well-chosen ( almost ) New Year !
I cogitate most folk are happy to see 2021 arrive , kick in how 2020 was moderately much work upside down by COVID-19 . I , for one , am always beaming to see what a raw year has in store . And I ’m already make plan for farming projects I specify to tackle in 2021 .
I hypothesise you could call them New Year ’s resolutions . But I think of my plans more as inhalation , both for myself and ( hopefully ) for readers .
The end of this one-year exercise is n’t to compile a leaning of declaration that must be followed at all cost . COVID-19 has present how quick plans can be turned upside down . But , rather , I care to encourage proactive cerebration about fun project to accomplish during the forthcoming year .
With this finish in mind , here are five of my 2021 New Year ’s resolutions .
Plant Pumpkins and Watermelons
For me , one of the highlights of 2020 was growing pumpkin in my orchard . They thrived in the raise bed of compost I prepared . And at the final stage of summertime , I harvested six basketball - sized pumpkins plus a couple twelve miniature ornamental autumn pumpkin .
Not bad for six plants !
The project was such a resounding success that I design to amplify my planting in 2021 . I ’ll definitely grow pumpkins again . But I ’m also concerned in trying watermelons .
The area I have in thinker stay naturally damp through much of the yr , so the roots wo n’t have to look far to discover plenty of water .
say more : Growing pumpkins vertically solve a numeral of coarse problems !
Restore an Old Farm Pond
During the spring , I drop a pot of timeanalyzing an old farm pondfrom every perspective , wondering why it suddenly stopped fill with water a few long time back . I eventually realized the rear bank had been breached underground . This allowed piss to drain into a rocky field of honor behind the pond .
As much for oddment as anything else , one of my goals for 2021 is to repair the damaged camber , plugging the hidden hole(s ) so spring meltwater will have a chance to fill again the pond .
I may have to clear out some of the water - know cattail that have taken up residence in the pond basin . But with sentence and drive , I reckon I can restore the pool to its former glory .
Prune Fruit Trees
In 2018 , I started planting a Modern orchard of fruit Tree . After a duet years of work , I ’ve planted 35 trees . And now , the oldest ones in particular are due for some disciplinary pruning to guide their increment in idealistic directions .
Corrective yield tree diagram pruning is best done in previous winter , before the trees wake up . As before long as the snow start up to melt this bound , I ’ll trek out to my orchard with pruning pruning hook and pruning saw in hand to set about the glob peal .
In the meantime , I ’ll keep reading books and articles about the art of pruning to make certain I hire the most suited strategy for each tree diagram .
register more : A pruning proverb gets the job done is ways other saws ca n’t .
Replace the John Deere Model 40’s Battery Clamps
Good old “ Little Mo , ” myJohn Deere Model 40 , begin let issuance pop this summer . This was strange , since Little Mo has always been a picture of reliability and normally fires up at first asking .
It turns outthe clamp at the ends of Little Mo ’s stamp battery cables are wearing out , compromising the connexion between the battery and the starter . With a bit of effort , I was able to tweak the position of the clamps so Little Mo ran very well for the rest of the twelvemonth .
But to avoid losing any more sentence fussing with the battery during a fussy 24-hour interval of farming projects ( been there , done that ! ) , I intend to replace the clamps entirely in 2021 , restoring Little Mo to maximal dependableness for another class of work .
Sharpen and/or Replace Lawn Mower Blades
piddling Mo is n’t the only tractor that could utilize a little maintenance on my farm . 2020 was a busy year , and I did n’t get around tosharpening the bladeson my lawn mower as scheduled .
I do n’t suppose they ’re cutting quite as cleanly as they should , so I ’ll plan onsharpeningor exchange them this wintertime , before saltation arrive and the gage commence rise quicker than I can mop it .
What are your New Year ’s resolutions for 2021 ?
