mybigwarwagon
Well-known member
Our condolences
Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop
- Thread starter BB767
- Start date
Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
That was a great story Thomas and I'm sure he and his whole family are proud of what you've done with the place to preserve it's heritage.
Thank you for sharing that great story.
Thank you for sharing that great story.
stillp
Well-known member
Sorry for the loss of your friend Thomas. Pleased he manged to spend a day at the property though, I bet he was please with what you've done there.
Pete
Pete
rmalkow2
Well-known member
Thomas,
So sorry to hear of John's passing and that first picture is just awesome. Thanks for writing such a thoughtful tribute to an old friend.
Your last paragraph says it all. Time for all of us does move on but, a legacy like this can continue with you as the current caretaker of it and your additions to it.
How amazing that when good people come together even in a welding shop, many lives can be influenced with positive results.
Bob
So sorry to hear of John's passing and that first picture is just awesome. Thanks for writing such a thoughtful tribute to an old friend.
Your last paragraph says it all. Time for all of us does move on but, a legacy like this can continue with you as the current caretaker of it and your additions to it.
How amazing that when good people come together even in a welding shop, many lives can be influenced with positive results.
Bob
patlun
Well-known member
What a great gift you was able to give your friend and his family! I am sure his family will remember that day for many, many years, remembering John and his stories.
I am also sure that you will remember him and some of his stories while you are working out there with the same tools he used.
Tonight I will propose a toast to him and his family - Sláinte!
I am also sure that you will remember him and some of his stories while you are working out there with the same tools he used.
Tonight I will propose a toast to him and his family - Sláinte!
Thanks for sharing the story of your friend John with the community, Thomas. Your photos perfectly illustrate a life well lived. The family group under the old sign - John looks as content as a man could possibly be, and clowning around with the engine and the steering wheel. It reminded me of that famous picture of Von Dutch the pinstriper.
(Can anyone identify the hood covered by the sheet in the background of that picture? I think it might be from a early to mid '60's Buick; a Wildcat or a Special...)
Thanks again Thomas - Happy Halloween to you and your family
(Can anyone identify the hood covered by the sheet in the background of that picture? I think it might be from a early to mid '60's Buick; a Wildcat or a Special...)
Thanks again Thomas - Happy Halloween to you and your family
VMX42
Well-known member
Re: John Johnson 1948-2020
You are a good man Thomas. Your generosity, love of community and respect for local history says volumes about you.
Sorry to hear of John's passing, but your restoration of his fathers shop, and his last visit sure put a smile on his face.
Well done!!!
Cheers from downunder!!!
Hello everyone, I have a bit of sad news to report. John Johnson, the second youngest son of Virgil and Lillie passed away peacefully last September at age 72. I've waited till now to give his family a bit of privacy until I could check with them before posted this news here. Virgil and Lillie had 5 sons and a daughter. Only 2 sons now remain.
Here's John with his wife, daughters, son and a grand-daughter in the shop during that visit. Sadly he passed away 10 days later.
So time moves on and another member of the Johnson family has passed but the legacy of Johnson's Welding and Repair remains. That little shop has figured prominently and shaped and influenced so very many lives. I trust Virgil is smiling.
Thomas
You are a good man Thomas. Your generosity, love of community and respect for local history says volumes about you.
Sorry to hear of John's passing, but your restoration of his fathers shop, and his last visit sure put a smile on his face.
Well done!!!
Cheers from downunder!!!
dpljmurphy
Well-known member
Nicely done sir, thank you for sharing. Peace, David
bluestripe67
Well-known member
It's nice to be back in touch with you and Chris. Sorry to hear of Mr. Johnson passing away. The fine details of your home are always appreciated, even though I won't be including most of the real technical details in my 1936 home. I did recently replace all the original windows. We ordered 15 Marvin Ultimate Double Hung all with 7/8 divided lights. The company did everything perfectly and we couldn't be happier. I'm still shifting gears! How about you?
Attachments
Hugo L.
Well-known member
My belated condolences...
Moving On........
Thank you all for the posts and condolences. No question it's a comfort to John's family. Some of them occasionally check in here and I'm sure they'd be pleased and amazed to know so many around the world know of their Dad, John Johnson. What comes to mind when I think of him is he had a quiet graciousness about him. You'd never know that looking at this picture from the mid 1970's...
That's John working with a chop saw on top of the lift fabricating something. You can see the lift is about 3-4' in the air. They frequently used the lift at that height as additional working bench space. Notice the partial sign seen in the background, upper left corner...
I've got a few more pictures his family found of work in the shop that I'll post once I get them scanned and resized. They bring back a flood of memories to me. That's the shop I knew growing up and how it was used.
They did find two items that they gifted to me which are among some of the oldest dated shop objects I know of so far.
This small advertising calendar from 1948, the year John was born. Note the old school description of "Electric and Acetylene" Welding and the shop phone number, 82 R 4. I think the phone got changed after this calendar was printed. You can see part of the old number was scratched out and the R 4 was written in by hand. That goes nicely with a pad of blank shop invoices they found...
Those invoices show the same, new shop phone # of 82 R 4.
So 2 more shop items have been reunited back out in the old shop thanks to John's family. Clearly this is where they belong. I am en debited to them for that.
The following are some pictures the family found, that John took outside the shop in 1998 and '99. That's one of the last times he spent any appreciable time out there until his final visit this last September.
