- Joined
- Jun 22, 2021
- Messages
- 97
OK, so I pretty much shot myself in the foot, as detailed in:
https://www.homesteadingforum.org/threads/raised-beds-ive-completely-blown-it.18322/
I changed the design and went with an irrigation system, and redundant armored water/control lines (because gophers and heavy skid steers). Basically I have 4 "regions" each with two sides, "A" and "B". There is an A&B 13-lead 18ga irrigation cable (12 zones + common) and an A&B 1/2 in PEX water pipe going to each region. Right now I have an Orbit 12-zone irrigation timer that I will probably move to one of the orchards when I expand to use 2 24-zone controllers (one controller for region 1&2, another for region 3&4). I use a cross-connect box at the garden hooch (and a box at the region) to maximize versatility.
I need yet to put a sediment filter and possibly also a master valve (because broken pipes). Also I want to put cement down in those blocks so they'll lock into each other, and , while I'm at it, I'll sink a piece of 1" PVC in there so that I can put in pieces of smaller PVC, rebar, etc. to serve as a anchor point for bean climbers frames for mesh cloth, etc. etc.
Yes ... it's completely over-engineered
and I have learned more about irrigation solenoids and 24 VAC valves than I ever cared to know. I just hope that I'm done digging. Ugh. 
You can see the different patterns of drip tubing in the block bed ... I am experimenting with different patterns of 6-inch and 12-inch dripper spacing
Here's the new hooch and the central cross connect:
Here is region 1:
https://www.homesteadingforum.org/threads/raised-beds-ive-completely-blown-it.18322/
I changed the design and went with an irrigation system, and redundant armored water/control lines (because gophers and heavy skid steers). Basically I have 4 "regions" each with two sides, "A" and "B". There is an A&B 13-lead 18ga irrigation cable (12 zones + common) and an A&B 1/2 in PEX water pipe going to each region. Right now I have an Orbit 12-zone irrigation timer that I will probably move to one of the orchards when I expand to use 2 24-zone controllers (one controller for region 1&2, another for region 3&4). I use a cross-connect box at the garden hooch (and a box at the region) to maximize versatility.
I need yet to put a sediment filter and possibly also a master valve (because broken pipes). Also I want to put cement down in those blocks so they'll lock into each other, and , while I'm at it, I'll sink a piece of 1" PVC in there so that I can put in pieces of smaller PVC, rebar, etc. to serve as a anchor point for bean climbers frames for mesh cloth, etc. etc.
Yes ... it's completely over-engineered
and I have learned more about irrigation solenoids and 24 VAC valves than I ever cared to know. I just hope that I'm done digging. Ugh. You can see the different patterns of drip tubing in the block bed ... I am experimenting with different patterns of 6-inch and 12-inch dripper spacing
Here's the new hooch and the central cross connect:
Here is region 1:
