Draining the Winter Pasture Begins - The Big Dig Part 2

Hi, may as well answer some questions that are sure to come up repeatedly, including some from the last trenching video. 1. Last video: Use dynamite, expanding cement, rent/buy an excavator mounted jack hammer to break up the rocks in the first trench I abandoned. I took the simplest path, digging a new trench where I knew there were fewer large rocks. All of these ideas would have taken more time, money, and complication than just starting a new trench. 2. Bedding field tile in stone: This is very uncommon for long runs of tile in farm fields. Again, mainly due to expense and labor considerations. While it is a good bedding material for pipe, it does little to enhance drainage in the long term, because soil infiltrates the stone fairly quickly and all advantage is lost. If I were bedding the pipe in stone, I would lay filter fabric in the trench first, put in a stone bed, lay the pipe, cover with stone, then wrap the fabric over the top. This creates a large filtration surface at the filter fabric face, and prevents soil infiltration into the stone. 3. Putting filter fabric socks over pipes: These clog very quickly, as they have limited surface area, especially in fine clay soil. That's it for now. We'll see what other questions come up. Thanks for watching!

Yay Hilary is finally seen driving a tractor. Great video as always Pete

Enjoyed this episode. But, this is Pete, and this is Pete enjoying his new equipment. He's digging it BIG TIME 👍👍👍

That little machine was a great investment. I like the "adapt and overcome "way of thinking. Where there is a will, there is a way. It looks good so far. Thanks for sharing. See you later.

I like how Pete clearly knows what he's doing with all this construction. All those years as an architect are still paying off! The laser level on the digger arm was my favorite hack.

Thanks Pete for letting me ride along vicariously as I recover from surgery. Can’t wait to get back on my own tractor.

Thank You. When I was in my teens on Dads farm we put in thousands of 4" clay tile by hand and shovel across the fields. Trenches dug by a 580 case backhoe dragging a 10' pipe to form a place for the tile, depth was tracked by an arm off the backhoe arm that followed a wire on t posts which was set with a stick and transit. Good on you for filling the trenches before the rain, digging back out by hand after is not fun. I hope for ALL the sucess with your project that you could want!

Having been in civil utilities and heavy excavations for 20 years, seeing a former engineer operate and lay pipe brings so much joy to heart. Lol. Love your channel.

There is nothing better than a good tired day,the food is better the sleep is deeper and the most important of them all,the satisfaction of having accomplish something worthwhile.

Thank you for bringing us along, Hilarie and Pete! This stuff is FUN! Getting to use the excavator and doing useful work with it which will improve the quality of life for your cattle and yourselves is an undertaking worth doing. And you're right, Patty probably will continue to complain. It's her nature. Just as it's yours to be a master storyteller with your videos, calm voice with your detailed explanations... As others have said, you all do good work! It shows and you make it fun to watch... to vicariously enjoy and feel like we're farmers too, helping with our mental energies, thinking positive good thoughts towards your family and your farm! Thanks again!

Great whole family channel...thank you Pete...Peter

Necessity is the mother of all invention, I think farmers are some of the Best at this !!! Project coming along nicely Pete ! Have a Great Day ! GOD BLESS !!!

Another Great video! I'm sure your Grandfather is very proud of you for being a good steward of the family land!

It will be exciting to see how your new drainage system works in the wet season. Lots of work!

I can’t help but be reminded of “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom” original series. Hillary is the “Jim Fowler” to Pete’s Marlon Perkins! “See Hillary jump in the ditch and wrestle the drain pipe while I supervise from the machine”. 😉😉😁. Love the videos Pete and am always amazed at how well you and Hillary work together!!!

You design, dig, install, and clean up. Quite a complete construction company in one man, and Hillary.

I wish your video was 2 hrs long…I could watch you all day everyday! Great vid as usual…thanks Pete!!!

Ya know Pete, speaking as a total novice, I think you did an outstanding job of running that excavator!! I am impressed!! You really moved the mountains!! The water table next to the barn is nearly surface. Drainage there will make a heck of a difference. That's a really big project. Great job Pete. Good on ya mate!! Take care, BE careful, blessings on you and Hillary.

You need to give that joke the "boot".

Excavator Pete has a nice ring to it! Always a pleasure to watch your videos!