Taken in 1998. And now...
...as the shop appears today, 21 years later in 2020.
Part of the shop wall and roof can be seen on the far left. Here's that same area...
...as seen today, 11-2020
This is looking toward the tool shed. In the back, far right is the shop.
This current picture might help orient you. Same spot and nearly the same angle. Use the tree on the left with a "V" and the shop in the back, right to help you visualize.
This is the rear, north addition overhead door, 1998.
That's the carport I added a few years later over that overhead door.
Look closely through the trees and you can see the shop, rear, overhead door in the back left. In the foreground is a nice, mature walnut tree. For the really sharp guys, that's the "smoke house" in the back, right side, behind all the tires.
Same walnut tree as seen above, after the tires were removed and the grounds cleaned up and grass is growing.
This is along the hedge row, near the street out front. The shop is located on the left side, out of frame.
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And as it looks now. I'm having an issue with the grass not doing well near the hedge trees, it's too shady. So I'm taking a different approach to that area starting next year. You'll just have to wait and see if you're a real glutton for punishment!
So that's what it all looked like to John from his childhood up to the late 1990's. He hadn't seen it until his last visit with everything all cleaned up. He was left with a nice, happy, last memory of the shop and grounds. I was a little concerned that he might not like the changes but he was overwhelmingly positive and supportive of what I had done. I see that as a real win-win. Who could ask for more.
My thanks once more to all of you here for your years of interest and support in my little corner of the world. This year, being asked to stay close to home has not been a burden. I truly love being here and sharing it with all with you.
Thomas
Thank you all for the posts and condolences. No question it's a comfort to John's family. Some of them occasionally check in here and I'm sure they'd be pleased and amazed to know so many around the world know of their Dad, John Johnson. What comes to mind when I think of him is he had a quiet graciousness about him. You'd never know that looking at this picture from the mid 1970's...
That's John working with a chop saw on top of the lift fabricating something. You can see the lift is about 3-4' in the air. They frequently used the lift at that height as additional working bench space. Notice the partial sign seen in the background, upper left corner...
I've got a few more pictures his family found of work in the shop that I'll post once I get them scanned and resized. They bring back a flood of memories to me. That's the shop I knew growing up and how it was used.
They did find two items that they gifted to me which are among some of the oldest dated shop objects I know of so far.
This small advertising calendar from 1948, the year John was born. Note the old school description of "Electric and Acetylene" Welding and the shop phone number, 82 R 4. I think the phone got changed after this calendar was printed. You can see part of the old number was scratched out and the R 4 was written in by hand. That goes nicely with a pad of blank shop invoices they found...
Those invoices show the same, new shop phone # of 82 R 4.
So 2 more shop items have been reunited back out in the old shop thanks to John's family. Clearly this is where they belong. I am en debited to them for that.
The following are some pictures the family found, that John took outside the shop in 1998 and '99. That's one of the last times he spent any appreciable time out there until his final visit this last September.
Taken in 1998. And now...
...as the shop appears today, 21 years later in 2020.
Part of the shop wall and roof can be seen on the far left. Here's that same area...
...as seen today, 11-2020
This is looking toward the tool shed. In the back, far right is the shop.
This current picture might help orient you. Same spot and nearly the same angle. Use the tree on the left with a "V" and the shop in the back, right to help you visualize.
This is the rear, north addition overhead door, 1998.
That's the carport I added a few years later over that overhead door.
Look closely through the trees and you can see the shop, rear, overhead door in the back left. In the foreground is a nice, mature walnut tree. For the really sharp guys, that's the "smoke house" in the back, right side, behind all the tires.
Same walnut tree as seen above, after the tires were removed and the grounds cleaned up and grass is growing.
This is along the hedge row, near the street out front. The shop is located on the left side, out of frame.
And as it looks now. I'm having an issue with the grass not doing well near the hedge trees, it's too shady. So I'm taking a different approach to that area starting next year. You'll just have to wait and see if you're a real glutton for punishment!
So that's what it all looked like to John from his childhood up to the late 1990's. He hadn't seen it until his last visit with everything all cleaned up. He was left with a nice, happy, last memory of the shop and grounds. I was a little concerned that he might not like the changes but he was overwhelmingly positive and supportive of what I had done. I see that as a real win-win. Who could ask for more.
My thanks once more to all of you here for your years of interest and support in my little corner of the world. This year, being asked to stay close to home has not been a burden. I truly love being here and sharing it with all with you.
Thomas
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So very cool Thomas. I am surprised John was 2 years younger than me. I thought he might be 15 or 20 years older than he was. You have kept his spirit alive. I think his family knows it and appreciates it. You have put forth a fantastic effort documenting all of this. I hope you continue to enjoy doing this and I will be able to read the posts. Best regards, Calvin
Grizz1963
Well-known member
Your last post, though tinged with sadness, is a lovely flashback and put a huge grin on my face Thomas.
You guys have done so much, and done so much justice to all of this history.
Well done and thank you team.
You guys have done so much, and done so much justice to all of this history.
Well done and thank you team.
stillp
Well-known member
Great post Thomas. Those before and after photos really show how much difference you've made.
I'm 1948 vintage as well!
Pete
I'm 1948 vintage as well!
Pete
MG David
Well-known member
Sometimes I think I understand the layout of your site and then I see a picture that confuses me. Today I see that the Shop has 2 separate but near identical car ports on different elevations. Is that correct?
