Let the Water Fly
Irrigation
A golf cart rattles over bumpy ground rattling to the top of the field. Summer heat and spits of rain have left the soil parched and for vegetables that appreciate 1” of water per week we are irrigating. The first trip up to the pumps is the slowest, but pressure builds.
The Pleasant Valley Ditch flows past our farm from May till October, the water fed directly from the Poudre River coming off the continental divide. Our ditch is big, consistent, and the shares of water owned by the property have always insured adequate access. This year the water has been running relatively clean. In the years post fires the mud we have used to water has clogged pipes with all manner of debris including fish.
Our head gate, a leaky rusty gate marking our stake in the water, connects to a pipe buried underground that feeds a cistern. It is an ingenious system that allows our pumps to run without worry of pulling too much water and burning out.
We run two pumps, both gas powered Hondas. A 2” pump feeds our drip irrigation. Lines half buried underground and below plastic running in rows up to 300’ long. This slow steady irrigation is ideal for transplanted crops like lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers to name a few. For the summer crops it is further ideal in that it keeps leaves dry reducing risk of powdery mildew.
Unscrewing the disc filter from the line, I clamber over the ditch bank to roughly rinse the inner workings. The weeds are tall around the ditch and I step blindly over the unlevel terrain. A bank is muddy slides and my boots sink into the water. They will be wet for the foreseeable future and provide a glimpse of what’s to come. Having reinstalled the filter and filled the gas tank I hit the choke, pull an ignition cord, and the pump starts running.
As the system fills I turn knobs to direct the flow. A mental game of remembering when what was watered last, where the crew isn’t working, and who needs the water. I choose to irrigate our summer block and turn off valves running to onions, leeks, shallots, and brassicas. I also check to make sure the high tunnels will get water. Now, walking back towards the pump I make sure the flush valves that release water at low pressure are plugging and forcing water through the drips. Some lines need coaxing while others snap tight. I notice water flying upwards out of a drip line and make a mental note to install a repair coupler. The leaks aren’t too bad so likely this won’t happen for another week or two.
My attention now turns to the overhead sprinklers. Three-inch lines are set in place along the rows with a sprinkler every 30’, ten pipes per row. Since we have been planting winter carrots these lines are getting run nearly every other day to keep the soil moist. Sprinklers are useful for direct seeded crops and help ensure consistent germination.
With the correct line hooked up I turn the second pump on as the first one roars. It fires up right away and I jump onto the golf cart to pull a plug at the bottom of the line and flush accumulated debris. I race, driving faster over the bumps now to meet the water. Waiting a second at the bottom a vole and its straw home is evacuated from the pipe. Sorry buddy but at least you’ll live to see another day and not be shoved into a sprinkler. With the water now running clear I plug the end and the line starts to pressurize.
The golf cart is steered back towards the top of the field to raise the throttle and get water flying. Incrementally I open it up until water is spraying from each sprinkler with the steady rhythm of the paddle hitting the pencil thick streams. Amazingly not one outlet is clogged and the sprinklers are all working. The pump station is now a roar as two engines scream water across an acre of vegetables.
Driving back to rejoin the crew, I noticed the second to last sprinkler is no longer spinning. Clog. There is a single survey flag stashed on a certain fencepost exactly for this job. I grab it and walk under flying water and through mud to inspect the head. Flicking in the outlet I try and rattle the bit of debris loose. Water is falling over top of me from other sprinklers and the head itself is leaking. One, two tries and some grass pulls free. Thank goodness. Otherwise the whole set has to be turned off and the head wrenched open, costing valuable time. Soaked clothes smelly like the bottom of a lake and mud heavy boots are dragged out of the field. I will have about an hour and half before this entire process is repeated for the next set.
The irrigation marathon will last for several more months as we keep crops irrigated, germinating, and soil moist. I figure I spend at least 8 hours a week doing water related tasks this time of year. Until next week Folks!
Farm News
The Farm Stand will be closed this Thursday to let the crew rest and enjoy the holiday. We will resume normal hours on Friday.
Farm Stand Hours: 10-6pm Wed-Friday, 10-4pm Saturday and Sunday
Hopefully stocked this week:
Colorado Fruit: Organic Sweet Red Cherries, Rainier Cherries, Apricots
Greens: Hearts and Souls Salad Mix, gem lettuce heads, romaine, butterheads, kale, chard
Roots: Green garlic, grilling onions, beets
Veggies: Cherry Tomatoes
Herbs: Oregano, mint, thyme, sage, parsley, basil!
Plant Starts: Annual flowers now $4 each. We also have a full rack of herbs ready for the garden or kitchen counter
Lehi Ranch, High Point Bison, KREAM Kimchi, Jodar Farms Eggs, Rey Atelier Home Goods, Bread Chic Sourdough, Fox Den Coffee, Owl Tree Farm Worm Compost, Bee Squared Apiaries Honey, Abuelita’s Hot Sauce, Christie Leighton Jewelry, Life’s A Buch Kombucha