We met with Dmytro, a Ukrainian woodworker, who is going to erect our shelving, loft, and stairs. Alex gave him a basic outline plan, and Dmytro is going to draw up a detailed plan via CAD for review prior to build-out. He's tied up on another job for about 2 weeks so that works out well.
We then went to McHales in Castlebar this morning to view containers that they refit for special purposes. Alex's idea was that we need a clean room for the winery and a container could fit the bill. I was skeptical but, by the time we were done, I was sold.
So, we're going to put in a 20-foot container, with insulation so we can maintain fermentation through winter, electrics fitted for lighting and equipment, and water for cleanliness. It will have the typical container doors for equipment access and a people door for safe access. The container will sit in one corner of the shed and will have storage on top as it is load-bearing. Here's what it will look like:
It will cost in excess of €5000 but that's less than it would cost to build a room for the purpose. Now we have to order the equipment, de-stemmer/crusher, press, fermentation vats, bottler and corker. It's all coming together.
Alex has started moving stuff into the shed, beekeeping stuff first. The RTV and mower look tiny in there whereas they looked huge in the polytunnel. He is laying down pallets so nothing sits on the floor.
The concrete has low spots where water can collect so we have to be careful. Apparently, the water mixer broke on the cement truck as it was delivering our cement, so one load was drier than it should have been and settled differently than the rest. Bummer. I thought this one build would turn out perfect.
The shed doors are really nice. I am very pleased with the shed overall. I know this is Alex's casbah, but I can admire it. It still needs electricity and the water hookup. People doors are to be intalled this week. That's the last task for the builder.
We started building the wooden fence along the perimeter where the land drops off into a steep decline. Some of the posts were misaligned so we stopped halfway, but it's looking nice and will at least stop someone from dropping into the abyss.
The polytunnel is now all mine. The shed is his. I suppose we'll have to arrange visits. Sometime soon, we will have a party to christen it.
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| Giner came back starving, |