I will never pass the test. Somewhere on this thread there is an aerial picture that shows the layout but I can't remember which post number it is.
I will never pass the test. Somewhere on this thread there is an aerial picture that shows the layout but I can't remember which post number it is.
Hi there David. Your post gave me a smile. Sometimes I wonder if even I could pass the test! When the test time does come, we'll just have to throw ourselves on Chris' mercy and hope for the best. That'll be easy for you, 'cause you're about a bazillion miles away, but me on the other hand........ not so much.
Yes, there are 2 car ports, one facing the street on the front of the shop as seen from the street and the other at the opposite end of the building. Page 21, post #403 shows 1 picture of it under construction. Both car ports are virtually identical.
Here's a picture I found that will help. Carport on the front of the shop to the left and carport in the rear of the shop in the back, toward the right side of the picture.
Here's another view of the back side of the shop and the rear carport.
Hopefully all these pictures will help with your visualization of that rear carport. If you couldn't remember it, trust me, you're not alone. I'm sure others had the same issue.
Thomas
I took this picture today of the old shop...
...that should help everyone get a better perspective. This is the east side, looking west. Beyond the building on the other side (seen in the distance, right rear) is the alfalfa field of dreams/heliport/overflow parking/grass runway/future Olympic size swimming pool, personal drag strip etc. Toward the left is the front of the building, street side.
Thomas
...that should help everyone get a better perspective. This is the east side, looking west. Beyond the building on the other side (seen in the distance, right rear) is the alfalfa field of dreams/heliport/overflow parking/grass runway/future Olympic size swimming pool, personal drag strip etc. Toward the left is the front of the building, street side.
Thomas
Vette60
Well-known member
Hi Thomas. I really love these photos that you are sharing with us from your corner of the world. They are really great.
Some of Mr. Johnson's signs remind me so much of my late cousin Dan, who left us much too soon at only 60 yo. He owned a local Auto Shop in the Pittsburgh area and one of my favorites that was posted on his main sign out front was "No Credit, No Problem, We Take Cash!"
Take care there in Philo. Happy Thanksgiving!
Randy
Some of Mr. Johnson's signs remind me so much of my late cousin Dan, who left us much too soon at only 60 yo. He owned a local Auto Shop in the Pittsburgh area and one of my favorites that was posted on his main sign out front was "No Credit, No Problem, We Take Cash!"
Take care there in Philo. Happy Thanksgiving!
Randy
MrScott99
Well-known member
Love seeing all of the before and after photos together. It really puts into perspective the amount of work you have done there. Truly a beautiful place to call home!
Love too that John got to see the place one last time with his family. What a memory to treasure.
Speaking of treasures, we should all be thanking you for the time and effort put into creating this very special corner of the interwebs. It never ceases to amaze me how easy it is to get sucked into the vortex. Even more amazing is how you have kept true to the original spirit of this thread through lo all the many posts and years! Thomas you have so many gifts and talents. Thank you so much for sharing them with the rest of us. I count myself lucky to have discovered this very special place.
Love too that John got to see the place one last time with his family. What a memory to treasure.
Speaking of treasures, we should all be thanking you for the time and effort put into creating this very special corner of the interwebs. It never ceases to amaze me how easy it is to get sucked into the vortex. Even more amazing is how you have kept true to the original spirit of this thread through lo all the many posts and years! Thomas you have so many gifts and talents. Thank you so much for sharing them with the rest of us. I count myself lucky to have discovered this very special place.
Spareparts
Well-known member
Thomas; if hard work keeps you young I hope you enjoy living your youth again, such an amazing place you have created at the center of the universe. I have been here since page #3 and the chassis buried into the tree, glad you saved that piece of Mr. Johnsons history. Thank you for sharing your adventure with all of us, Happy Thanksgiving to You and Chris and keep safe.
Bigbandguy
Well-known member
I have come up with some splendid entertainment while mostly staying at home. I am re-reading this entire fascinating thread from the first post. I am presently up to page 60. I recommend this as "therapy" for anyone caught up in the despair of the times and who wants to really see how a combination preservation and practical use project can be combined really well.
If you do this prepare to be amazed all over again!
If you do this prepare to be amazed all over again!
markviii
Well-known member
Another Thanksgiving under the belt. Not as big an event as in past years, but it has its own specialness. We started the day in the Center of the Universe with a 5K Turkey Trot. Around 70 community members of all ages showed up at the village hall yard at 7:45am to walk, ride bikes, walk dogs, or run the designated route. That's 4% of the town that got together on veery short notice (maybe 2 days warning on Facebook). Other people participated by standing on their porches and waving as we went by. Fun event which we'll probably do again in 10 days when we have the golf cart parade to bring Santa to town on Friday and light the community Christmas Tree at the library on Sunday Jan 6 (a 30 year tradition). Lots of fun.
We had Thanksgiving together with our son here at the house, our daughter and son-in-law at their home nearby, and my 4 sisters and their families. Same as other years, but different. Technology, Zoom specifically, is such a blessing. We're all in different states (IL, NY, OR, FL, WI, IN), so we wouldn't have been able to get together in person anyway (because of distance, not covid) without the wonderful technology of Zoom. 2-1/2 hours passed very quickly, so we'll gather for a bit tomorrow, too.
We're thankful for having each other, good health, family, good friends, and a comfortable home. It just reminds us that every day's a blessing.
