I bought some Rain Bird drip irrigation kits on Amazon. I was super excited, and ready to make watering my garden easier. I have bad days where I limp and it’s hard to just stand there and water things physically. I was hoping by setting up an irrigation system that it would be easier on me.
My first set back was when my neighbor knocked on my door to let me know that a silver van was following the Amazon truck and stole my boxes. I was in the garden at the time, and only 20 minutes past the delivery point. Reporting this to Amazon was near impossible and the cops in my jurisdiction won’t even take a report for petty theft. I went to get what I could locally, and reordered what I could not.
Not counting the stolen items, I am in for roughly $200.
Everything started off well, and it turns out splicing a hose is pretty damn easy. I also have quick connectors I attached, and then started laying out the actual irrigation tubing and dripper ends.
This is where I hit my second set back. While it is relatively easy to set up, if you have a physical limitation of any sort, this may be difficult. I had a garden seat to sit on, but being hunched over each plant in each bed? Ouch!
Then my final set back? I ran out of supplies. It took significantly more than the kits. I added a dripper to each of my larger plants, such as tomatoes, broccoli, and cabbage, and dripper tubes to the rest. It took significantly more time than I was expecting.
It was probably for the best I ran out of supplies because I was really hurting by this point. I’d been out there for a couple hours, and my wife was worried.
I also realized my original plan would need redone. My original plan was to use quick connects to attach hose sprayers for general yard work, but under pressure these do connect and unconnected with they will soak you. Not the best idea when I am usually in my PJs before bed when I am watering the garden.
I have ordered some more stuff to revise this to be easier, and here’s hoping it doesn’t get stolen off the porch again!
New plan:
- Get more supplies and a four hose manifold? I think they are called manifolds or splitters when you have a one in, and four out situation?
- Redo the hose connections with dedicated hose sprayer areas so I don’t get sprayed with the quick connects.
- Add dripper lines to the last 2.5 beds in the big garden area that still need it.
- Add dripper lines and tubing to the two beds on the other side for my mint and rhubarb.
- Plan enough time, and down time afterwards to I don’t have to rush, and I can recover more easily.
Bonus picture of my first tomato this season!
Garden Rat 