We have been preparing, as much as possible, to plant all our crops.  These include the early crops like Onions and Potatoes but we are also planting some Spinach (which technically could be grown all winter long here).  We managed to get the Potatoes, Onions and Spinach in this weekend which was an all day event (the tilling is the time consumer).

Here I am raking the rocks off the top so I can plant the Onions and Spinach.  The yellow you see on the rest of the garden is hay that I put down on top of the first spring till.  Partially, this hay protects the grounds organisms while its freezing but mostly it there to add organic matter to the matrix of rocks that is known as “the Garden”.

I built my first prototype Bee hive last week to test how long it took me to make three boxes if I was paying attention to the time it took.  I changed my method of cutting and it sped things up a bit but I also lost quality.  The boxes I built before were time intensive, though they did have a good quality joint.  My biggest issue is that I am limited by my equipment. Mainly the table saw.  Its too light duty.  I wanted to get a Dado Blade and cut the 1″ joint in one cut due to the large number of cuts per board.  My table saw will not except a Dado Blade because it is too cheap a model (I cant complain, it was given to me).  So I had the idea of setting up a 1 inch router bit and cutting all the joints with one cut down the end of a group of boards clamped together. So I went to Grizzly to pick up a 1″ (because no one else had one that big) and they told me that this idea would not work because the router would not have enough power to cut through in one swipe (maybe two, but not one) and if I had a plunge router I could just make the first pass then lower the bit and make the final cut.  But, I don’t have a plunge router.  So I am back to square one.  The only way to really do it right is with a Table Saw but according to the guy at Grizzly, the table saw will need to be a Belt Driven type in order for it to have enough power with a Dado Blade (which by the way only goes up to 13/16″).  So I am a bit held up on my bee box making.   Below are a few pictures of some of the boards (click them to enlarge).  The boxes are stout but they look ugly.  I wouldn’t sell them looking that away.

I do believe this is a good idea, I think I am just getting this idea a bit too late.  Spring is all over us and that’s when everyone buys boxes.  If I can get this up and going, then by next year I could have a client with a large order (the guy I am working for has pledged it). So those of you of “The Faith” I would really appreciate you praying for me to have wisdom and Guidance here.

I had intended to upload some video of my Wagoner trip but I forgot to copy them over to my laptop before going into town so I will have to do it on the next post.

You all take care. God Bless.