Stay safe during these uncertain times.
Chris
We had Thanksgiving together with our son here at the house, our daughter and son-in-law at their home nearby, and my 4 sisters and their families. Same as other years, but different. Technology, Zoom specifically, is such a blessing. We're all in different states (IL, NY, OR, FL, WI, IN), so we wouldn't have been able to get together in person anyway (because of distance, not covid) without the wonderful technology of Zoom. 2-1/2 hours passed very quickly, so we'll gather for a bit tomorrow, too.
We're thankful for having each other, good health, family, good friends, and a comfortable home. It just reminds us that every day's a blessing.
Stay safe during these uncertain times.
Chris
MG David
Well-known member
Thomas, thank you once again for providing a comprehensive answer to one of my questions.
David
David
VMX42
Well-known member
...that should help everyone get a better perspective. This is the east side, looking west. Beyond the building on the other side (seen in the distance, right rear) is the alfalfa field of dreams/heliport/overflow parking/grass runway/future Olympic size swimming pool, personal drag strip etc...
Now that is a multipurpose alfalfa field if there ever was one...
Now that is a multipurpose alfalfa field if there ever was one...
Alfalfa To Corn - Part 1
And speaking of a multipurpose alfalfa field, after growing alfalfa for 5-6 years continuously, you need to rotate another crop into the field to keep from depleting the soil.
We had 6 glorious years of alfalfa, so last year, 2019, for diversity, corn was planted into the old alfalfa field for the first time ever. Remember, this field had always been a pasture and never had any crops planted into it before I bought it.
This is looking at the field in June, 2019. That's the hedge row on the right with the barn and old shop out of frame to the far right.
A 16 row planter was used and the planting went very quickly.
This gives you an idea of no till farming. Since the alfalfa was dying out after 6 years, this is what was left of it the following spring along with weeds. The field looks like a mess and you'd never think anything good could possibly come from planting into this. Rather than till and tear the field up with a disc or plow, I use no till farming:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No-till_farming
No till has many, many advantages and IMO, it really makes the most ecological sense. Better for the land and environment.
This is the slit the planter makes and then drops a seed about every 8" (20 cm) and closes the slit as it passes by. The rows are about 30" (76 cm) apart.
The field is sprayed with a herbicide either just before or just after the planting to kill any residual plants. Here you can see the weeds starting to die off.
When done planting, to transport the planter to another field, the outboard wings hydraulically...
...fold forward to make the planter not much wider than the tractor itself.
This looking back toward the hedge row and old shop a few weeks after the corn was planted. It has germinated and is sprouting up nicely through the old plant residue that was killed off.
Shortly thereafter, the corn canopies, which will cast a shadow over all the rows, preventing any competing young, new weeds from getting any sun light and prevents most future weed growth without the use of any further herbicide. Again, better for the environment. Now we just have to wait for the corn plants to grow. The nitrogen and nutrients that are left in the soil since we didn't disturb them with tillage, will feed the corn. No other fertilizer or nitrogen will be added, it's all done naturally and organically. Again, better for the soil and better for the environment.
I have no idea how many of you are interested in this farming portion of our program, but it's the field next door to the Johnson property and part of the story. Skip it, I won't be offended. For you farming junkies, stay tune for the exciting conclusion. Will the crop fail with no additional fertilizer or nitrogen? We'll soon see. Thanks everybody.
Thomas
Now that is a multipurpose alfalfa field if there ever was one...
And speaking of a multipurpose alfalfa field, after growing alfalfa for 5-6 years continuously, you need to rotate another crop into the field to keep from depleting the soil.
We had 6 glorious years of alfalfa, so last year, 2019, for diversity, corn was planted into the old alfalfa field for the first time ever. Remember, this field had always been a pasture and never had any crops planted into it before I bought it.
This is looking at the field in June, 2019. That's the hedge row on the right with the barn and old shop out of frame to the far right.
A 16 row planter was used and the planting went very quickly.
This gives you an idea of no till farming. Since the alfalfa was dying out after 6 years, this is what was left of it the following spring along with weeds. The field looks like a mess and you'd never think anything good could possibly come from planting into this. Rather than till and tear the field up with a disc or plow, I use no till farming:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No-till_farming
No till has many, many advantages and IMO, it really makes the most ecological sense. Better for the land and environment.
This is the slit the planter makes and then drops a seed about every 8" (20 cm) and closes the slit as it passes by. The rows are about 30" (76 cm) apart.
The field is sprayed with a herbicide either just before or just after the planting to kill any residual plants. Here you can see the weeds starting to die off.
When done planting, to transport the planter to another field, the outboard wings hydraulically...
...fold forward to make the planter not much wider than the tractor itself.
This looking back toward the hedge row and old shop a few weeks after the corn was planted. It has germinated and is sprouting up nicely through the old plant residue that was killed off.
Shortly thereafter, the corn canopies, which will cast a shadow over all the rows, preventing any competing young, new weeds from getting any sun light and prevents most future weed growth without the use of any further herbicide. Again, better for the environment. Now we just have to wait for the corn plants to grow. The nitrogen and nutrients that are left in the soil since we didn't disturb them with tillage, will feed the corn. No other fertilizer or nitrogen will be added, it's all done naturally and organically. Again, better for the soil and better for the environment.
