In order to buy the miscellaneous supplies that we need to mount the environmental monitoring stations, we need to use the departmental purchasing card. While waiting for the purchasing card to be returned, I worked on the updating the sign to identify the stations.  We decided to change the orientation of the sign, so that they can mount more securely on the poles in the orchard and the garden and match the size of the smaller temp/RH units.  Here’s the test cut from cardboard:

Because not every prototype is a success, here is my first attempt at engraving on the acrylic.  Fortunately this was a “sample” piece that Johnston Plastics sent us, because the settings were clearly wrong and the plastic was warped and melted.

More research into the proper settings is necessary.  Google, here I come!

Now for the big news…

The HOBOs are here! Let the fun begin! Of course, first we have to handle the installation. Here’s the necessary equipment:

It doesn’t look too bad until you realize that is a 3 foot steel spike that needs to be driven into the ground by the sledgehammer.  Once the spike is in the ground, the 4x4x8 wooden post is secured in the steel casing and the equipment can be mounted.

Plot G7 in Willie Streeter Community Garden before the installation of the Environmental Monitoring Station.

The metal spike before being pounded into the ground. Again, deceptive in this photo because you can not tell that the cover crop (buckwheat) is about 3 feet tall.

Mid-way through.  The 2 pieces of 2×4 are simply scrap lumber to use to absorb the blows of the sledge hammer.  Menard’s did not have any scap pieces of 4×4 timber, so we improvise.  The 2x4x2 piece of lumber only cost $0.55, and cut in half, it works in the 4×4 bracket.

Success!

Now that the hard labor is done, the station needs to be assembled, initialized and prepared for deployment.

Equipment assembled.

Greasing and weatherproofing the cable connectors.

In this photo you can see the solar panel, one of the soil moisture sensors, and the cable for the temperature and relative humidity sensor.  Once the plugs are installed to seal the unused sensor ports, the thumb screws are tightened, and the solar radiation shield is attached to the temperature/relative humidity sensor, then the unit will be ready to deploy.