Irrigation: The Part No One Talks About
Spoiler - it’s the budget. Here’s what it actually took to get water to our elderberries.
I haven’t written about the ongoing irrigation installation for quite some time, but Ben and I have been busy these past few months.
If you’d like some background before diving into the updates, here are the earlier posts in this series (or just scroll down to the next section):
Well drilling:
Well house construction:
Solar pump installation:
Before We Get Into the Install…
We’ll dive into the actual irrigation installation in a couple of future posts, but first I wanted to be transparent about costs and budgeting before getting into the DIY details.
Projects like this are notoriously hard to budget for. How much does a well cost? Should I hire someone? Can I do the installation myself? What equipment do I need? How much power will this use? When we started, we found very little definite information.
Now that we’re knee-deep in the project, I finally have a full picture - and I want to share it for anyone planning something similar.
Craig Pisarkiewicz of MPR Supply designed our irrigation system, and his years of knowledge made the process straightforward. He factored in our varying row lengths, layout, and elevation changes to ensure even water distribution across all the elderberry rows.
After Craig finalized the irrigation design, we sourced all the parts - except the PVC - from MPR Supply. I even drove to Columbia, MO to meet their driver - which saved a lot on freight costs.
Project Costs
Irrigation system parts: + design: $1,815
PVC tubing: $407
Craig’s original plans called for traditional hard PVC. But - no surprise - Ben made a few tweaks and switched to flexible PVC, which meant sourcing additional adapter fittings and adding a bit to the total cost.
Hydrant, adapter fittings, t-posts, additional PVC: $329
Ben added a water hydrant on the east side of Section 1 (our larger elderberry field), we installed t-posts where irrigation lines emerge above ground, and drafted plans to tie the system into our 1,000-gallon water tank near the bathhouse. The eventual goal is for the tank to auto-fill and act like a small water tower to boost pressure. (We haven’t installed this part yet - updates coming next spring after temperatures warm up again!)
Pressure tank: $520
Trencher rental (1 day): $165
Total for DIY irrigation install (Summer 2025): $3,236
Additional Foundational Costs
Well digging: $10,000
Well house + supplies/work shed setup: $2,224
Solar pump with storage batteries: $3,697
Grand Total: $19,157
Eeeek!
The “Hidden” Cost: Time, Sweat, and Sore Muscles
Of course, not all costs show up on a spreadsheet. This project has taken countless hours of digging, hauling, trenching, lifting, troubleshooting, and revising plans as we go. Ben and I have poured a lot of sweat - and more than a few sore muscles - into getting this system in place. It’s been evenings after work, full weekends, and plenty of “just one more row” moments that stretch long past sunset.
It’s not a financial cost, but it’s a real one. Also, it’s part of what makes this project so satisfying to watch come together.
Was It Worth It?
Honestly - yes.
The well house has become a true hub on the farm: tool storage, supply stash, small-project workspace, weather shelter, and even a spot where I can plug in appliances (yes, there’s a microwave).
And beyond the convenience, having a reliable, consistent water supply has become increasingly important. With weather patterns shifting - longer dry spells, hotter summers, and more unpredictable rainfall - being able to irrigate when the plants actually need it feels essential. The peace of mind alone is worth something. Instead of anxiously watching the forecast or hauling water from home, we now have a system that supports the elderberries through stressful stretches.
The well dig and solar electric system were by far the biggest expenses. For anyone who already has water and electricity available, a project like this is absolutely doable for under $2,500. (And no, a well house isn’t mandatory - Ben just tends to overbuild, especially when he gets excited about hydrants and “water tower” hookups.)
What’s Coming Next
In a couple of upcoming posts, we’ll dive into the actual irrigation installation - complete with diagrams, layout details, parts we used, what we’d do differently, and Ben’s tweaks to the original plan.
Stay tuned…there’s a lot more to come as we finally bring this system to life.