I have no idea how many of you are interested in this farming portion of our program, but it's the field next door to the Johnson property and part of the story. Skip it, I won't be offended.
For you farming junkies, stay tune for the exciting conclusion. Will the crop fail with no additional fertilizer or nitrogen? We'll soon see. Thanks everybody.Thomas
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TwoBytes
Well-known member
Thanks for the explanation Thomas, I've learned something new today!
I, for one, am very interested in everything you've shared to date.
I, for one, am very interested in everything you've shared to date.
Grizz1963
Well-known member
I live in the middle of nowhere.
All the farm land around here (miles and miles) belongs to the church, and is leased or to farmers. I guess it’s lucrative for the church.
Anyway, the lease changes in March, but the current farmer is retiring, and had allowed access to the new guy.
He is the biggest farmer in the region, and all his tools are about 50% bigger than before.
He and his team are certainly not popular as they dirty and snarl up traffic on our narrow lanes around here, but people forget that they are enabling us to buy a $2.00 loaf of bread vs $10.00
He uses drilling too, with relatively reduced disturbance of the land.
Look at the size of his tools vs the road width.
All the farm land around here (miles and miles) belongs to the church, and is leased or to farmers. I guess it’s lucrative for the church.
Anyway, the lease changes in March, but the current farmer is retiring, and had allowed access to the new guy.
He is the biggest farmer in the region, and all his tools are about 50% bigger than before.
He and his team are certainly not popular as they dirty and snarl up traffic on our narrow lanes around here, but people forget that they are enabling us to buy a $2.00 loaf of bread vs $10.00
He uses drilling too, with relatively reduced disturbance of the land.
Look at the size of his tools vs the road width.
MacTexas
Well-known member
I'm all in on the corn. Can't wait to find out the yield per acre.
Brian R
Well-known member
My place in Maryland is surrounded by farmland that has been in the same family for over 250 years. I've owned my property for 5 years and have seen two crops - corn and soybeans. One difference I see between your place and my neighbors farm is the distance from the road to crops is much smaller on MD. Your crops looks to be maybe 20 feet or more from edge of road where I would hazard an estimate that in MD they've planted within 5-10 foot of edge of road.
Any idea why the corn wasn't planted closer to edge to maximize yield?
Can't wait to see results and hope the harvest was productive and kudos to being ecologically friendly.
Any idea why the corn wasn't planted closer to edge to maximize yield?
Can't wait to see results and hope the harvest was productive and kudos to being ecologically friendly.
stonesg
Well-known member
Ditto.
The thought of being able to amble next door and grabbing a few fresh ears for dinner no matter what the variety has me drooling....
Methinks Thomas will someday have to leave a portion of the field un-planted as parking area for the "Center Of The Universe Classic Cruise/Fly in, BBQ, and Corn Roast".
(Not that I'm instigating or anything....)
TG
Sifan
Well-known member
Your farmer has NICE equipment! For those interested, that used tractor and used planter are north of $200,000.
Surprised at your row spacing, most of central Illinois is 30" for corn. 30" or 15" for planted beans.
Surprised at your row spacing, most of central Illinois is 30" for corn. 30" or 15" for planted beans.
stillp
Well-known member
XJSuperman
Well-known member
I caught that too. Looking at the pic with the foot in it, I guessing those rows are actually 30" and not 48". I don't know of any current equipment capable of harvesting 48" rows other than some custom cotton pickers.
I am surprised the farmer didn't want to till that up after having been alfalfa for so long. Usually a transition like that results in full tillage or at least a thorough burn-down before planting.
Can't wait to see the results!
rlwhitetr3b
Well-known member
Field corn and sweet corn are different. I do not think you would find Thomas' very good eating.
XJSuperman
Well-known member
Field corn and sweet corn are different. I do not think you would find Thomas' very good eating.
But it makes for a really funny joke to pull on your city friends. We had a kid in college who swore off corn for a few months after he took a few bites from an ear of field corn in the middle of july.
Farming.......Who Knew.......Alfalfa to Corn-Part 2
I must admit I'm both a bit surprised and most pleased with the interest shown here about the farming operation. This is Garage Journal after all! What a diverse group we are here!! Farming is right next door and across the road from me plus this is where I grew up. I've got many life long friends who are farmers. For those who think it's boring or low tech.......you have no idea how high tech it has become, no idea! It never ceases to amaze me each year what Ag engineers are pushing into main-stream farming and what they are working on for the future.
Answers to questions and comments; here goes.
Rian, spring and fall, big farm equipment on the public roads is a common sight around here. Guys are pretty responsible about not dropping a bunch of dirt onto main roads. Country roads, not as much. I just don't know how much wider they can make equipment. One advantage we have is, our main highways are wider than yours and definitely we have wider shoulders. Still it's a problem, but this is farm country and everyone is pretty understanding.
TR6SR650, about what kind of corn was planted? It was Round Up ready hybrid feed corn, not sweet corn if that's your question. As to the manufacture or variety I'd have to check my records, I've slept since it was planted!
MacTexas, when we first started to discuss switching for a year to corn I was thinking about how terrific that field could be. Never had corn in it before, had 6 years of alfalfa, no till, well drained, microbes and earth worms all in place etc. If we had wanted to really push it, we could have gotten some impressive yields. Instead we decided to do minimal work with no additional chemicals or minerals just to see what it would yield with natural management. Last year was a very, very wet spring. That corn didn't get planted until after the first week of June which was very late for corn around here. We did surprisingly well considering the late start.
