This was another difficult project carried out in the rainy season.
Unlike Samoa this venue was an existing field. The field was graded to new levels.
The laterals were installed across the field (photos A & B).
After the lateral installation the field was cultivated. This brought up stones, rocks and the occasional mortar bomb and ammunition left from the Second World War (photo C).
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A.
solomons - field graded
B.
solomons - installing lateral trenches
C.
solomons - rock raking
The rock rake was used to remove the stones, etc., off the surface (photo D), after which the field was laser levelled.
On completion of the ground work the field was sandslit (photo E).
After sandslitting, the field was sand-carpeted with 50mm of top dressing sand (photo F).
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D.
solomons - further levelling
E.
solomons - sand slitting
F.
solomons - carpetting with top-dressing sand
Irrigation testing and final sand levelling was done (photo G), after which the field was ready to sow with couch seed.
On completion of the project, photos were taken 3 months after seeding (photo H), on opening day (photo I), and at the grand opening ceremony.
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G.
solomons - ready to sew
H.
solomons - 3 months after seeding
I.
solomons - opening day