how to farm ice

any ideas on farming ice?

Where?

Digging irrigation runnels to channel water could screw up a hillside and speed up erosion.

If you're talking man made, chain link fence is a good base to run water over.

Start with getting the land owner or land manager's permission.

a buddy of mine built a small wall by building a box at the top of a ravine. he painted it black, knocked a couple of holes in the bottom, and filled it with snow. according to theory, the sun would melt the snow, which would trickle out of the box, slowly building a wall down the ravine. problems encountered included having to refill the box daily, slow rate of ice build-up, etc. it was a start, however...

Post this on NEice.com. You'll probably get photos of a variety of backyard farmed ice projects. Or just look through the pictures on that site. Lots of fun stuff.

Kathy

This isn't my idea. I heard it on NPR.

A long, long (well, depending on your proximity to a water outlet) hose and run it up to the top of an old grain silo (assuming you already have the silo or know somebody who does) and let that run for a while and freeze up the side. Apparently it makes great ice and it's how we, in the flatlands, create our own entertainment. Let me know if it works and don't blame me if it doesn't!

thanks for the ideas,
i was just thinking of how to put subzero temps and too much energy/free time to good use around the house

Andy Hansen wrote:This isn't my idea. I heard it on NPR. A long, long (well, depending on your proximity to a water outlet) hose and run it up to the top of an old grain silo (assuming you already have the silo or know somebody who does) and let that run for a while and freeze up the side. Apparently it makes great ice and it's how we, in the flatlands, create our own entertainment. Let me know if it works and don't blame me if it doesn't!

I actually live in Minnesota and was thinking about trying this out. Although I don't have any previous ice climbing skills I figured this would be an easy way to try it out in a semi-controlled environment. Any pointers on how to do this the best and if it's even worth it?

Matthew Carlson wrote: I actually live in Minnesota and was thinking about trying this out. Although I don't have any previous ice climbing skills I figured this would be an easy way to try it out in a semi-controlled environment. Any pointers on how to do this the best and if it's even worth it?

Well, since I thought it was an interesting story when I heard it... here's the link to the story. You can listen to it as well on All Things Considered. This will pretty much walk you through it. Good luck, let us know how it goes!

-Andy

npr.org/templates/story/sto…

Water conservation issues aside, I've seen two versions: the first involved pointing a garden hose straight up with a constricting device on the nozzle, and leaving it running for about 2 weeks on whatever pressure gives you the height for which you're looking. This resulted in a free standing stalagmite of ice about 20-25 ft high, and with a base diameter of roughly 10 or 12 feet, depending on the wind. Very sweet.

The second involved a trickle of water from a garden hose on the north-facing gable end of a house. The hose was attached to the crest of the roof and left on just enough to keep the hose itself from freezing. This resulted in a narrow but solid ice bouldering wall. One could move the hose to create a broader expanse of ice.

Takes a substantial amount of water.

I've never tried it, but what about hanging a string or old rope over the edge into a water source to start the growth? I've heard of people doing it to get an earlier start on the season outdoors. As for hoses and sprinklers, it's sure tough to balance the flow and volume. Some one inch plastic PVC pipe with holes drilled in it might work to spread out that flow across a wider topside area. Good luck keeping your hoses from freezing solid, even with a trickle of water.

Keep it coming,I can't wait to here more about this. Once you crazy fucks do it.

Woodchuck ATC wrote:I've never tried it, but what about hanging a string or old rope over the edge into a water source to start the growth? I've heard of people doing it to get an earlier start on the season outdoors. As for hoses and sprinklers, it's sure tough to balance the flow and volume. Some one inch plastic PVC pipe with holes drilled in it might work to spread out that flow across a wider topside area. Good luck keeping your hoses from freezing solid, even with a trickle of water.

The rope acts as a base for a trickle from above, ice won't climb up it, unless I am reading your post wrong.

Don Briggs is our ice farmer in Cedar Falls, IA. He has written several books on it and uses concrete grain silos with steel rings. It is labor intensive but the ice quality is outstanding. We have had several large pillars from building downspouts that work well too with permission.

In Berchtesgaden, Germany, there is an amazing ice farming operation. They used galv-steel grates bolted to steel I beam frame. I am guessing you could get the grates used from farm exchanges.

I've often thought about diverting water over the edge of the side of a high bridge to build a nice pillar, safety and permission is the obvious issue here.

One time in college my heater froze and exploded and we diverted the heater water out the window with the hopes that it would freeze on the side of the building and we could climb it. Alas, the maintenance crew stopped the flow too fast for anything big to form.

youtube.com/watch?v=0PBGmmN…

Phoenix, looks good. Clip it and GO!!!

One good thing about the Cush belay, you can always just clip his head real quick and the anchor is protected.

Here is a project going on now in Targhee, near Jackson.

This is what I have. A garden is the source of water, tower is free standing.

Backyard ice tower.

Check out our silo ice in Midwest section of forums. Here's an example of what we got running hoses across the top in below zero nights.

Feb 5th ice silo