Brian R, regarding how close to the edge of the field do I plant and why. That's an excellent observation and question! Take a look at the following two pictures...
This was taken a few years ago with alfalfa, the crop in the field. Here, I'm standing in the driveway of the old shop, looking next door to the west. Those 3 buildings visible in the background through the trees are ones I demolished last year. You are right about my set-back. I set the edge of the field back from the road around 30'ish. You might recall and if you look closely, I transplanted several walnut trees between the road and the field there. That's the road I normally drive to reach the house and shop and I think it looks better to have some grass space there. Aesthetics are more important to me.
In this picture, it shows the hedge row, with the shop out of frame just to the right. Again, I set the field back from the property line about 30' or so and left some volunteer walnut trees and a fabulous burr oak that were growing in the pasture. Turn of the century, hedge rows were planted among other things, to define property lines and to provide wind breaks to help minimize wind soil erosion. I very much wanted to retain the hedge row when I bought the field. I love the gnarled appearance of those Osage orange trees. Not many hedge rows left around here. Short answer; since this is a residential area, I left some space and I am not concerned with maximizing yields over aesthetics. Most farms around here do plant right up to the road.
stonesg when we have the Garage Journal old shop open house here I agree, we just might need some overflow parking1! Now as to the "Center Of The Universe Classic Cruise/Fly in, BBQ, and Corn Roast" or COTUCC/FIBBQACR, perhaps we should rethink that title.
Sifan, right you are. New, the tractor alone was north of $350,000 and as you'll see, the combine was right around there as well. This isn't your father's John Deere any more!! You're also right about the row spacing at 30" as well. I was zipping out that post last night and the 4' slipped by my editing. I have now re-edited that post for correction. Thanks! Pretty sure we're doing about 8" on the plant spacing though. Thanks for the correction. Keep on eye on me!!
Pete, with no till you have to do something about residual plants. At least we don't use Dicamba! That stuff is wicked nasty with volatility that's off the charts! I'm not a big fan of chemicals in general, be it fertilizer or herbicide, but used responsibly and with restraint, I think there is a place for them.
XJSuperman, I am a huge believer in no-till and the use of cover crops. Yes, Justin is a 5th generation, traditional farmer and he very much wanted to till that up before planting.
Just look at it, now that's an ugly field to plant into isn't it?! When we first started to farm the field in 2012 I told him the direction I wanted to go in. I assured him he wouldn't be hurt financially if the crop didn't work out. We did do a thorough burn down the day before however, but that could have been done up until a couple days after planting.
I have a good friend who farms 7 miles away. I've know him for 40 years. We drag race together, you've seen his car here before, an all original 1969, SS 396/375 hp, 4 speed Chevelle. He has been doing no-till, cover crop farming for well over 10-15 years with great success. I've been talking with him about that way to farm years before I purchased my field. With his experience, I was confident we could proceed with a no-till program.
Here's a better look at how well the corn emerged from that mess of a field a few weeks earlier. And later still...
...after a few timely rains, it was well on it's way. The hedge row is background right.
As the summer progressed...
This is where the payoff comes from 6 years of alfalfa growth and then no-tilling the field. All the nitrogen and nutrients that were stored in the ground from several years of alfalfa plants was taken up by the corn. If we had tilled the field, we would have destroyed all that natural nitrogen, nutrients, and microbes.
Then as it started to dry down...
...we could see we had a good crop forming. We added or did nothing to this crop after it was planted. No fertilizer, no side dressing of nitrogen, no insecticides, no additional herbicides, nothing. Planted it and then waited. For those who may not know, typically around here, each corn plant produces only 1 ear of corn.
Once it had all dried down it was harvested. This is the view from the combine cab, looking toward the hedge row in the background. To the right is the lot where I removed the old house, barn and outbuilding a few months before this picture was taken. See page, 589, post # 11,774 and page 596, post # 11,907.
This is the business end of the combine. It has an 8 row corn header on it.
Seen from the cab, looking at the hedge row, old shop beyond.
Look closely at the bottom and you'll see the header going through the corn rows.
Around here, it's very common to harvest "on the fly". That is, the combine never stops. When the bin on the combine is near full, an auger cart is pulled along side, the cart matches speed with the combine and then grain is discharged from the combine into the auger cart while the combine continues to harvest. When the auger cart is full, it moves off to discharge it's load into a waiting grain truck. It's like a ballet if you will. The combine sets the pace and everything else adjusts to it. Continuous harvesting, the auger cart moving off to empty it's load and then returning to the combine for another load. As the waiting grain trucks get full, they move off to empty their loads either at an elevator or grain bin on the farm. On and on, over and over, day after day until the crop is in. I have a CDL and I've driven semi grain trucks for friends, max load is 80,000 lbs (36,287 kg) but my favorite thing is pulling an auger cart. Before I retired from flying, I'd come home after flying at 550 mph for 10 hours and a few hours later I'd be out in a field, pulling an auger cart at 6 mph and loving every minute of it.
Here's an auger cart. You can see the combine discharge chute on the left and the auger cart has it's own chute to empty into grain trucks or wagons. Auger carts like this are powered by the tractor PTO, Power Take Off. The PTO powers the discharge and hydraulics control the spout.
