Reading Ralph Rice's article of using a front end loader tire for a water tank in the latest issue of RH magazine, reminded me of the uses I have around here for them.
Several years ago I acquired a few to break a team of mules using Jack Stroud's ( now deceased) method in his video. I put quite a few miles on that team driving them puling two loader tires. That team is now 13 and 14 years a old and went down the road quite some time ago.
The tires set around here for a few years and I finally got an idea to use them in my garden. I cut one side wall out using the same method that Ralph did and laid a layer of 1/2 " hardware cloth ( we use to call it rat wire) on the bottom to keep gophers out and then filled each tire with good top soil .
One is my asparagus bed that I put 6 crowns in and it keeps me and the wife in plenty of shoots each spring. Come fall I pile several feet of pine needs around the tire and on top for mulch.
Another I use as a raised bed for radishes and lettuce. It keeps these old knees from having to bend as much. We have a lot of hail here so I put in a few stakes about 2 ft tall and lay 1/2 " hardware cloth over them to protect against it.
The other is my herb planter. This year I raised sage in it that I started from seeds. I eat a lot of wild game, elk and such, and I like to season it with ground sage, Greek seasoning and Seasoned salt. I grew enough for a two year supply. I dried it in a a dehydrator and the ground it with one of those small coffee bean grinders that we had ( I had to buy a new one as my wife said she didn't favor sage flavored coffee). I filled three 1/2 pint jelly glasses with it and putt two on the freezer to keep.
Comment on Ralph's water tank. How did he remove the oily coating inside the tire? I know my mules would not drink that. I have a 150 and a 300f gallon tank that I use, Every filling, I put about two table spoons of bleach in the small one and an 1/8 cup in the larger one that keeps the algae from growing. I have been doing that for over 30 years and it doesn't bother the mules. I don't know if the black tires will keep the water form freezing in the winter, but think it would keep that water too warm in the summer here in Colorado.
A Bi-Monthly Magazine
Borrowing From Yesterday To Do the Work Of Today
Offering Resources to Promote Self-Sufficient & Back-to-the-Land Living
- latest reply 4 years ago
4 years ago
NoraWI says 2019-10-04 15:02:45 (CST)
In the winter I give the horses access to the barn with a heated water tank. On really cold nights the horses would back close to the warm water and poop into it. I use the old tires to create extra space around the tank. Now they can get to the water to drink but their poop drops short of it. I hold the tires in place with one of those heavy duty tie-down straps.
4 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum
K.C. Fox says 2019-10-13 10:23:22 (CST)
I have two loader tires that I use for water tanks they work OK. they last a lot longer than the metal ones ESP around the barns. out in the pastures we use bottomless 18'--30' tanks cover the bottom with plastic then 3" of dirt and Bent nite, we dig them in the ground 1' first they hold a lot of water. But when the wind don't blow for 3 days the livestock still have water.
4 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum
Ralph in N.E.Oh says 2019-10-27 13:47:59 (CST)
Hello Everyone,
Vince, I used some Dawn dishwashing liquid a scrub brush and a bit of effort to scrub the inside of the tire. I did it because after cutting the sidewall, I had the liquid inside the tire anyway. As I rinsed it out, I noticed the "yuk" coming with it. I just simply gave it a good scrubbing for good measure.
My animals drink the water down pretty fast, so algae hasn't been a problem. I guess I would try a little bleach or even perhaps lime to see what would work the best to prevent it...in moderation of course.
I like your idea of the raised beds...anything to save old backs and knees is a wonderful thing!
4 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum
Forum rules
Read these first
Uncle Joe
Forum Moderator
mischka.com/shop
Magazine
edition of Rural Heritage
is now available by
subscription or
single issue purchase
Check out a preview in our Reading Room.
Events
Calendar of Events
1850s era mill used as
grist, roller and saw-
mills.
Visit RFD–TV for the
Rural Heritage scheduled
times in your viewing area.
