[TheForge] Setting up shop (more or less)

[Andrew Vida]

Bruce Freeman wrote:
> Andy,
> 
> How do the locals construct fences - any great ideas?

	All kinds.  Most seem to be barbed wire and come-alongs on locust posts.
> 
> I think you're working too hard.  You started with a fixed idea
> -digging for posts- and aren't budging.  You can build a perfectly
> fine fence without digging a single hole.
> 
> Three examples:
> 
> 1) Snake fence. Small trees or split rails.  Lay extreme ends on rocks
> in a "\ \ \ \ \ \ " pattern, but more stretched out.  Place additional
> rails across the ends of the first set, giving "WWWWW" pattern.
> Continue with alternating layers of rails till as high as you want.
> Can add dummy pieces between successive layers to space the layers
> greater. To clarify:  No posts. Rails cross at ends, fence zig-cags a
> bit (maybe 120* angles).  No digging at all.  Some rock moving.

	That would turn out to be a hell of a lot more work than digging the 
posts.  I'd have to split lots of posts.  I have the wood but no 
reasonable means of splitting.  I don't even have a froe... not that 
that would be a good way to go with 8' logs mind you.
> 
> 2) Snake&Cross fence.  I'm not quite clear on this one, but uses a
> cross of two posts (dug in little if at all) as a support for three
> rails.
> 
> 3) Hurdles.  Weave hurdles out of 1" saplings and withies - usually
> willow cut off and allowed to grow up one season.  These are portable
> (especially if a hole is left in the middle to run a carry-rod
> through).  The end two saplings are left longer and are pointed to jab
> into the ground.  Allows a movable pasture.  Weave using a log with
> bored holes to receive the saplings.  Weave like a basket.
> 
> Meanwhile, dig a bunch of saplings and transplant them along the
> fence.  Next year, start a hedge from these.  The fence will rot away,
> but the hedge is forever.  Hedges are woven living brush & trees, so
> expect a little work.

	These would interfere with the fruit trees.  I have cherry, apple and 
pears growing right where the fence is going to be.

	I could spend the money on steel posts and drive them in with a sledge 
but I'm trying to be good with the cash... at least until I find another 
income source.  These may work some time down the road, but for now I 
think I am somewhat stuck.
> 
> Bruce
> NJ
> 
> 
> On Thu, May 29, 2008 at 7:27 AM, Andrew Vida <osan at netlabs.net> wrote:
>>
>> Peter Fels & Phoebe Palmer wrote:
>>> Bob:
>>> I don't know how much slack social pressures offer you, but;
>>> the place that sell garage doors usually have old ones to give away. A
>>> truck load of those could  be cobbled into a cheap, quick shop...pf
>>        Not a bad idea.  Here's another: if you live anywhere near a sawmill,
>> go visit and see what they will sell their drops for.  I get mine for $12 a
>> truckload - all I can pile on or until the tires  blow or the springs pop.
>>  OK they are flat on one side only, but that should be no problem.  There
>> are construction methods that will let you make a nice enough wall with
>> them.  Mine come anywhere up to 20' long.  I am just starting on my goat
>> fencing and pen.  The compensating factor in this case is that I have to dig
>> about 100 x 2' deep post holes in this wonderful West Virginia red shale
>> clay, which is like concrete.  And of course Mom had to throw in the glacial
>> till factor, so huge boulders are everywhere.  Digging here == misery and
>> lots of sore parts.
>>
>>        Anyhow, if you have a mill nearby, give them a holler and see what
>> they want for the drops.  Most of the outbuildings around here are made from
>> those and locust posts.  Not the purdiest, but they seem to work really
>> well.
>>
>>        -Andy
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> 
> 
> 

-- 

	-Andy V.

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