Here is whole outfit, the combine, tractor and auger cart. Combines are equipped with GPS and they can locate and log where on a field, the crop is being harvested and just what that crop yield is in a certain spot. They do this continuously while harvesting and can then produce a yield map. That map will show the field in small grids and what the yield was in that part of the field. Someone here can respond on how small an area a yield map can measure. The ones I've got show a several foot area per grid but I don't know the precise size they measure.
We had a very late planting last year, 2019 due to wet spring weather. That hurt our yield. Looking at the individual ears you could see they were damaged by a drought in August, just as the ears were filling out. Had we been able to plant 2-3 weeks earlier, the ears would have been largely formed by the time the drought hit and we would have had a much higher yield. As it is we averaged 175 BPA, Bushels Per Acre. Some areas of the field had a 220 BPA. Considering it was just plant and then harvest with no additional expense or labor we felt that was respectable. I'd say our no-till program is working.
Many, many thanks to you all for letting me share my farming experience. I've really enjoyed forming ideas and then putting them into practice next door and then seeing the results, much like tackling the old shop restoration. Now, I wonder what mistakes I made in this post.
It covered a lot of ground, so to speak!
Thomas
I must admit I'm both a bit surprised and most pleased with the interest shown here about the farming operation. This is Garage Journal after all! What a diverse group we are here!! Farming is right next door and across the road from me plus this is where I grew up. I've got many life long friends who are farmers. For those who think it's boring or low tech.......you have no idea how high tech it has become, no idea! It never ceases to amaze me each year what Ag engineers are pushing into main-stream farming and what they are working on for the future.
Answers to questions and comments; here goes.
Rian, spring and fall, big farm equipment on the public roads is a common sight around here. Guys are pretty responsible about not dropping a bunch of dirt onto main roads. Country roads, not as much. I just don't know how much wider they can make equipment. One advantage we have is, our main highways are wider than yours and definitely we have wider shoulders. Still it's a problem, but this is farm country and everyone is pretty understanding.
TR6SR650, about what kind of corn was planted? It was Round Up ready hybrid feed corn, not sweet corn if that's your question. As to the manufacture or variety I'd have to check my records, I've slept since it was planted!
MacTexas, when we first started to discuss switching for a year to corn I was thinking about how terrific that field could be. Never had corn in it before, had 6 years of alfalfa, no till, well drained, microbes and earth worms all in place etc. If we had wanted to really push it, we could have gotten some impressive yields. Instead we decided to do minimal work with no additional chemicals or minerals just to see what it would yield with natural management. Last year was a very, very wet spring. That corn didn't get planted until after the first week of June which was very late for corn around here. We did surprisingly well considering the late start.
Brian R, regarding how close to the edge of the field do I plant and why. That's an excellent observation and question! Take a look at the following two pictures...
This was taken a few years ago with alfalfa, the crop in the field. Here, I'm standing in the driveway of the old shop, looking next door to the west. Those 3 buildings visible in the background through the trees are ones I demolished last year. You are right about my set-back. I set the edge of the field back from the road around 30'ish. You might recall and if you look closely, I transplanted several walnut trees between the road and the field there. That's the road I normally drive to reach the house and shop and I think it looks better to have some grass space there. Aesthetics are more important to me.
In this picture, it shows the hedge row, with the shop out of frame just to the right. Again, I set the field back from the property line about 30' or so and left some volunteer walnut trees and a fabulous burr oak that were growing in the pasture. Turn of the century, hedge rows were planted among other things, to define property lines and to provide wind breaks to help minimize wind soil erosion. I very much wanted to retain the hedge row when I bought the field. I love the gnarled appearance of those Osage orange trees. Not many hedge rows left around here. Short answer; since this is a residential area, I left some space and I am not concerned with maximizing yields over aesthetics. Most farms around here do plant right up to the road.
stonesg when we have the Garage Journal old shop open house here I agree, we just might need some overflow parking1! Now as to the "Center Of The Universe Classic Cruise/Fly in, BBQ, and Corn Roast" or COTUCC/FIBBQACR, perhaps we should rethink that title.
Sifan, right you are. New, the tractor alone was north of $350,000 and as you'll see, the combine was right around there as well. This isn't your father's John Deere any more!!
You're also right about the row spacing at 30" as well. I was zipping out that post last night and the 4' slipped by my editing. I have now re-edited that post for correction. Thanks! Pretty sure we're doing about 8" on the plant spacing though. Thanks for the correction. Keep on eye on me!!Pete, with no till you have to do something about residual plants. At least we don't use Dicamba! That stuff is wicked nasty with volatility that's off the charts! I'm not a big fan of chemicals in general, be it fertilizer or herbicide, but used responsibly and with restraint, I think there is a place for them.
XJSuperman, I am a huge believer in no-till and the use of cover crops. Yes, Justin is a 5th generation, traditional farmer and he very much wanted to till that up before planting.
Just look at it, now that's an ugly field to plant into isn't it?! When we first started to farm the field in 2012 I told him the direction I wanted to go in. I assured him he wouldn't be hurt financially if the crop didn't work out. We did do a thorough burn down the day before however, but that could have been done up until a couple days after planting.
I have a good friend who farms 7 miles away. I've know him for 40 years. We drag race together, you've seen his car here before, an all original 1969, SS 396/375 hp, 4 speed Chevelle. He has been doing no-till, cover crop farming for well over 10-15 years with great success. I've been talking with him about that way to farm years before I purchased my field. With his experience, I was confident we could proceed with a no-till program.
