Barry M

No idea!

I suspect the wiring on mine. Doesn’t spark. And was always really reliable, starting first time even after winter.

I’d considered taking it apart, but might try that technique! 😂

💪
I got a battery powered one which has been great. But my big petrol one stopped working after my neighbour borrowed it and left it in his barn over winter. Maybe should send it to you 😜

Puh… I did too many in years past. Around 150 in some years. But delays in getting space for projects means I have a huge backlog of trees. And I don’t want to sell too many as I want them planted near me! 😜 Not many people want perry pears anyway. But have plenty spare stocks to use 👍

I have a secret stash of rootstocks that should be used, and a couple taller failed grafts I can topwork!

In future (once the nursery is empty) I’ll just plant rootstocks and field graft them rather than all this faff of moving trees around 🙂

Four bundles of sticks wrapped in cling film for transport.

Opened one to repack for storage, Sauge Laiteux. Pretty thick scions!

With over 200 young pear trees (and some apple) in our nurseries and another 70 in pots but nowhere to plant them all yet, I said I would stop grafting trees. But when someone sends interesting French pear varieties… meaty fuckers they are too.

Yeah! If freshly planted, easy to dig out, and full standard trees can be quite expensive to buy. A nearby local conservation org planted 15 trees along a road a few years ago, next day they were all gone! 🤦‍♂️

All done. Still have to plant 10 trees on this site, so hope I can do it over the next 3 evenings, before I head away. Then I only need to worry about providing some trees to some neighbours and the local council.

A pile of wood chip mulch and a wheelbarrow

A newly planted tree with mulch applied around d it.

Anyway, a mulch layer added to help retain moisture but also seems to deter voles

An example why this is important. Met a chap whose group planted an orchard 15 years ago. They were advised to remove all labels after planting, as tree theft is a thing here. But they never made a map, so now have over 100 trees and no idea what’s what. I was asked to help ID the pears.

A newly planted tree with a protection tube around d it, and a clipboard on the ground.

Then deer protection tubes and carefully documenting what is where. I had a very well-laid plan for the positioning, but one row got shifted as I miscounted the holes yesterday 🤪 I note variety, rootstock & my own nursery code so I can trace where I got the scions from, grafting year etc

A wheelbarrow full of topsoil beside a pile of same.

Back up on site, have a few quiet jobs to finish. Well, Sunday in Germany is not like in Ireland, working is semi-frowned on, but less so in the sticks. Nevertheless, do ‘t want to be driving up and down on the small tractor, so no tree planting. So topping up some holes with topsoil.

Happy Birthday!
Books are the best gift.

Thank you! I’m kinda used to it, to be fair, but a little cranky this morning. 🙂

And if this seems rather banal in the face of the world falling apart, well that’s one small way how I try to keep my sanity and maybe try to dilute this timeline of apparent constant dread 😬 🤷‍♂️
More tree, landscape, dog and cat pics, I’m your man! Next weekend it will be palm trees in California 😑

A bid on a pear tree, getting fat and expanding as the weather warmed up this past week.

A dog rolling on her back on a few-soaked meadow, beside a tillage field. In the background ripples of land with long shadows from the early morning sun.

Good morning. Got out about 8:30 this morning, sun well up and remains of mist hanging about in the valleys. Some pear trees definitely sensing a change and fattening up their buds, here a Bayerische Weinbirne. Can still have a cold snap tho.
I do sometimes envy Anu her morning meadow dew shower 😄

Ah! I thought you meant packing! ok, then it’s the keyboard and screen for you, get booking and enjoy! 😁

Six days is plenty. I like the sound of pizza, cider and markets. Would love to do a day of food and drink, but may have to plant trees…

Some time after 5:15 (the church bells are helpful that way). And here I am awake since 7:30 again 🤪

Often so it seems. 😜 But I usually try to avoid touching the phone.

I don’t think we ever left.

It is finished! Haven’t finished paying for it yet though 😜

Physically exhausted yet my brain decided that waking at 2:30 is the right thing to do. And having stupidly opened this app and scrolled through the news, I guess I might not be sleeping soon. 😬

Some newly planted trees secured with straps to two posts each side

A bottle of Herbsthäuser Pils.

I forgot how long it takes to hammer in posts and secure trees. Went for two posts per tree this time, as the wind up there is something else and veers between east and west. Have had nothing but coffee and cigarettes all day, and apparently have lost 1.1kg, so rectifying that now 😜

Two oak posts each side of a newly planted pear tree, a post ram sitting atop one. It’s hard work, will feel it in my back tonight.

Who needs a gym when you have a 14kg post ram and very stoney soil 🥵

8cm square oak posts and a 6cm swlquare post ram.

But brought the wrong post ram… 🤦‍♂️ too small.

A flask and mug of coffee in a small tractor cup holder. And a cigarette!🚬

I’ve earned a break though. Then it’s hammering in new posts and securing the trees.

Winds up to 45kmph are fucking me up with the planting. An extra pair of hands would be nice, but I hate asking for help. My original plan get as many in the ground as possible and stake them tomorrow has to change. Need to stake the 12 I’ve gotten in now. At least that’s more than half of target.

Freshly dug up pear trees lying on the ground.

A newly planted Flakey Bark tree.

This is going much better than I thought! Last tree I dig up before Christmas took 45 mins to get out. I got 7 trees out in 40 mins just now and have them all planted. It’s wry soil nice and soft today, and different rootstocks 😜 15 to go.