Upcoming Projects – Help Wanted!
We have had a very busy winter at Bear Butte Gardens
planning new projects for 2014! I don’t
know how we will accomplish every project that we have on the list. So, I thought I would share the list and ask
for a little help! I’m hoping for a little give-and-take
collaboration.
- What I have to gain: Getting some projects done.
- What I have to give: Experience and education about how to complete specific tasks.
- What you have to gain: Experience and education.
- What you have to give: Labor.
The project list below includes a brief description of each
project and some indication of when I hope to work on the project. If you see something that interests you,
please feel free to contact me. We can
discuss it. If you are interested in
learning how to do the task, maybe we can identify a schedule that works for
both of us. You can help me get the work
done while learning something new. I see
this kinda like an internship program, but with fewer strings attached.
Project List:
- Build Fence – both barb wire fence and woven
wire fence
We have a variety of fencing projects – from small to large. Tasks will include building “H” braces, installing “T” posts, installing barb wire, installing woven wire, installing electric wire, and building gates. I plan to work on these projects whenever I have the time and resources, from now until the ground freezes in the fall.
- Build Chicken Tractors
Last year I built one “Joel Salatin style” chicken tractor. This year I plan to build two more – one will be for chickens, one for turkeys (12 inches taller than the chicken tractor). These tractors will house our “meat” birds. This is an early spring project (April/May).
- Add onto our Existing Chicken Coop
Last year I built a chicken coop. The primary use of this coop is to house our laying hens during winter months. Last fall, I didn’t get a chance to add-on the outdoor, fenced-in, chicken “run”. The October blizzard kinda impacted my schedule a bit. Last October I setup a dog kennel for the chickens to use as a temporary outdoor run. This year I plan to complete that project. This is a late spring project (May).
Link: Bear Butte Gardens - Building a Chicken Coop
- Build a New Turkey Coop
We are expanding our organic turkey operation into a year-round endeavor, with hopes of breeding and hatching our own turkey poults. We plan to house our adult, breeding turkeys in a new coop. This structure will probably be similar in design to the chicken coop I built last year, but taller. I plan to build a new turkey coop and outdoor run late spring (May).
- Build a Portable Chicken Coop (Eggmobile)
This year we plan to put our egg laying hens out on pasture for the summer. In order to protect these hens from predators and weather, I plan to convert an old Dodge ranch truck into a portable “Joel Salatin style” eggmobile. I plan to replace the truck box with a wooden coop structure. Our eggmobile won’t be as large as Joel’s, but will server a similar purpose. I plan to work on this project thru the early summer (May-July) as time and resources allow.
Link: Joel Salatin's Eggmobile - Build a Vegetable Cleaning Facility
In order to improve the efficiency of washing vegetables for our CSA shares, we plan to expand one of our greenhouse to include a new room. This room will be used to wash and weigh vegetables. I’m planning this project for early summer (June-July). - Install Electricity to one of our Greenhouses
Our permanent-structure greenhouse #1 gets too hot! So, we want to install an under-ground electrical cable to this greenhouse and install a couple ventilation fans. This will be a late summer project (September-October).
- Move a Garden/Tool Shed
This small project will involve moving a small garden/tool shed from one place to another. I don’t really have a target time to complete this project. I just want it done sometime this summer.
- Build an Underground Root Cellar
Michelle is hoping to have a root cellar to store root-crop vegetables this fall. This will be a late summer project (September).
- Build/install a Roadside Sign for “Bear Butte
Gardens”
We have already arranged for two large 8x8 signs to be painted. This project will involve installing the posts and framing to mount the signs at the end of the driveway. This will be a late spring project (May).
- Build several Permaculture Swales and Ponds
This is actually a huge project that I plan to work on for the next decade. I’ve been researching, studying, and learning as much as I can about key-line water management processes for over two years now. This project will be based on information from Bill Mollison, Geoff Lawton, and Mark Shepard. I plan to work on this project whenever I get the opportunity. For more information, Google “permaculture swale”.
- Collect Rocks for a New Rock Wall
A wonderful friend of ours is building a rock wall for us! The wall is intended to block the wind and help protect our high-tunnel greenhouse. We have been gathering rocks from a site a few miles away, but we need several more loads. It is hard work, but it saves in gym membership fees! We get a load of rocks whenever we have the resources and time.
Note: Bear Butte
Gardens is USDA Organic Certified. This
means that we cannot use any treated wood for any structures which might come
into contact with either vegetables or livestock. This rule requires us to utilize other
building materials (e.g. cedar, metal, concrete, rock, etc.) that are approved for
organic certified facilities.
So, if you have the time, energy, want to learn about an
organic certified gardening/farming operation, and are willing to give us a
helping hand, please feel free to contact me!
Thank you!
Rick Grosek
