Dig this!

We may soon be able to start digging in the new veggie garden. That threat that the garden fence would not be completed before Christmas came to fruition and we sit here a few days after the festival day with an incomplete perimeter.

(Above): The “A” Team apply the first coat to a set of six palings in the jig before fitting them to the railings with 65mm nail-gun nails. The jig took some time to develop and then quite a bit more time to refine and perfect. The jig guarantees that the 120mm palings are spaced with 50mm gaps and that each paling is fitted at a height of 250mm above the top of the upper rail.

The planting of all the posts is complete – though we knew that near the start of December. The bolting-on of the railings is complete for all sections, with the exception of the two 1.6 metre lengths on either side of the main entrance pergola. The nail-fixing of all the palings has been completed, with the exception of the two 1.6 metre sections. The two 1 metre service gates have been pieced together and fit snugly in their positions – we’re almost becoming experts in this wood-working venture! The gate catches still need to be fitted.

(Above): Clayton at work, nailing the last batch of palings to the bottom rail.

(Above): Closer quality inspection to double-check the “horizontality” and top-edge line of the paling is one of the most important checks before finally loosening the palings from the jig. Appearance from a distance and close-up checks with spirit-level and spacers on a taught line are done each time.

Lastly, we have excavated and cast the four concrete foundation footings with the galvanised post fittings for the entrance pergola. We will leave the concrete to set and cure for perhaps another week to ten days, before preparing the four 2.4 metre posts and the superstructure which will form the pergola. There will also be some railing work for creeper roses on each side.

Next, as soon as these tasks have been completed, probably just after New Year, we can review the fence construction and the tilling of the soil and construction of raised veggie beds.

My thanks to those readers expressing comments. Emails to chartwell.nz@gmail.com