In this July 8, 2021 update on the progress of building the farmhouse at Maambal Orchard, we dug the foundation of the landing outside the kitchen door using T-Rex, our 1-tonner mini-excavator. We also started scraping earth in front of the house to control the water runoff along the sloping terrain.
A hearty lunch of pork adobo, hard-boiled egg and rice wrapped in banana leaves somehow made the job easier.
T-Rex, our 1-ton mini excavator, is mobilized to Maambal Orchard this 16th day of March 2021. This machine will be permanently based at the Orchard, where it will do various digging and gardening jobs.
We were able to load it safely onto a truck using a pile of sand as a ramp. At the orchard, it was unloaded without issue using a pile of 3/4" gravel as ramp.
Upon review of my first try this morning, I realized that I didn't use the arm and the inward rotation of the bucket to dig into the material. I tried again in the afternoon, and this time I can scoop bucketfuls of sand easily.
The motions are still very jerky, but in a few more training sessions, I reckon I'll progress a bit towards becoming a smooth operator. 😉
We plan to use T-Rex in digging drainage canals, doing earthworks in the garden, and other small digging jobs in the orchard.
Before mobilizing T-Rex (our new 1-ton mini excavator) to Maambal Orchard, I have to learn to operate it first. A pea-sized gravel stockpile is a good practice area.
This is my first time to run such a machine, and I'm surprised at how complicated it is for me to get used to the numerous controls and movements. Although I've over three decades experience in driving cars and motorcycles (I can also operate a forklift quite well), a mini excavator is a different level of ball game. I've to watch out for the balance of the machine given its very light weight.
I'm confident though that in a few more sessions, I'll become quite familiar with the equipment and I can start using it in the Orchard.
