OT on the road again!!

[philcaseinWPA]

Good news guys! If you saw my message Monday about my radiator in my stepvan that I use for going to farmer's markets then you'll know what this is about. Took the radiator out and to a shop just down the road and all they could find wrong was it was rusty and a couple of small leaks, the transmission cooler was ok. So what I thought originally was oil was just really cruddy coolant. He fixed the leaks, we put it back in filled it and all is well......for now. Thanks for everybody's help and reassurances, it was even less serious than we thought. So the Veggie Van didn't die, only a mild virus! Guess I should pay more attention to servicing the cooling system. Thanks

Phil

Only picture I have of it

Link to my daughters blog of our farming adventures this summer

 

[Anonymous-0]

Good idea to change the radiator coolant every two years. The new antifreeze products are environmentally friendly and they come premixed. The best way to destroy a radiator is to add tap water to it as the minerals will plug a radiator in short order. Glad to hear that there weren't more serious problems.

 

[georgeky]

Looks like a booming business. Thinking of giving up tobacco all together and getting back in the veggy buisiness.

 

[philcaseinWPA]

If you are close enough to a population center you can do ok with retail veggies or fruit. Wholesale is a whole other story, I wouldn't want to go there. Either you or someone working for you (or married to you) has to be able to deal with the public well. Good quality produce does wonders too. We go to 3 markets a week and have a roadside stand at the farm open 6 days a week. My wife goes to the markets and my sister runs the stand. I watch and stay out of the way. Sales are about 50 / 50 between the markets and our stand. I have very good help selling and packing.

Phil

 

[georgeky]

Phil, I agree completely. I tried raising bell peppers and sold to the co-op for almost nothing. I did sell quite a bit year before last and had folks call or come by all season this time, but I didn't grow enough stuff to sell. I am going to quit raising tobacco and just raise veggies from now on I think.