has chew marks around the enlarged hole, so I don't think they are the occupants this year.
I need to get out there now and work off the two Dunkin Doughnuts (chocolate glazed of course) that I have consumed while writing this and sipping my coffee (straight black of course).
Just for the record, I heard the first whippoorwill of spring last week.



11 comments:

threecollie said...

Wow, a big project, even if leavened a bit by chickadee company and cherry blossoms.

Pablo said...

Would it have been imprudent to tie that fencing to the JEEP and drag it out of the ground?

Dani said...

I see chickens!!!

robin andrea said...

What are you going to plant in your new garden space?

SophieMae said...

So how long does pig manure have to cure before the area is safe for human fodder production?

Your chickadees have been displaced by squirrels. If you put a block of wood on the front before drilling the entrance, then tack on a metal plate around the hole, the displacers will be discouraged.

I sure wish the hog plums would bloom a little longer. BANG, POUFE, gone.

lisa said...

Work is never done, At least the pigs didn't get out! Good luck with all the clean up the the lovely work ahead of you ;) Spring is nice but not the work that goes along with it that is for sure!

Carol said...

We tend to work just on the present also...but so far..I havn't had to dig up a pig pen...no fences here except for the small dog pen...and the only hogs we have are the wild ones that stroll through and rototill the yard every now and then.

www.wildlifearoundus.blogspot.com

R.Powers said...

3C,
Always better with blossoms and birdsong.

Pablo,
No, and I almost did. I am reusing the panels and posts, but probably will jerk out the rest of the under fencing ... after I cut it loose from the panels.


Dani,
They miss the hog feed! LOL!


Robin,
I think beans and corn. Bear keeps the deer farther at bay now, so I will try again.


Sophie,
I did that with a nearby house and the flying squirrel moved in!
LOl! Who cares as long as someone is getting lodging.

Lisa,
Work is always waiting.


Carol,
They ARE the best tillers. It's really amazing.

roger said...

that was a SERIOUS pig pen. should be a fertile place now.

Miz S said...

That's a lotta work, Dawg. You go ahead and have another doughnut if you want to.

R.Powers said...

roger,
i just did not want to be chasing escapees through the woods!

Miz S,
Actually, I did.