May 26 2014
Getting older I was getting tired of either carrying water or dragging out the hose and stand there for 15 minutes to water my garden. My small 8X10 raised bed garden is small and I only have 6 tomato plants in. Tomatoes are my favorite crop so I decided to not try to squeeze them in and give them more room.
I had been looking for some short watering system. I finally found a soaker hose at Lowes, 25 feet. I could cut it in half and with a Y connector and a female to female connector I could use both pieces. The hose puts out 1 gallon per foot per hour.
I plugged the cut ends with a ½ X 2 inch wood dowel and a stainless steel hose clamp. Plastic would be better but could not find any.
I have a brick sidewalk that goes to the shed so I will leave my hose out, lying on the walk. My wife does not like the looks of it lying out but I tell her you get out here and roll that thing up every day or two. Besides after it’s hot and the mosquitos come out she stays inside.
Picture below with my watering system and garden are my favorite tools a garden claw and a Tennessee hoe. The garden claw my wife bought for me. I kind of made fun of it at first but it does well for weeding in bad soil if you do it after a good rain. I can till my little garden that has good loose soil in less than 10 minutes with it.
The Tennessee hoe is the easiest I have ever used. The head is heavy enough, made of cast iron; it is almost effortless to use. A lot easier than a standard garden hoe. It probably has a proper name but I call it my Tennessee hoe!
I had a good neighbor for 20 years before he died and his wife was here another 10 years, Harold and Pat. Harold had a Honda Goldwing and him and Pat went on a lot of trips with it. Harold and I drank a lot of beer together too. After a trip to Tennessee they came over and he had this hoe, he said go try that and see how easy it is to use; I did and agreed. He said I found this in Tennessee and couldn’t see how we could carry it on the motorcycle. A trucker friend said I will be at the Wapakoneta truck stop next week and I will take it for you if someone comes to pick it up. They said ok and he gave her info about his rig.
Since Harold had to work Patsy said she had to pick it up. She laughed and said I just knew if I couldn’t find him I would look pretty silly asking drivers if they had a hoe from Tennessee for me! And that is why I call it my Tennessee hoe!
Back yard and the hose on my sidewalk
The Y hook up
My garden and tools
Smokin Don
