Tag: tractor

How the Garden Grew
Sanctuary Ridge Adventures in Farming

How the Garden Grew

Featured Monica ScottLeave a comment

Rocky Top Garden

This was the site of my original 50 ft by 50 ft garden here on the farm. We named it Rocky Top because it is so full of rocks! The soil is great, but the rocks are a real pain. Just when I think I have picked up all the rocks, I find more. Over the past 3 years I have grown tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini, potatoes, corn, herbs, cucumbers and even pumpkins.

Each January I begin planning the crops I want to grow. This year, I really out did myself! In addition to the crops listed above, I added butternut squash, honey nut squash, round zucchini, habanero peppers, jalapeño peppers, bell peppers, pop corn, Indian corn, watermelon, cantelope, and a wide variety of pumpkins. Because we purchased a large tiller for the tractor, I decided to just have Jamey till a larger garden closer to the house. I still kept my Rocky Top garden because you have to grow pop corn and Indian corn a good distance from sweet corn so it doesn’t cross pollinate. Jamey went right to work!

The New Garden

Jamey tilled the garden soil, but he tilled about 3x the size garden that I wanted. I had enough seed so I went for it, planting around 300×50’ in the new garden and 50×50’ in the old garden. It’s a lot to maintain- I could barely keeping up with it! So we’ve harvested 2 varieties of zucchini, green beans, potatoes, cucumbers, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, watermelon, cantaloupe, corn, winter squash, spaghetti squash and pumpkins. Next year I hope to keep it more realistic! I’ve already decided that many of those crops will NOT be on my list next year because they just didn’t do well. I enjoy gardening but this year was just too much!

What I learned…

If I have learned anything this year, its that time seems to make the bad memories fade away. When I am bored this winter, I will probably concoct a new garden plan and forget how hard it was to manage that big garden. Somebody please remind me!

Welcome Home Henry
Sanctuary Ridge Adventures in Farming

Welcome Home Henry

Monica Scott1 Comment

We finally made it back to Signal Mountain to get the bush-hog! Just as the government started shutting everything down for the Coronavirus, I became very sick. I had been battling what seemed to be a mild cold for a few days when it became impossible to sleep due to the constant coughing. I ended up being treated for pneumonia. Jamey caught it too and his symptoms followed mimicking mine almost to the day. He ended up with pneumonia too. We never had a “real” fever but it did take the full 10 days of antibiotics and several more days to recover completely from it all. Needless to say, we stayed away from everyone! Even when we were feeling better and headed to pick up the bush-hog, we stayed a good distance away from my dad when he met us at my aunt’s house to pick it up. After all the sickness and rain, we are so happy to be back outside!

  • Loading Henry and the ‘hog
  • Henry in the rearview mirror
  • Finally Home!

After loading Henry and the bush-hog onto the trailer, we headed back off Signal Mountain to Sanctuary Ridge Farm. Our farm is in Decatur, Tennessee so the drive is a little over an hour. Our plans to deliver Henry to the farm and head home for dinner were quickly foiled when Jamey decided he wanted to take Henry for a “quick” drive.

Welcome Home Henry!

Luckily I had a folding chair in the back of the truck. I found a spot by the creek to watch Jamey bush-hog the field from a safe distance.

Everything works great with the tractor and bush-hog! We are excited to get these fields cut so we can decide where to build the barn. It was a beautiful, rewarding evening!

  • Psalms 150:6 (NIV)Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

© Copyright 2020– or current year, Sanctuary Ridge. Unattributed use of this material is strictly prohibited. Reposting and links may be used, provided that credit is given to Sanctuary Ridge with active link and direction to this original post.

Henry’s Restoration Part 1
Sanctuary Ridge Adventures in Farming

Henry’s Restoration Part 1

Monica ScottLeave a comment
Henry’s Grill

Although Henry was stored in a pole barn on my grandparents property, the years of exposure to the elements have taken a toll on the old Ford. He is structurally sound but in need of a little TLC. Jamey quickly developed a plan to replace the electrical components, including the battery. As with most projects like this, one thing leads to another and, before you know what has happened, you end up with a long list of must haves! A new gas tank was necessary due to corrosion on the inside of the old tank. A new Fuel Line, sediment bowl, filter, carburetor, Spark Plugs and Plug Wires, distributor cap, rotor button, single wire alternator, starter, head lights, wiring, gages, ignition switch, and draft assembly handle- whew, what a list!

