CUT, ROLL, STAKE, BURY

Takes a team and several steps to lay mulch for the tomato field.  On a nice, warm, calm day it's a fun activity.  Especially with three girls, four dogs, four adults, and three horses!

First Tona cuts the staples from #9 wire and Ellie runs it to the field (Ellie doesn't really run them to the field one by one - but it looks like it. hehe).

Irrigation tape goes in the row first and then plastic mulch is pulled over the row.  (Alberto is using Michael's newest invention to roll out the plastic mulch.)

Then the mulch is "stapled" to the ground with the #9 wire.

The last step, which is the key to keep the mulch from becoming airborne, is to bury the sides of the mulch.  This is the hardest and most time consuming portion of the entire process.  The staples will keep the mulch in place as long as the wind doesn't blow!  hahaha  Unfortunately, that step didn't get done on Saturday. Consequently, with 30 mph wind gusts out of the east - mulch is laying helter, skelter in the rows!

  Ahhhh farming on the small scale - lots of work done by hand!!!!  All part of it!