Chapter 138...Getting The New Solar Racks In The Ground

Installing The Solar Racks In March.

March 10

It feels good to finally be working unfortunately it has been a rough winter and we have had very few days that we could work outside.  This also means that Mike is going stir crazy as he really hates being inside...which means he likes to bug me more, lol.

So onto some work:)  Mike has come up with a new and “final” plan for our solar set up.  We have learned a lot in the past five years and now we can put that knowledge to good use.  We started with our original panels on the roof of the house.  We did that because we were trying to move into the house before winter and it was a fast solution.  From there we built a nice rack on the side hill next to the house.  While those looked really nice, Mike became concerned with the ease of stealing.  We don’t have that problem here but you should always be safe rather than sorry.  So then we moved the panels to the top of the shipping container and they stayed there for awhile.  We thought they would be fairly easy for us to clean and maintain using the tractor or a ladder.  Well that didn’t work too well when we had heavy snow.  

Now for the final plan.  First we are going to change out our old solar panels for newer solar panels that are larger.  Now we can have half the amount of panels and a larger system.  We are going to install the new solar panel racks on the outer side of the shipping container.  They will start at the front of the building and extend past the back of the building.  In keeping the panels close to the building Mike won;t have to adjust the size of the wiring.

First we have to prep the ground next to the shipping container.  The front side of it is a very narrow area so we will build it up.

Mike adds a couple of posts and a board to hold in the new dirt.  Next he uses the tractor to scrape dirt from our yard to fill in the space:

Making the side of the building land a little wider:

Leveling the land behind the building to add to the side:

Mike on the side of the building where the new solar panels will go:

Mike working by hand to get the hill filled in:

March 12

Now the fun begins, lol.  Time to start digging the holes for the new solar panel racks.

We need to dig five holes about 3 feet deep.  Then we will out the post in and add the concrete.

Mike digging out the first hole:

And the second hole:

Unfortunately we got the first two holes dug out and then the rain came.

March 14

Thankfully we didn’t have any washouts from all the rain.  Now it’s time to make our new hill secure.  Mike takes out the posts and the board that was holding the new dirt in place.

Next Mike and I seed the side and top of the new hill.  Then we take some of our leftover curlex and staple it across the side of the hill.  This should help hold the hill in place:

We also got one more hole dug.  Then we add some grass seed and hay.  Mike waters the seed for it to germinate and the hay so it won't blow away.

March 15

It’s time to see how we will move the new solar panel racks.  They are awkward and heavy for just the two of us but of course Mike and I will get ‘r done.

Using the tractor we are able to get a chain around the pole and lift it:

Then we put the pole on the trailer and Mike measures off the bottom 36 inches that will be in the ground:

He sprays the bottom 36 inches with a rubber coating to protect the pole:

We push the trailer close to the shipping container and then Mike and I push, pull and shove until we get the pole of the solar panel mount into the first hole:

Now it’s tome to mix the quikrete.  I mixed it in the bucket and Mike shovels it onto the first hole:

Me mixing some more:

We put in 320 pounds of concrete on the first hole.  After that cures a bit, Mike puts some weed cloth down uses the hand truck and a bucket to bring over some landscape rocks:

Adding the rock:

Next Mike adds a board for the border.  We will have a rock garden underneath the new solar panels to keep everything nice and neat.  

Mike finishes the first solar rack by sanding off any rust and then painting it for protection:

We wrap up the other racks and call it a day.

March 16

A new day and another rack to put in the ground.

First we have to unwrap the racks:

We get the second one on the trailer:

Mike paints the bottom 36 inches and we push the trailer and pole closer to the building:

We get that pole into the ground and start mixing concrete again:

We get it lined up and level with the first pole and use the tractor to hold it in place until the concrete dries:

Mike sands that mount and paints it with the aluminum paint to protect it:

Mike drilled holes into the racks and now they are ready to be tilted and locked into place for the summer and winter sun:

March 18

We used up all 800 pounds of concrete so we needed a new batch.  We went to the Farm Supply and got 1200 more pounds.  This time we got 60 pound bags instead of 80 pound bags.  They are much easier to handle:)

We got those home and loaded all the bags into the back building.

Since the weather is turning bad we start planning our next project.  We are going to build a store this year at our other lot.  Mike and I were going to make posts and build the whole decking out of wood then we checked the prices for lumber...wow...it has gotten really expensive.  We decide to call our old concrete man to see what kind of price he will give us for pouring a slab.  The price seems reasonable and Mike and I won’t have to do the labor.

Next we go to Lowe’s.  Before a slab gets poured we have to out the plumbing and the drains in.  So we go to look at shower options for the bathroom.  OK...we have the measurements and we are waiting to meet our concrete guy in the morning.

Next morning...no call and no show from our concrete guy.

The morning after that....again no return call from our concrete guy and Mike has left him numerous messages.  Time to move on.   Mike called a new local man who we have never used.  He came in with a great price and he will start the job weather permitting.  His price is $1500.00 less than our old concrete man.  Mike told him if he does a good job he can do the cabin slabs for us.  Oh did I tell you?  We are also planning on building cabins:)

March 21

Snow and Ice today so we couldn’t meet with our new concrete man.

