As you might have just read, I finally serviced the log splitter. Below is my plan of attack to finally start making the shift from the Barefoot blocks back to firewood. My plan calls for us to mix two cords of the firewood we process now along with 2 tons of Barefoot blocks. The idea is that while I build up my total number of cords and allow them to get to an acceptable to moisture level, I sacrifice 4 cords over 2 years mix in with the blocks. Woodshed: In this effort, we'll be building a lean-to woodshed to hold 4 cords in the front yard, . That will give you a rough idea. The dimensions will be different than his, and I'll be putting in 6 concrete piers to carry the weigh and avoid the need to level the ground. My planned dimensions are 12' long, 6' deep and 8' tall. Using the following calculator, Woodshed Firewood Cords Calculator. I came up with 4.5 cords. Raised Garden: I am putting in 2 new raised garden boxes to form an L. This year I am using cedar instead of the composite decking I used last year. Eventually I plan to go back and replace the composite decking with cedar. I'll buy 2.5 cubic yards of Merner's compost, "“When he began making compost, Mike had to seek out a good range of ingredients to make it well-rounded and nutritionally balanced. Plants need a balanced diet as much as people do, and good compost should deliver the range of components a plant needs to grow. SO Mike went looking for fish and seafood processers, to get their waste products – fish heads and quahog shells may be their garbage, but they are one of the key ingredients that makes Earth Care’s compost so rich. He also puts in seaweed cleared from nearby towns’ waterfronts, manure from local farms with livestock, and leaves and woodchips from town yard-waste pickups.” I will top dress our lawn with what I don't use in the new vegetable boxes. Logs: With the woodshed build, we'll next start processing the logs on the ground. As they are C&S, the splits will go right into the shed which is right next to where the logs lay. Brush: I bought a hedge trimmer for my Echo last year. It does a great job of removing light brush and bull briars. I am going to pick up the chainsaw attachment as well for the heavier stock. That gives you a better reach and helps make for swapping out the attachment on the Echo quick and easy. With both attachments, we'll start clearing all the overgrowth I've allowed over the past 10 years. Trees on Property: (We might not get to this) That will give us access to cut down 8-10 trees (smaller cherry). When those are processed, I have two large pines and really large oak to take down. All of this will get mixed into the oak that we'll process next weekend. Between the 2-1/2 - 3 cords of logs and the 8-10 smaller cherries, the two pines and the oak we should end up between 4-5 cords total. Maybe a little more. Jason from RI
Yes, that sounds like a winner. I have not yet played with raised gardens but have been thinking about it as we get older so less bending. We have had 2 big gardens over the years but last year cut it way back. We did not plan on having a garden this year but have changed our minds. It will be a small one though.
Yes they are a bio brick. Here is a link to their site, Envi Blocks - The Friendly Firewood - at Barefoot Pellet Company - Troy PA.
Today was about building the rabbit hutch. I didn't put that down as one of my tasks. My son and I completed the cut list. We had to run to the hardware store. I learned about the buildup on the table saw blades and producing smoke. It amazed me that I always had my dad to ask these questions, and now I am on YouTube looking for solutions. Thankfully I found the right answer. I bought a new blade and will clean the existing one. That sorted out, I was able to rip through the rest of the cut list. After dinner, I was able to put the base together. Pics to follow. Tomorrow I'll be able to complete the build and possibly start the paint. If not, I'll be on paint each night this week. A coat of primer followed by two coats of New England Barn Red. That should line me up for next weekend to start digging and pouring the concrete piers. Jason from RI.
Here are some update pics of my progress on the rabbit hutch: I uploaded this via my iPhone and Tapatalk. Works much better and avoids the format problem I experience from my MacBook Pro. I need to build one screen door, a door for the sleeping area, attach the rough and finally paint. Jason from RI Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
By the way, that is my dad's apartment on our property and his shop in the garage under the apartment. Growing up that was just a detached garage he used as a shop. I've been slowly organizing things to make room to work on projects. In the first picture, my son is working outside to extend our work area. The later pictures are in the garage. When I am in the garage, I still have to do some moving around to work on certain parts of the project. Overall I have a good amount of space in the center plus I've opened up the garage door by selling a large steel cutting bandsaw and moving two other machines. I have a long way to go. My dad built a large steel bench that sticks out 3-1/2 feet and is 5' long. It's a catchall that has been around since I can remember. A friend of the family and I are going to cut it in half the long way and put new legs on both of the new halves. Then the benches will be moved around the corned into the backroom side by side. This way I keep the bench and will use it for more than a catchall. Right now he has shelves with junk stored on them. I am going to put wood racks above the benches to store the stock he and I have been the two garages. On the other wall in the back room I'll make room for the steel/other metals stock he's gathered for machining. Where the bench was in the main part of the garage will be a french cleat system for storing power tools. The cleat system will be above where the rolling machines are stored against the wall. The one last piece I need to sell is a radial arm saw. That will be replaced with a compound miter saw. Pretty big savings in space and capability. The final action will be to build a shed to get all of the other non-woodworking/machining equipment out of the garage. I can't store it in our garage due to the dampness. Yes at some point I need to address that, but right now that is not my focus. Jason from RI
No. This time I left the roof to put on solid. The nesting area will be accessed with a full door from the front. As will the main part. My next task is to build the solid door for the sleeping area, and a wire-framed door the main part of the hutch. Then put the roof on. After the rough goes on, I'll start painting. Hoping to have the doors done tonight and possibly the roof. That will allow me to start painting the exterior Tuesday night. I might be able to get it mainly painted the weekend. The one thing I did this time opposed to previous hutches is I went with a wired floor. There is no plywood for her to sit on. Personally I am not a fan of this. For now, I am going to go with it. If it's problem for her paws, then I'll modify it and put some plywood in for her to be able to rest on. When I did that in the past, I would clean it with bleach on a regular basis. The configuration of this hutch will make it easier than previous hutches to perform this cleaning if needed. Oh just to you know, this is my 4th hutch build. Jason from RI.
On the floor, we always had the best luck with hardware cloth 1/2" and did not use a hock board at all. On the nesting area, one always takes a chance with a doe going wild and killing the young when you get in there right after birth. But if you can close her off from getting in there while you are looking, it should be okay. I just never took chances.
Like I stated, 1/2" hardware cloth is the best way to go. Everything is taken care of this way. It is easy on the rabbit and all the manure is down below so you can shovel it out before it gets too bad.
She will relieve herself in the nesting box or the main area of the hutch. It's why I used wire for the flooring. 1/2" by 1/2" wire mesh. Like I said before I've used plywood floors. The problem as it's been eluded to is that the rabbit feces and urine gets into the plywood and they can get sick from it. You'd be amazed at how much one rabbit will produce. To think we had 5 rabbits at one time in an open pen with a hutch. That was a nice setup, but it was hard to keep the ground area clean with 5 of the pooping all the time. Jason from RI