  • Making Progress!
  • New Gas Tank!
  • New Battery
  • New Alternator
  • I have no idea what this is!
A peek under the hood…

Thankfully, Jamey loves to “tinker” and is a whiz at problem solving so to say he has enjoyed this project is a vast understatement! When he cranked Henry up today, he was all smiles!

There are a few more things left to do: new rear tires, new steering wheel, bearings and brakes. When those are completed we can drive back to Signal Mountain to pick up the bush hog and finally take Henry to his new home on Sanctuary Ridge Farm! Henry’s Restoration Pt.2 coming soon! Stay tuned!

© Copyright 2020– or current year, Sanctuary Ridge. Unattributed use of this material is strictly prohibited. Reposting and links may be used, provided that credit is given to Sanctuary Ridge with active link and direction to this original post.

Sanctuary Ridge does not accept ads or payment for mention of products or businesses.

Henry’s Ride
Sanctuary Ridge Adventures in Farming

Henry’s Ride

Monica ScottLeave a comment
Dad loading Henry on the trailer.

After two trips to Signal Mountain to work on Henry, Dad and Jamey succeeded in starting the old Ford tractor. They had to connect a make shift gas tank and battery, and clean some other vital parts. Since we are in the coldest winter month, Jamey wanted to take Henry to our house in Ooltewah where he can work on replacing some parts and cleaning up the others in the shelter of his workshop.

We made it to Ooltewah! Notice the new front tires!

It’s amazing that this 68 year old machine is still running! Not only that, but I am also amazed that parts for this old engine are still readily available. Since my dad had already done some work to the tractor when he inherited it, Jamey will need to do some minor work before Henry is ready to go back to work. Replacing the tires, the gas tank, battery, and most of the wiring will have Henry back in tip top shape!

Jamey explains some of the project…

Jamey went right to work, taking the hood off and dismantling the front grill. He also took the front wheels to the farm co-op to have the tires replaced. When he finishes putting Henry back together Jamey will return to the co-op to have the rear tires replaced. I’ll keep you posted on the progress…

© Copyright 2020– or current year, Sanctuary Ridge. Unattributed use of this material is strictly prohibited. Reposting and links may be used, provided that credit is given to Sanctuary Ridge with active link and direction to this original post.

Sanctuary Ridge does not accept ads or payment for mention of products or businesses.

Meet Henry
Sanctuary Ridge Adventures in Farming

Meet Henry

Monica ScottLeave a comment

One thing every farm needs is a tractor, right? What kind of tractor you get depends on what kind of work you will be doing. Those details help determine the engine size needed and the implements (or attachments) you will need. We decided to start with my Grandpa’s old Ford Tractor. My dad is letting us use it for the farm. So let me introduce you to “Henry”.

Introducing “Henry”

Henry is a 1952 model 8N Ford Tractor. My Great Grandparents had 5 acres and split the land with my Grandpa. They used the timber from the property to build their homes. I never knew my Great-Grandpa Brock but Great Grandma lived in their house until shortly before she passed away. My Grandma Brock lived in the house she and Grandpa built until she was 97! My Grandpa Brock purchased the used tractor at a tractor sale in Sale Creek, Tennessee. He utilized the tractor to bush-hog their properties and to plow his garden potatoes. There’s nothing quite like a fresh garden potato fried into “home fries”. I remember helping my Papa, my other grandfather, pick up potatoes with my cousins as we walked behind the tractor. The plow would turn the dirt and we would gather the potatoes in baskets. I always loved helping Papa in the garden!

Since Henry is 68 years old and hasn’t been used much in the last few years, he has gotten a little rusty. We are undecided on re-painting Henry or leaving the rusty patina, which is growing on us.

Jamey has plans to re-wire, replace some parts and have new tires installed. We are excited to have my Grandpa’s tractor to bush-hog since we already have around 11 acres that need to be cut. I’ll update as things progress!

© Copyright 2020– or current year, The Sanctuary Ridge. Unattributed use of this material is strictly prohibited. Reposting and links may be used, provided that credit is given to Sanctuary Ridge with  active link and direction to this original post.

Sanctuary Ridge does not accept ads or payment for mention of products or businesses.