Here's a better look at how well the corn emerged from that mess of a field a few weeks earlier. And later still...
...after a few timely rains, it was well on it's way. The hedge row is background right.
As the summer progressed...
This is where the payoff comes from 6 years of alfalfa growth and then no-tilling the field. All the nitrogen and nutrients that were stored in the ground from several years of alfalfa plants was taken up by the corn. If we had tilled the field, we would have destroyed all that natural nitrogen, nutrients, and microbes.
Then as it started to dry down...
...we could see we had a good crop forming. We added or did nothing to this crop after it was planted. No fertilizer, no side dressing of nitrogen, no insecticides, no additional herbicides, nothing. Planted it and then waited. For those who may not know, typically around here, each corn plant produces only 1 ear of corn.
Once it had all dried down it was harvested. This is the view from the combine cab, looking toward the hedge row in the background. To the right is the lot where I removed the old house, barn and outbuilding a few months before this picture was taken. See page, 589, post # 11,774 and page 596, post # 11,907.
This is the business end of the combine. It has an 8 row corn header on it.
Seen from the cab, looking at the hedge row, old shop beyond.
Look closely at the bottom and you'll see the header going through the corn rows.
Around here, it's very common to harvest "on the fly". That is, the combine never stops. When the bin on the combine is near full, an auger cart is pulled along side, the cart matches speed with the combine and then grain is discharged from the combine into the auger cart while the combine continues to harvest. When the auger cart is full, it moves off to discharge it's load into a waiting grain truck. It's like a ballet if you will. The combine sets the pace and everything else adjusts to it. Continuous harvesting, the auger cart moving off to empty it's load and then returning to the combine for another load. As the waiting grain trucks get full, they move off to empty their loads either at an elevator or grain bin on the farm. On and on, over and over, day after day until the crop is in. I have a CDL and I've driven semi grain trucks for friends, max load is 80,000 lbs (36,287 kg) but my favorite thing is pulling an auger cart. Before I retired from flying, I'd come home after flying at 550 mph for 10 hours and a few hours later I'd be out in a field, pulling an auger cart at 6 mph and loving every minute of it.
Here's an auger cart. You can see the combine discharge chute on the left and the auger cart has it's own chute to empty into grain trucks or wagons. Auger carts like this are powered by the tractor PTO, Power Take Off. The PTO powers the discharge and hydraulics control the spout.
Here is whole outfit, the combine, tractor and auger cart. Combines are equipped with GPS and they can locate and log where on a field, the crop is being harvested and just what that crop yield is in a certain spot. They do this continuously while harvesting and can then produce a yield map. That map will show the field in small grids and what the yield was in that part of the field. Someone here can respond on how small an area a yield map can measure. The ones I've got show a several foot area per grid but I don't know the precise size they measure.
We had a very late planting last year, 2019 due to wet spring weather. That hurt our yield. Looking at the individual ears you could see they were damaged by a drought in August, just as the ears were filling out. Had we been able to plant 2-3 weeks earlier, the ears would have been largely formed by the time the drought hit and we would have had a much higher yield. As it is we averaged 175 BPA, Bushels Per Acre. Some areas of the field had a 220 BPA. Considering it was just plant and then harvest with no additional expense or labor we felt that was respectable. I'd say our no-till program is working.
Many, many thanks to you all for letting me share my farming experience. I've really enjoyed forming ideas and then putting them into practice next door and then seeing the results, much like tackling the old shop restoration. Now, I wonder what mistakes I made in this post.
It covered a lot of ground, so to speak! Thomas
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Very interesting....I worked (Played) on my grandparents wheat /dairy farm in middle-of-Oklahoma, when I was a kid......GREAT memories......MUCH simpler tractors and combines back then, but still, AT THE TIME ..... $$$ expensive.... I remember they had their one biggest tractor, it had A/C unit on top of the cab, but it quit working, and they never spent the $$$'s to fix it....ha ha ha 60's central Oklahoma.....they were TIGHT with their $$$$'s.... (it was near DOVER, OK, if you want to look up a *REALLY* in the middle of nowhere area..... ha
Homebody
Well-known member
Good stuff on the farming Thomas!
We've been on our farm since 98 and my folks since 75 before that. All 45 years, 120 acres has been no til alternating between corn, beans and ocasionally winter wheat.
It's been leased out since 75 and two years ago - much like yours it changed farmers also and he is also one of the larger ones in the area.
Where as the former guy had one of each piece of equipment, about 6 weeks ago down the road comes 4 grain semis, 2 combines, 4 auger carts, etc and they work the same as you described - none stop. Impressive indeed!
We've been on our farm since 98 and my folks since 75 before that. All 45 years, 120 acres has been no til alternating between corn, beans and ocasionally winter wheat.
It's been leased out since 75 and two years ago - much like yours it changed farmers also and he is also one of the larger ones in the area.
Where as the former guy had one of each piece of equipment, about 6 weeks ago down the road comes 4 grain semis, 2 combines, 4 auger carts, etc and they work the same as you described - none stop. Impressive indeed!
Farmers are very conscious of what they use when it comes to herbicide and fertilizer. They are not wasteful nor do they just dump it all over. They use only what they need to use to get the job done.
You might be quite surprised to know what a farmer shells out for herbicide and fertilizer in a years time.