Compost Bin Construction
A Grassy Pile and the start of my composting effort.
Construction Begins
Potting table adjacent to the composter...
Completed compost bins...Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Easy Back Yard Composting
A Grassy Pile and the start of my composting effort.Construction BeginsPotting table adjacent to the composter...Completed compost bins...
The Curtain Project
Curtains for an outdoor living space created from Canvas drop cloths. suspended from hardware store pipe fittings.
The tools and hardware needed for assembly...
Jane sewing away!
the finished panel...
Once completed and tied back.... They'll look great!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Honey Bees on The Move
On a quick pass by the hives on this warm February day I noticed the bees were certainly on the move. They all seem to be moving about nicely. All of the hives here had plenty of activity and they were even bringing in pollen, some was white and some was yellow looking. Curious where they might be finding it. I have noticed a few dandelions blooming and there are some oak trees that have a few buds poking out but this is certainly unusual weather and I am sure the bees are as confused as we are.
In the Tennessee beekeepers hand book it is noted that starting in February that it is customary to start checking the hives and that February and March are the two biggest months to lose a hive due to starvation and critters...
It is also noted that it is this time when the Queen will start laying new brood for the comming season. We are hoping for a better bee year and a great honey flow with some healthy hives intact...
On a quick pass by the hives on this warm February day I noticed the bees were certainly on the move. They all seem to be moving about nicely. All of the hives here had plenty of activity and they were even bringing in pollen, some was white and some was yellow looking. Curious where they might be finding it. I have noticed a few dandelions blooming and there are some oak trees that have a few buds poking out but this is certainly unusual weather and I am sure the bees are as confused as we are. 
In the Tennessee beekeepers hand book it is noted that starting in February that it is customary to start checking the hives and that February and March are the two biggest months to lose a hive due to starvation and critters... It is also noted that it is this time when the Queen will start laying new brood for the comming season. We are hoping for a better bee year and a great honey flow with some healthy hives intact...
Monday, November 7, 2011
The Salad Table Experiance
The Salad table is essentially a table that is about 3" to 4" deep that is filled with dirt in order to grow vegetables in. It is waist high with three compartments.
The bottom is covered with aluminum door screen from Lowes home improvement store and then lined with a sheet of newspaper and finnally filled with compost. This year we grew a loose leaf salad lettuce radishes and spinach.
The idea is that you can cut the greens and they will fill back in for some time to come. When they quit producing then you pull them out and replant. Lettuce Radishes and spinich only take about 30 days before you can start harvesting real food!
Tasty looking dont you think? This picture is about 15 days in or so. It is late in the season andwe have passed the extreme heat that has been thesummer of drought and opressive heat. On average during summermonths the salad table will consume about 2 gallons of water a day.
This is a great addition to a pation or pool deck in our case. It is right outside the kitched door, on a saturday morning it is nice to have a fresh spinach omlet straight from the salad table. Radishes, Spinich and lettuce makes a pretty mean salad too.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Top Bar Bee Hive Bee keeping
Top bar bee hive - Bee keeping - 2012
March - 2011, This is the top bar hive I constructed for this season of bee keeping. Unfortunately this year the hive beetles got the best of all of us. The package I installed in March grew and expanded nicely and due to a very dry summer and lack of feeding the population of the hive started to decrease. the decrease in population, hive beetles and a very strong neighboring hive robbing was more than this family could take.
The construction for the hive is very straight forward and I was able to use reclaimed fence materials for the main structure of the hive body. One of the most fascinating things about top bar beekeeping to me is the utilization of materials, with a typical Langstroth hive and hive bodies with frames as a bee keeper we must build and store all the frames and "boxes" for future growth with our colonies. With the top bar hive the bees simply expand horizontally. There are no extra pieces to add to the colony as they expand.
The bars labeled with a B note brood frames with a specific spacing for rearing brood and the other label if an H for honey stores. All the bees have to do is look at my notes on the top of the bar and they know what to put there... OK, that might be a little silly all of my bees are a Russian strain they cant read English anyway. All kidding aside there is a dimension that is more suitable as Dr. Langstrough determined for brood 1 1/4" and although 1 1/4" works for honey too the preferred dimension for Honey stores is 1 3/8".
I cut a slot in the top bar and I melded the wax foundation into the grove giving the bees a natural start to their comb.
The window adds a nice view port to inspect the interior of the colony without disturbing them.
March 2012, Follow up note - this was completed in 2011 this experiment at the moment was not a success. the top bar colony died of starvation about half way through the season and were also subject to robbing from a neighboring more agreessive hive. I am still a fan of theTBH however the overall management of the hive and the honey production from it is certainly less than traditional hive construction. If I have an opportunity to capture a swarm this year I will add it to this TBH and start again.
March - 2011, This is the top bar hive I constructed for this season of bee keeping. Unfortunately this year the hive beetles got the best of all of us. The package I installed in March grew and expanded nicely and due to a very dry summer and lack of feeding the population of the hive started to decrease. the decrease in population, hive beetles and a very strong neighboring hive robbing was more than this family could take. 
The construction for the hive is very straight forward and I was able to use reclaimed fence materials for the main structure of the hive body. One of the most fascinating things about top bar beekeeping to me is the utilization of materials, with a typical Langstroth hive and hive bodies with frames as a bee keeper we must build and store all the frames and "boxes" for future growth with our colonies. With the top bar hive the bees simply expand horizontally. There are no extra pieces to add to the colony as they expand.