Our first calf was born:)

March 22

We drive to town with the trailer and pick up the base and the back for our new shower.  We need this for the measurements for the concrete slab.  Lowe’s did not have the sides so we will have to go back for those.  Hmm...how do you have the base and the back for a shower but not the sides??

March 23

Mike and I woke up this morning to a racket in the main area of our house.  I went out to check it and find out we have something that got stuck in our wood stove pipe.  Thankfully the wood stove wasn’t on.  Oh great...what is it and how are we going to get it out?  I hope it’s not a biting animal, lol.

It’s a bird:

Mike gets a towel and opens the door to grab the bird:

He takes it to the door and lets it go.  The bird is fine and flies away:

For the next week or so we have lots of snow and ice.

March 30

We have a new bull calf and he is hanging out with his father:

And the turkeys are out and about:)

That is all we did for the whole month of March, well except for some landscaping and gardening which I will write about this week.  Pitiful isn’t it?   The weather has just been awful.  I know as soon as the weather breaks Mike and I are going to be like crazy people.  I just hope we don’t hurt ourselves, lol.

I hope you all enjoyed today’s story.  I will write again in Thursday, Saturday and Monday.

Have a great week!!

Chapter 104...How To Build An Awning & More Asphalt Curbing

Off Grid...Chapter 104 Mike has a new saying for our "Off Grid Home" It is now our ongoing living laboratory where we will and have tried, lol, many different things in search of the perfect outcome. This is where we all get to learn and if one thing doesn't work out then we will try something else. We are now hoping to improve upon our home...so that means there will be some re-do's I hate re do's...but if it will make our living better than we will do it. Our Awning Story....I hope you enjoy As you know we have no A/C inside the house, and since we placed our house to get the best view, we get the direct sunlight in the late afternoon. We have been able to stay cool by closing the blinds in the late afternoon but then we loose the enjoyment we get from looking outside. Mike and I decided to build a covered awning which will block the sun and also give us some cover for sitting outside while it rains I can't wait to get some comfy lounge chairs and kick back this year It took us a few trips to town to get enough lumber to start the job. Now we are ready to work. Mike starts off by taking down the old trim. Then we have to install the ledger board along the entire front of the house to hold the frame and the panels. Mike puts on a double sided caulking strip for added leak protection for the ledger board. Next he pre drills holes in the board so we don't split the wood when we put the bolts in. Using a hammer to start the anchor bolt. And then the ratchet to screw the bolt in. Once the ledger board is attached to the house we have to install the front posts. We are installing four 4x4 front posts to hole up the cross beams and the panels. Mike and I used metal post anchors to install the posts. We had to drill each anchor into the concrete patio and the screw the post into the anchor. They are installed. Next we have to put a header board across the 4 posts so we have something to screw the beams to. We used lag bolts to do this. It doesn't look like much yet but we are getting there Now it's time for the rafters. We are going to install one rafter every 3 feet and then we will add alternating rafters 3 feet long in the opposite direction to support the top panels. Mike screwing in the last of the long rafters. Working on the cross sections. The base frame is up now it's time to paint. Mike and I painted 2 coats ...while the princess gets to enjoy our hard work We called around for pricing on translucent panels for the roof. David at the farm supply had the best deal. Mike and I took the trailer to the farm supply and picked up our panels. Each panel is 3 feet by 12 feet. That will be our cover. Mike starting to install the panels. Finally, we are up to the last section..and it's a tight fit. Good thing we did this last year. Right now I don't think either one of us cold fit in there We are done with the awning. We may look into some roll down shades for the front. Awning from the front. From the side. From above. Our next project is to protect the hill by our ditch that the cows keep messing with. This time Mike and I are installing poles with electric wire to protect the bank. Putting in the poles. Then we added more grass seed, and stapled another layer of curlex down. Hopefully we can get the bank to hold this time Here are some clouds rolling in. Mike and I took a ride across the way and I tried to take a picture of our little homestead. It was a cloudy day but this is what we look like. And finally...the very last job that was done last year. We had one more section of paving done. I wasn't there the whole time but I did get some pictures for you. The asphalt truck. Brushing on the adhesive for the curbing. And making the curbs. We now have the paving down 2/3's for the driveway. We may finish the last of it this summer. It is so much nicer to drive on the pavement and it doesn't wash out and tear up our car like the gravel does. One more picture before I finish. I found a strange bug in my garden. I posted this last year and someone did tell me what it was but for the life of me I can't remember I will have to look it up for you. Anyway here is the strange but cool looking bug. I got it. It is a tomato hornworm with wasp eggs.  "Tomato hornworm larvae are also parasitized by a number of insects. One of the most common is a small braconid wasp, Cotesia congregatus. Larvae that hatch from wasp eggs laid on the hornworm feed on the inside of the hornworm until the wasp is ready to pupate. The cocoons appear as white projections protruding from the hornworms body (see photo, left). If such projections are observed, the hornworms should be left in the garden to conserve the beneficial parasitoids. The wasps will kill the hornworms when they emerge from the cocoons and will seek out other hornworms to parasitize." I hope you all enjoyed it. Next week I will tell you about Mike and I installing our wood stove Lisa