It has arrived

[worth1]

Concrete doesn't dry it cures.
The slower it cures the stronger it will be.
If it cures too fast it can sometimes crack.
The higher the psi of the concrete the hotter it will get and the faster it will cure.
I've put a water sprinkler on it to keep it cooled off.

Do you know what psi it is?
This has to do with how much cement was put in the mix.

[Whwoz]

Second concrete pour went well today, was forecast to be about 1C/34F at sunrise with frost, but was 5C/41F, much more pleasant and only got better from there

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Pathway from veggie bed to house is now complete and curing.

A bit of an over estimation of requirements lead to a surplus of concrete, so we dumped 5 or 6 Barrow loads in what will be the footings for the compost bin expansion. This area was dug deeper than required and needed a bit of fill.

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A barrow and a half left went out at the entry of the drive in front of the pipe to aid drainage.

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Left a bit rough, but will fill with silt over time

Then fixed up the water supply into where the greenhouse will go.

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Two entry points at front, one rear for misting system

[MissS]

That's great. I'm so happy that it is all coming together for you. It sure i s going to be a game changer.

[Danny]

Interesting to watch your build out, great pictures too!

[Whwoz]

While wew were away, the concretor was only able to inbox and cut the poured concrete. He was also able to box up the last of the compost bin footings and an area for a storage slab. 47.5 mm/1.9 inches of rain prevented any actual pouring of concrete. The only suitable day is today and all trucks are booked.

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The actual greenhouse slab area is ready to be boxed, just waiting for the weather

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[GoDawgs]

OK, I just have to ask. Have you scratched your name or a date into the wet concrete anywhere?

[Whwoz]

Not yet @GoDawgs . Our names and hand prints are in the last lot that we had poured about 5 years ago. Will be doing it in the main pad once it is poured. Have left plenty of room around the greenhouse footprint for it.

[Whwoz]

Started boxing up what will be a couple of raised beds off the walkway.

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Right hand side bed will be blueberries and Chilean guava, left will be Saffron and Strawberry plus whatever in the space left. It will join the main garden bed

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[Whwoz]

While doing the boxing, a mulch truck turned up, so have started mulching the citrus trees

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[GoDawgs]

You're going to have one heck of a botanical garden when you're through!

[Whwoz]

Next concrete pour is booked for Friday. Fingers crossed weather behaves itself.

[PlainJane]

Will this theoretically be the finale for the concrete work?

[Whwoz]

No, this is for the compost bin footings and storage slab. The greenhouse slab will be at least 2 truck loads, hopefully we can do it in one pour, but quite possibly need two simply due to truck availablity.

[Whwoz]

Concrete arrived on schedule, storage slab and compost bin footings done

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[Moth1992]

Looking awesome!!

I can see why you need concrete. That mud is so mucky!

[Whwoz]

@Moth1992 , normally that mud is not there, but there is plenty of Kikuyu that grows through everything if not controlled sternly

[MissS]

This is pretty exciting. I'm enjoying watching the progress and as you, I can't wait to see it with the greenhouse slab done.

[Whwoz]

@MissS , I can't wait either. Should be poured Wednesday or Thursday everything being equal and weather forecast staying like it is

[Whwoz]

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Two more loads of mulch have turned up and already started to spread some of it. Seven of 10 citrus trees have mulch around them now. Need to see how my cardboard stocks are holding up before we spread more.

[Whwoz]

Managed to scrape up enough cardboard to get at least half a metre /20 inches of mulch around each citrus tree. Need to find more to finish off the bank.

Concretor was back today, area for greenhouse pad is boxed up with reinforcing mesh over 60% of it. Should enable us to spread the 7 cube load that will arrive here tomorrow and enough mesh is on site to quickly fill in the rest of the pad if we can score a second truckload.