Field work begins

I have been in the field for 8 days now. I wasn't super optimistic about getting those cylinders into the ground... and I had a reason to be. They are so time consuming. Luckily, I got to have 2 extra field assistants for two weeks, which has been super helpful.

We have, give or take ~80 out of 200 cylinders in the ground now. About 60 of them are in at Bracken (my site in Westport) and 15 or so in Chaffey's Locks at Wire Fence field where I have done the majority of my previous field work. It is time consuming. At first we thought we would be able to just trench the circle with a spade, and slide the cylinders in... that wasn't happening. Instead, we have to trench a ring for the cylinder and then trench a bigger ring about 2 inches further out, and literally dig an 8 inch deep ring, to slide the cylinder into and then fill the remainder with the dirt we dug out.

Trenching plots with the spade

Digging the trench out

One cylinder in!

I am exhausted and looking forward to 2 days in Port Carling next week. I am a bit nervous because I know no one that's going. I am the only person from Queen's even going, but that's ok, I think it will be fun. Not having to wake up at 6AM might also be kinda nice.

Here are a few other photos from the field so far:

My field at Bracken all set up

Marsh marigolds

Wiser

The 'shit pond' looking lovely

Wild strawberry

Forget fork... eat salad with a shovel

This summer has really taken a toll on the hands

Baby robins (at Burt's)

Keeping the hostas warm

Field crew hard at work

Giant mushroom

Kim and Adam trenching plots

Spring beauty

Trillium

Red Trillium