alex_beecroft

This is the first hot day of the summer. Until now the temps have been below 100F and the humidity low. This morning we started with more than 50% humidity (don't laugh, that's a lot here). Currently it has cooled off to 102F but the humidity has plunged to 12%.  It's not bad outside!  That said I raced around yesterday and this morning getting shade cloth up over the garden. Temps over about 100F tend to damage fruit.  Here is one of the apple trees with such a heavy load that the fruit has almost zero shade from leaves in the afternoon. This pic was taken in the morning.  Because I am heavily pruning the tomato plants they also have a lot of unprotected fruit.


The solar install is toddling along. I have the first set of panel racks just about level. 

I've ordered 3ft long, screw style anchors for it.  This item is yet another reason not to like Shop Solar as a retail outlet. They said they would add them to the order, then didn't do it.  I've ordered them from Global Ace Solar in Sparks Nevada.  The sales person there was super careful to make sure I got exactly what I needed, including contacting the factory about a question, even though they were screaming busy.  I got a text at 8:30pm from the guy who was working overtime to deal with the volume.   I believe they sell a kit that is similar to the one I bought.   We can't mount the panels until the system is firmly attached to the ground. Here are the panels strapped down to the pallet with my red ratchet strap. 


The rest of the rack is waiting for me to level out the feet. I also need one more base rack.  I would have had enough racks if they were all in a row, but I chose to break them up into two sections so they would fit the available space better. 

Of course, since I'm halfway through this project Mr Redin, a local solar contractor and the father of one of my horse pasture tenants, called me today to set up an appointment. I called him a couple of months ago.  I'm meeting him on Monday to plan the next stage of this project. 
Right around the corner from the second solar rack the cows and their calves are lying in the shade, in the breeze, chewing their cud.  It is incredibly noisy around here, especially in the early morning. Lots of calling back and forth as the cows move around. I always forget the sheer amount of noise that a bunch of cows and calves make.  One cow this year doesn't so much bellow, as sound like a rutting elk wheezing away.  I love it.
Off to judge in Napa this weekend.