Page 10 - Free State Summer 2023

THIS BUSINESS OF OURS (Continued)

Dunston Chestnut Seedling Gold Mops Reingold Arborvitae Soft Touch Hollies
We wanted something that just 1 person could run, used in summer and winter.
though 2 or 3 would be more efficient. In our operation We set the machine in its temporary location in the shade
we might be doing 100 one gallons, next 200 three and near a 120-volt power source. Then we loaded it with
gallons, then 50 seven gallons in a morning. However, the our present pine bark and mushroom compost mix for
main reasons we finally got it was finding consistent labor a test run. Well, it didn’t feed out of the shoot very well.
and the rapidly rising cost of it.
I had wondered about that. But while I was at lunch,
Another factor in selecting this machine is that to suit our Larry found that he could fix the problem and now all is
needs, it needed to be reasonably portable. So far, we well. He stepped up some Cherry Laurel from #3's to #7's
plan to put it on skids and make it liftable with our tractor as his test. Today I moved up some Chindo Viburnums
frontend forks. As this machine was made to use 120-volt from #1's to #3's. It was an easy, quick learning process I
power we will not have to get 3-phase electricity or a would say, and definitely faster. I think when potting up
power converter. We have a plan to change the mixing our rooted cuttings into #1's and 2's this winter, it will really
area. The mixer does need to be rebuilt, as well. First shine. Probably the speed of use will be preparation of
though, we will set up a temporary place for it, to learn it, the potting mix itself. That will be the limitation. Maybe an
before going to the 2 or possibly 3 places where it will be area to store mix prepared beforehand will reduce that

10 SUMMER 2023 • Free State News