Some diggershots from 13-5-2023 (when it was still wet wet wet)

Almost like digging a giant pool

Montfrooij Posted at 5-19 01:10
[view_image]

Impressive shots Peter.    No doubt this shows the amount of rain you had previously.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-19 02:24
Impressive shots Peter.    No doubt this shows the amount of rain you had previously.

Thanks. Yeah, dry now fortunately

Montfrooij Posted at 5-19 01:10
[view_image]

Looking decidedly waterlogged

Blériot53 Posted at 5-19 05:25
Looking decidedly waterlogged

Absolutely. That is how saturated the ground was at that time.

Montfrooij Posted at 5-19 05:29
Absolutely. That is how saturated the ground was at that time.

If they take the roof off the cellar you could have a swimming pool

Blériot53 Posted at 5-19 05:31
If they take the roof off the cellar you could have a swimming pool

Exactly.
It starts to look like it.
No work today, but there is a big pile of concrete remains left on one side.

Going pretty deep.

Montfrooij Posted at 5-19 05:35
Exactly.
It starts to look like it.
No work today, but there is a big pile of concrete remains left on one side.

A clearance job for next week.  No work over the weekend I expect.

Depp Posted at 5-19 05:40
Going pretty deep.

Yes indeed.
Right below the foundation.

Blériot53 Posted at 5-19 05:41
A clearance job for next week.  No work over the weekend I expect.

I think so indeed.

Montfrooij Posted at 5-19 02:31
Thanks. Yeah, dry now fortunately

You're very welcome Peter.  Good that the ground was able to soak in all that water.  

Ah yes,  you can see the depth better in that shot. although working in the mud is never nice.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-19 11:47
You're very welcome Peter.  Good that the ground was able to soak in all that water.

Absolutely.
Now it will be dry (probably too dry soon) since our farmers want to drain the water asap.

DAFlys Posted at 5-20 02:13
Ah yes,  you can see the depth better in that shot. although working in the mud is never nice.

Indeed.
He will be having more fun next weeks.
Almost no rain on the forecast.
I could finally repair the woodrot and boy, that was quite a task.
But I think it turned out nicely.
Just some final spots that I forgot and then sanding and painting.
Should be done before July

Montfrooij Posted at 5-21 10:55
Indeed.
He will be having more fun next weeks.
Almost no rain on the forecast.

I’d forgotten your rot issues.    It’s been dry enough here the ground is cracking nicely.   

Make good use of the weather to get that painted.  

DAFlys Posted at 5-22 01:11
I’d forgotten your rot issues.    It’s been dry enough here the ground is cracking nicely.   

Make good use of the weather to get that painted.

I hope to continue this week.

Montfrooij Posted at 5-22 01:58
I hope to continue this week.

Ive got a little bi of cracking to deal with but it's between an oak post and a little trim so theres no rot luckily,  just a bit of movement of the wood.

DAFlys Posted at 5-22 02:00
Ive got a little bi of cracking to deal with but it's between an oak post and a little trim so theres no rot luckily,  just a bit of movement of the wood.

That is not too bad indeed.

Montfrooij Posted at 5-22 02:16
That is not too bad indeed.

No,  the worst bit is I will have to re gloss the entire post to make it blend in.   and if the colour has faded I will fill the need to do the one next to it as they are a pair that hold up a porch.

Montfrooij Posted at 5-21 10:53
Absolutely.
Now it will be dry (probably too dry soon) since our farmers want to drain the water asap.

Can't say as I blame the farmers as you have to get the crops into the ground.  

DAFlys Posted at 5-22 02:30
No,  the worst bit is I will have to re gloss the entire post to make it blend in.   and if the colour has faded I will fill the need to do the one next to it as they are a pair that hold up a porch.

Yeah, I'm gonna leave it (with the change in color) for now, as the windows will be replaced later this year.

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-22 03:33
Can't say as I blame the farmers as you have to get the crops into the ground.

The biggest problems is the big machines.
So I do blame the system for being to focused on cost effective farming.  (economy of scales)

Montfrooij Posted at 5-22 04:44
The biggest problems is the big machines.
So I do blame the system for being to focused on cost effective farming.  (economy of scales)

Well, after all, profits for farmers come with bulk crops.  So small crops = small profits.  You're right though, the system does kind of force them into this situation.

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-22 12:09
Well, after all, profits for farmers come with bulk crops.  So small crops = small profits.  You're right though, the system does kind of force them into this situation.

