Archive for March, 2011

For most of the last month we have been fighting off the weeds and ants that seem to attack the vineyard on a daily basis. But this has not been without a few laughs and ‘events’.

A line of soldier ants on their way to the vineyard

One of our farm boundaries runs between our internal irrigation ditch and the public irrigation supply canal for about 410 yards. The fence here was almost non existent, and when sections did appear out of the undergrowth, they consisted of a single strand of rusty barbed wire.

We had taken the decision some months ago to replace this fence with a traditional Argentine boundary wire fence – 7 very taught wires held apart every meter or so with wooden stretchers (varillas).  This is a  fence that keeps out animals as well as making it very difficult for humans too to cross. A contractor quoted us a stupid amount of money to for the work, so we decided to have a go ourselves. The posts were put in earlier in the year (see earlier post).

A homemade reel to hold the wire was constructed and a 1000 meter roll of 17/15 oval section wire was loaded onto it ready for the first  wire pull through a 110 meter section.

Home made wire reel holding a kilometer of wire

The first wire was difficult to pull through the posts as it had the weight of over 60 wooden spreaders (varillas) on it, but subsequent wires became easier and easier.

Wire pulling in progress through the forest section

By the time we had 5 out of the 7 wires in place it was beginning to look like a serious boundary fence at last. This is a view from the public side of the irrigation canal.

View from the public side of the fence

Just to the right of the post in the picture are a group of wooden spreaders waiting to be slid along the wires into place.

Until all 400 meters of wire is in place we have used temporary straining posts to take the force of the tension on the wires. Here some local watches the work going on.

Some chap kindly leans on the post to stop it falling over.

But, shortly after this picture was taken, I stepped down into our internal irrigation ditch only to see a huge snake laying on the damp earth. It was the largest snake I had seen outside a zoo, and at first I thought it was a rattlesnake. Graciela identified it as a Yarará ( Bothrops alternatus), known locally as a “Vibora de la Cruz”.  The snake was just under 6 feet (2 meters) long and about the diameter of my arm.

We presume it used to live quite happily in the rough land where the old fence ran, but our work had driven it out into our forest. So from now on it is knee length boots for fencing operations!

A Víbora de la Cruz - the most agressive poisonous snake in Argentina

At the time of writing we have completed all 7 wires on the first 110 meter run of fence – and at a cost of one eighth of the quote we were given.

Near to where we were erecting the wire fence there is a huge white fig tree. Last year its fruit never ripened. This year, due to it being watered every week, it is covered in green figs that are slowly turning slightly yellow and soft.
The figs do not all ripen at the same time and each day or so we collect a few handfuls to dry or eat.

White figs awaiting a little more time to ripen

On one side of the tree is a wasp’s nest the size of a football. They do not bother us when we walk past, nor do they get annoyed if we pick figs close to their nest. Well… not until the other day.

The wasp's nest in the fig tree

I was up a ladder using a long stick to get some ripe figs above the wasp’s nest and accidently knocked it. In a few seconds my head was covered in a black and yellow buzzing beret and I raced down the ladder and dissapeared across the farm heading for an irrigation ditch! As I ran I pulled off my T shirt to wipe the wasps off of my head.

Graciela said it looked like a cartoon with a long black cloud following my progress across the field. Fortunately for me these wasps are not aggressive and after a short while they left me and returned to their undamaged nest.

I was lucky as I was ‘only’ stung on my lips, in my mouth, on the back of my neck and on one arm. The stings have cleared up and now I treat the nest with respect.

The dog wonders what all the fuss is about.

When it is too hot, around noon time, I often take a siesta in a hammock. Graciela, meanwhile, opens up the portable office in the shade of the woodland.

The portable office in action

What a nice life!