Eeeeeeeeeeuuuuuuuuuw! This bucket of fermenting fish parts is smelling RIPE! I'm surprised we haven't attracted a bear. Well actually, now that I think to look, I do see the marks of long claws on the tree we anchored the bucket from.
It dangles way up high from a rope draped over a medium size branch. Like campers are instructed to do with their food if they are in bear country. Since it's fermenting, we can't seal the lid tight so we took the precaution of placing this way down near the Three Sisters Ford and way up in the tree. So why in the world would we take so much trouble to attract bears? Nooooooo, we want the fish parts for fertilizing the orchard. Especially cuz we'll be planting the orchard in the craziest time of year possible. August! My mother's letter told of it. In fact, everyone mentioned 'Grandma's Orchard On Wheels'
in the notes Jerry brought in with the mule train. Apparently she chivvied the family into taking her to every greenhouse and garden supply store that was still open before they left Colorado. [Security-guarded garden stores are doing well OUTSIDE…no small wonder with food scarce!] As they traveled north with the armed caravan, she managed to find another small garden shop that wasn't so picked over yet by hungry hordes. She bought up every fruit tree; every nut tree; every fruit-bearing shrub that she could find. For every nut tree and long-term fruit tree, she would say. "This is for my grandchildren". But she also had bought dwarf fruit trees, berry plants, bushes, brambles and canes. Then she would say, "These will produce in my life time!" She does well with plants. She kept a close eye on them while they traveled, keeping them all well watered. Most of them were in pots or small plastic bags of dirt, already budded out and ready to leaf when she made the purchases in June. By the time they'd been stopped in Carterville, they were in leaf. She had arranged them throughout their various vehicles and trailers so that the plants would have indirect sunshine. DD2 reported via her letter, that Grma had fussed a lot about her orchard while they were locked in the school. She promised dire repercussions for the brigands if her precious cargo died while sitting in the parking lot! But [providentially – thank YOU, God!] the weather was rainy and cloudy the whole time they were captive.
The very first thing everyone was set to do upon their release from the school was to pull out every one of the plants and trees. Among the strawberries plants, there was about a 10 percent loss. L But she'd bought a lot. Many plants and trees were looking wilted. Everything was watered again and repacked until they reached the Rockin' J that evening. It was expected that the care she could give the plants before they all began the wagon trip would restore most of them to health. My brother, assigned to figure out the best way to haul them, mentioned that they will be tucked in here and there with some equipment [he said I'd be pleased with this "equipment" but wouldn't say what it is…the rat!
] he's bringing on a hayrack. They'll drape a porous shade cloth over the whole wagon on sunny days and a waterproof tarp during storms. The horticulturist at one garden center had told her she'll need shade cloth, especially planting so late in the season. The strawberries had to be transplanted into some plastic tubs or be lost. Everything will be fairly root-bound when they finally arrive here in the Valley. So we in the Valley are charged with the task of preparing an orchard space so that they can be planted within 24 hrs of arrival. [Arrival at Cleft of the Rock, that is - they don't know about Mother's Lil' HILL. Actually, Jerry told my brother.
] We'd been saving all 'fish parts' anyway for the vegetable gardens. With more mouths to feed, we have increased our fishing and the big bucket is nearly full. This yummy stuff will be great fertilizer. Those poor plants will need all the help they can get. They'll definitely need shade from the direct sun of August. I'm not sure they brought that much shade cloth material but we can rig something. Perhaps the netting the children's mother used to cover her fruit trees from the birds? With grass strewn on top? 
The first order of business was to decide on a location….but that was easy. The Maui-side cliffs have the hot spring outside and it spills down the pasture forming a nice creek, cooling as it goes. It is not highly sulfurous. It's just hot. It's located midway in the wide area between the west and east spits of land that form the "C". Grma's Orchard will be up close to the reflective heat of the stone cliffs, which will make this warmer than any other location. [Peaches and cherries and plums!
] The creek running through will ensure moisture, though we may have to divert/irrigate more in midsummer. This is also the eventual location of the large greenhouse. No one mentioned in the letters, if they brought greenhouse plastic [UV stable] or insulated clear plastic panels, but I'm hoping. That's the reason we have not yet begun our greenhouse construction. We need to wait to see what they have. Our greenhouse plastic roll will be used there if they didn't manage to bring something. It was one of the top things on my "Wish I'd Have Brought" list that I'd mailed back to my family early after our arrival. These past couple weeks, the sheep (plus faithful Rex, though he can jump it, of course.) have been fenced in the portion of the pasture that will soon be Grma's Orchard. We NEED that thick grass mowed down! Macky had always used solar charged hot-wire fencing to move her sheep from place to place as they grazed down the grass. We fenced them immediately ontp the Orchard location upon receiving the letters. The large flock of sheep has done a good job and now it would be nice to set the goats in there to finish the weeds that sheep ignore. But with the tiny goat babies, we need to keep them close to us. Perhaps the 3 milk cows? Nah! Don't want the fresh 'cow pies' in there. EEuw!
We were sent the complete inventory of the various plants/trees. Oh my! If even half of them survive the first winter, we will have a very nice orchard for the twenty of us. My DM wrote that she bought more plants, expecting not all would make it thru, getting such a late start. Wise! We also have to protect them from marauding wildlife. Rabbits chewing bark during winter…girdling it will kill the young tree. We'll have to wrap the trunks. Deer….
They are realllllly pests! Making venison usually solves that problem. Sun scald from bright winter sun reflecting off the white snow. Can you tell we've been poring over our reference books on orchards? We've been up to view Hobbit Hole's orchard/vineyard and talk with them too. 
Thank for the suggestions. We've mapped out exact locations for digging the hole for each tree/plant. We pounded in stakes, which are clearly labeled. We've had enough rain so the ground is soft without being soggy. Irrigation is possible with some effort, by temporarily putting down plastic sheets to drain in a spreading pattern downhill from the creek. We expect the arrival of Wagon Train # 3 sometime within the next two weeks so we'll keep an eye on the moisture issue. Don't need to dig in dry ground. Meanwhile, the wooly lawnmowers are still at work.
Now, back to haying….it's a SUNNY DAY and the barometer is rising.
MtRider [ have to rely on wild fruits this year but this is an abundant Valley!
]
