Preparing for What’s to Come | Building a Rock Pad
Every addition to a farm starts with a foundation.
On today’s mission at Mission Farmstead, we’re preparing for a barn awning addition by building something far less glamorous—but just as important—a proper propane tank rock pad. Before the propane company can relocate the tank, the ground needs to be solid, level, and ready to last for decades.
This mission is about doing things the right way, even when no one will notice the work once it’s finished.
The Prep Work That Makes Everything Else Possible
Before any rock could be laid, we had already partnered with an excavation team to handle the underground work. The propane line was carefully relocated, run through conduit, and routed beneath the driveway—a step that ensures long-term safety and accessibility.
Now, with that groundwork complete, it was time to deal with what you see above ground: mud. And a propane tank sitting in mud isn’t just unsightly—it’s unstable.
The goal for this mission was simple:
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Create a clean, level rock pad
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Build a strong foundation for the propane tank
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Make the site ready for delivery when the propane company arrives
If it’s going to sit next to the barn, it should look intentional—not like an afterthought.
Buddy Seat Views and Tractor Therapy
There’s something peaceful about working from the tractor, especially when you’ve got company riding along in the buddy seat. This is one of those quiet farm moments—no rush, no noise beyond the engine and gravel—just steady progress.
With the John Deere loaded up, it was time to start dumping rock and shaping the pad.
I originally thought two-thirds of a scoop might be enough. Turns out, that was optimistic.
To build a pad roughly 2 to 5 inches thick, I needed another partial scoop. Better to have extra material than come up short when you’re leveling by hand.
Building the Pad: Slow, Steady, and Intentional
After laying down about one and two-thirds scoops of rock, the pad ended up close to 10 inches thick in spots. That extra depth made it easier to fine-tune the surface with a hand rake, pulling material exactly where it needed to go.
This is the kind of work that rewards patience:
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Spread the rock
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Pull it evenly
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Adjust by inches, not feet
And yes—there was time for a terrible dad joke along the way involving a rake at a rock concert and “cleaning up heavy metal.” Farming humbles all of us eventually.
Leveling: Where the Mission Is Won or Lost
Once the pad looked right by eye, it was time to check it properly.
Out came the 4-foot level.
The propane tank will sit lengthwise across the pad, so both directions mattered:
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Front to back
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Side to side
A few minor low spots showed up at first, but after small adjustments, the level told the story every farmer wants to hear:
Right on the money.
Checked parallel.
Checked perpendicular.
Checked again for peace of mind.
Where the propane tank will sit, the pad is solid, flat, and ready.
Mission Complete (and a Tractor Win)
With the rock pad finished and leveled, this site is officially ready. In about 10 days, when the propane company arrives to move the tank, they’ll have a clean, professional foundation waiting for them.
No delays.
No excuses.
No rework.
And as a bonus, I got seat time on the John Deere 5090E with the bucket loader, which never gets old. Some days, the tractor alone is reason enough to show up.
Why These Small Missions Matter
This wasn’t a flashy project.
No framing.
No big reveal.
But farms aren’t built in big moments alone. They’re built one quiet, thoughtful mission at a time—foundations first, details second, and pride in the work always.
That’s a wrap for this mission at Mission Farmstead.
We’ll see you on the next one.