I don't like that big stuff, it's not good for nature at all.
They need pesticides (for example) because it has become a mono culture.
Which leads to other bad things in the long run.

Montfrooij Posted at 5-22 22:21
I don't like that big stuff, it's not good for nature at all.
They need pesticides (for example) because it has become a mono culture.
Which leads to other bad things in the long run.

No doubt farming has changed drastically over the last 50 years.  As population continues to grow farmers will have to continue to increase their output.  Not sure the farms can sustain this for the long term as the soil is continuously being depleted and as you said the chemical fertilizers and pesticides are very harmful.

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-23 02:38
No doubt farming has changed drastically over the last 50 years.  As population continues to grow farmers will have to continue to increase their output.  Not sure the farms can sustain this for the long term as the soil is continuously being depleted and as you said the chemical fertilizers and pesticides are very harmful.

There are good alternatives that seem to be more sustainable and require less of those bad 'ingredients'. But they are less cost effective for sure.

Montfrooij Posted at 5-23 03:10
There are good alternatives that seem to be more sustainable and require less of those bad 'ingredients'. But they are less cost effective for sure.

"Organic" seems to be the new buzz word used by all the major advertisers nowadays.  Organically grown products are more expensive but much healthier for consumption.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-23 03:22
"Organic" seems to be the new buzz word used by all the major advertisers nowadays.  Organically grown products are more expensive but much healthier for consumption.

Yes, that is a buzzword.
But I am a member of a Dutch nature group that owns a lot of land here in NL and they are developing different ways to farm. It's a very simple concept. Just alternate between crops every meter with a small path in between.
This seems to attracts more insects, which helps preventing certain diseases and you get less risk of depleting the ground because you can easily swap every year.
So less fertilizers and pesticides are needed.
But you do need smaller machines, that can operate on the smaller patches well.
They have a couple of farms that are testing this out with (what I read) very good results.
But the costs are higher.... Which is odd, since you have to put less stuff on it.

Montfrooij Posted at 5-23 04:15
Yes, that is a buzzword.
But I am a member of a Dutch nature group that owns a lot of land here in NL and they are developing different ways to farm. It's a very simple concept. Just alternate between crops every meter with a small path in between.
This seems to attracts more insects, which helps preventing certain diseases and you get less risk of depleting the ground because you can easily swap every year.

Hopefully, the testing results will continue to be positive and it sure sounds like a good way to not deplete the ground.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-24 02:43
Hopefully, the testing results will continue to be positive and it sure sounds like a good way to not deplete the ground.

Yeah, the lower ROI will be the main blocking factor I guess.

Montfrooij Posted at 5-24 02:49
Yeah, the lower ROI will be the main blocking factor I guess.

Unfortunately, I believe you are right about the ROI being a blocking factor.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-24 03:37
Unfortunately, I believe you are right about the ROI being a blocking factor.

Yup.
We don't want to pay for the better methods. Especially since we don't see the immediate effect.

Montfrooij Posted at 5-24 04:56
Yup.
We don't want to pay for the better methods. Especially since we don't see the immediate effect.

You bring up a good point and one in which I was just discussing with my oldest grandson.  He was telling me about his Economics class he is taking in college and how instant gratification drives a lot of things these days.  I had to tell him that was nothing new as it has been going on for years but it is true that it is much more prevalent now.

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-25 03:01
You bring up a good point and one in which I was just discussing with my oldest grandson.  He was telling me about his Economics class he is taking in college and how instant gratification drives a lot of things these days.  I had to tell him that was nothing new as it has been going on for years but it is true that it is much more prevalent now.

We train our kids to go for that. (by not teaching them anything else)

Montfrooij Posted at 5-25 03:50
We train our kids to go for that. (by not teaching them anything else)

Our desire for immediate gratification is rooted in human nature, aggravated by modern technology, and fueled by uncertainty.

Our brain is wired to seek pleasure and avoid pain.  This is a fundamental survival mechanism that has been ingrained in us since infancy.  When we do not receive fulfillment, we experience anxiety or tension.

With the advancement of technology, everything, from social media to instant messaging, and even the food we eat must be quick and instant. We are finding it more difficult to resist our impulses as instant gratification becomes more readily available.

While instant gratification can bring us immediate pleasure, it most often comes at the expense of long-term success. When we prioritize short-term gratification over long-term goals, we may overlook important tasks or make poor decisions that have negative consequences.

Sorry, I'll get off my soap box now.  Rant over.