The bars labeled with a B note brood frames with a specific spacing for rearing brood and the other label if an H for honey stores. All the bees have to do is look at my notes on the top of the bar and they know what to put there... OK, that might be a little silly all of my bees are a Russian strain they cant read English anyway. All kidding aside there is a dimension that is more suitable as Dr. Langstrough determined for brood 1 1/4" and although 1 1/4" works for honey too the preferred dimension for Honey stores is 1 3/8".
The window adds a nice view port to inspect the interior of the colony without disturbing them.
March 2012, Follow up note - this was completed in 2011 this experiment at the moment was not a success. the top bar colony died of starvation about half way through the season and were also subject to robbing from a neighboring more agreessive hive. I am still a fan of theTBH however the overall management of the hive and the honey production from it is certainly less than traditional hive construction. If I have an opportunity to capture a swarm this year I will add it to this TBH and start again.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Aqualand, Atlanta Marine and Monterey are a Hit!
This weekend was a great success with a new Monterey Dealer, Atlanta Marine at their summer boat show event.
Aqualand Marina in Flowery Branch GA. hosted a pre 4th of July customer appreciation party and Boat show. With temperatures reaching into the upper 90's customer enthusiasm was not hampered. With the current lake levels at Lake Lanier and gas prices hovering below $2.50 boaters and potential boaters were out in full force.
The day started slow on Saturday with temperatures rising quickly however, as the day progressed (and it got closer to party time) the crowd ensued! There were several boats contracted on
Saturday with the bulk sold later that day. On Sunday, the day started with two water test and and two more new customers of Atlanta Marine. Sunday ended with a bang and several more Monterey boats sold! Congratulations to Atlanta Marine and all the new Monterey boat owners!
Aqualand Marina in Flowery Branch Ga. and is the worlds largest inland marina. Located on Lake Lanier provides 692 miles of winding shoreline and about 39,000 acres of water surface. Aqualand boast over 1700 wet slips and over 400 "dry slips".
Atlanta Marine in Buford Ga. on Holiday Rd. at Lake Lanier with locations at Lake Oconee and Aqualand Marina. Owned and Operated by Kurt and Lisa Backus since 1995. Monterey Boats woulds also like to welcome our newest partner and say congratulations on a job well done.
Kirk Lewellen
Regional Sales Manager
Monterey Boats
1918 Cliffview Ct.
Murfreesboro, TN 37128
Cell - 615.207.1108
Fax - 615-896-6635
Monday, June 22, 2009
Atlanta Marine At Aqualand Marina Summer Boat Show Bash, June 27-28
Exclusive Boat Show And Party Featuring Monterey, Supra, Moomba And More…
(Buford, GA) Leading Georgia boat dealer, Atlanta Marine, with locations on Lake Lanier in Buford and at Aqualand Marina in Flowery Branch, as well as displaying boats on Lake Oconee, is joining the boat show and party hosted by Aqualand Marina on June 27-28. Details on the Monterey sport boats and cruisers available from Atlanta Marine can be found at http://www.montereyboats.com/
Atlanta Marine will have boats on display and available in the water for demos at Aqualand Marina. Beginning at 10AM on Saturday June 27, the Boat Show and demos will be available until 6:00PM and then again from Noon to 5PM on Sunday June 28.
An invitation only party begins at 6:00PM Saturday featuring beer and soft drinks, music by Audio Cage, and plenty of food available at Aqualand’s Dockside Grill. Guest invitations to this party are available from Atlanta Marine and Marine Max, and also to Aqualand customers.
The enthusiasm for the lake is back and families are ready to start enjoying the lake. The lake is at near full pool, fuel prices are down significantly and financing is beginning to stabilize again.
“Atlanta Marine is in a better position than ever,” says Kurt Backus, owner of Atlanta Marine. Atlanta Marine now has a great inventory of REPO/Bank owned boats we acquired at liquidation prices. This is the time to buy a boat and relax on the lake with family and friends. “We really appreciate the strong support offered by Aqualand Marina and their commitment to all boating on Lake Lanier. They are terrific partners and friends and this event is further proof of that,” he said.
Editors: Kurt Backus is available for comment and can be reached through the contact above or by email at kurt@atlantamarine.com .
(Buford, GA) Leading Georgia boat dealer, Atlanta Marine, with locations on Lake Lanier in Buford and at Aqualand Marina in Flowery Branch, as well as displaying boats on Lake Oconee, is joining the boat show and party hosted by Aqualand Marina on June 27-28. Details on the Monterey sport boats and cruisers available from Atlanta Marine can be found at http://www.montereyboats.com/
Atlanta Marine will have boats on display and available in the water for demos at Aqualand Marina. Beginning at 10AM on Saturday June 27, the Boat Show and demos will be available until 6:00PM and then again from Noon to 5PM on Sunday June 28.An invitation only party begins at 6:00PM Saturday featuring beer and soft drinks, music by Audio Cage, and plenty of food available at Aqualand’s Dockside Grill. Guest invitations to this party are available from Atlanta Marine and Marine Max, and also to Aqualand customers.
The enthusiasm for the lake is back and families are ready to start enjoying the lake. The lake is at near full pool, fuel prices are down significantly and financing is beginning to stabilize again.
“Atlanta Marine is in a better position than ever,” says Kurt Backus, owner of Atlanta Marine. Atlanta Marine now has a great inventory of REPO/Bank owned boats we acquired at liquidation prices. This is the time to buy a boat and relax on the lake with family and friends. “We really appreciate the strong support offered by Aqualand Marina and their commitment to all boating on Lake Lanier. They are terrific partners and friends and this event is further proof of that,” he said.
Editors: Kurt Backus is available for comment and can be reached through the contact above or by email at kurt@atlantamarine.com .
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