Oh, what beautiful weather today! With the relative warmth and the sun it's hard to believe that it is January (both a blessing and a curse because we could actually use some winter rain). Energy farm regulars Jason Bradford, Christoffer Hansen, and David Drell worked to string straight wire across the northern and the western fence-lines. At the end of November we slammed green T-Posts along the north and west fence lines. Click here to revisit that blog. Since there is already a chain-link fence on those sections we installed the T-posts so that we could extend the height of the existing fence in order to discourage deer from jumping over. Today we made use of those posts as we stretched three lengths of straight wire (electric fence material) along the tops of each section.

The method is fairly straight forward. We would tie an end of the wire off to one of the steel corner posts, unroll the wire until we reach the other steel post, attach an "inline strainer" to the steel pole, and ratchet the wire until we obtain the desired tension. For those unfamiliar with the term inline strainer it is basically a ratchet that you wind the wire into as a way to create tension on the wire. After the strand of wire was tight we used fencing clips to secure it to the T-posts, and then, for added strength, tied the T-posts to the horizontal pole on the fence. As a way to support the steel poles and add strength and rigidity to the project we secured the steel poles to each other or already secure fence posts on the existing chain-link fence.

About two weeks ago we visited the farm site and patched a hole that existed in the northwest corner. From the hoof prints in the mud, the path through the fence resembled a deer freeway-giving the deer unlimited access to the site. After patching that hole we have not seen any sign of new entry by the deer. The patched hole coupled with the three strands of wire makes access all the more difficult for the deer to leap over. It is conceivable that we have completely finished the perimeter fencing project. Our goal was to have built a fence that would keep out the deer and rabbits and so far there has been little sign of the their presence!

Additionally, we moved the toolbox down to the farm site. It took three people to load it into the back of a truck and unloaded it at the end of the vehicle path. I think it will take four people to move it to its final place.

Unrolling Wire

Threading In-Line Strainer

Installed In-line Strainers

Looking Down the Northern Fence Line

Hole in Northwest Corner of Fence

Hole After Being Patched

The toolbox project for the Willits Energy Farm is now complete. Jason and I installed the hinges and door latch on Friday and today the box was painted with two coats of oil based primer. The paint dries quickly and the box is ready to be hauled down to the farm site tomorrow. We expect that the white primer paint will protect the wood from the elements and we feel that it is a good base color for local artists or students interested in decorating the box.

Our guess is that the box weighs about 250-300 pounds, and it will therefore not be easy to move. Arrangements have been made to have the box loaded into a truck and transported to the middle of the farm site. From the middle of the site we will use up to four people to carry it to its final resting spot near the backstop.

Now that we have a safe place to store our tools it will be quite easy to arrive at the site and begin work. It is amazing what a pain it is to carry tools to and from the farm site. A place for storage is indeed a crucial piece of farm infrastructure. It was wonderful to use scrap materials to construct the frame and it really saved on the cost of the box.

I was thinking about the many homes that are renovated or remodeled, wondering where much of the older material goes. I think we can all guess where...the landfill. I’m sure it seems obvious how wasteful this practice is. Lumber is traded as a commodity and there is a large amount of imbedded energy in glass. These items are quite valuable--why do we simply throw them away? After scrap material is cleaned or processed it is again useful for other purposes. I know that we can use these materials in Willits to build compost bins, cold frames, a toolbox, seed start flats, construct a portion of the wood frame and glass elements of a glass greenhouse, a chicken coop, a chicken tractor frame, and support walls for raised garden beds. We cannot allow these materials to simply go up in smoke or be buried in a landfill. As the energy used to make glass or harvest, process, and transport lumber becomes more and more expensive, it will serve our projects and our communities better if we reuse these items. A non-profit in Portland, Oregon, The ReBuilding Center, has already anticipated this idea and offers the community the service if utilizing salvaged material from home renovation. Check it out this remarkable project: http://rebuildingcenter.org/ .

Jason and I are hoping to finish the toolbox project by Thursday and will perhaps transport the box down to the farm site by Friday. Three main objectives need to be completed in order to consider the project finished. These objectives include:

1. Installing the hinges for the lid

2. Installing a latch and lock

3. Painting the outside of the box with an oil-based primer for protection

We are considering the addition of locking hinges or a rod that would be used to prop the lid of the box open so that people can reach into it without the effort of holding the lid open. The lid is heavy and would be difficult to juggle as one reaches for tools.

It is quite cold in the mornings and then warms up in the afternoon until after sunset. Also, the winter has not brought a great deal of precipitation. This, in turn, has allowed the soil to dry out enough for us to overturn small sections of sod as we investigate a method for seedbed preparation. It will be important to find a method that can be replicated and scaled up.

Many people have made the suggestion of simply cutting the layer of sod; turning it over (upside-down) and placing it back in the same place. Indeed, this is an effective method and great option for people working with a uniform sod layer that might be encountered on a lawn. However, our situation is different because the soil was tilled (shallowly) in early November in hopes of disturbing the sod and encouraging it to decompose. Since then, a portion of the sod has decomposed while other parts have re-rooted. The soil is loose and un-uniform, and when sod is removed it removes a portion of soil near the root system. We are certain that we want to avoid removing the soil along with living organic matter in the process of preparing beds. However, without further decomposition it will be difficult to prepare appropriate seedbeds. While we have dry soil we will continue to explore hand-cultivation methods that could prove useful for laborers and safe for the living soil.

Toolbox With Lid

Edges of the Toolbox Lid Extend to Allow Water to Run Off the Sides and Front

Another View of the Box

E
Example of Un-uniform Sod

Jason Bradford and I worked outside on another sunny afternoon to bring the toolbox project one step closer to completion. We began the day’s tasks by sourcing plywood, hinges, and hardware from Mendo Mill [http://www.mendomill.com], the local lumber yard. Mendo Mill has pledged up to $250 worth of supplies and materials to support the Brookside School Farm. I extend a warm thanks to Mendo Mill for their donation; their contribution is helping to make this community farm a reality. I am impressed with the local businesses in Willits, California, as they invest locally and demonstrate their commitment to projects that will directly enrich their community.

After the trip to Mendo Mill, we set to work to install the plywood sides and bottom. The plywood was firmly attached to the frame with a number of two-inch wood screws. We made decent progress and need to finalize the box by attaching the lid to hinges and installing the security latch. The frame was already heavy enough, but after the addition of roughly five sheets of plywood the thing is going to be difficult to move. Now that the sides are on the box, it looks plenty big enough to hold just about anything we might need to store.

While building today, Jason was thinking that it would be great if community members or students at the school would want to paint the sides of the toolbox. I like this suggestion. Paint will not only beautify the project and allow for more community participation, but it will help to protect the wood from the weather. We will likely put on some type of wood protection product, and then allow people to paint over it.

Attaching Plywood to Frame

Toolbox Without the Lid

A View Inside the Toolbox

Today, Jason Bradford and I built the frame of the toolbox that we will use to store our tools at Brookside School. In an attempt to save money that might otherwise be used for drilling an onsite well or purchasing a specialized well pump, the frame of the box has been made from scrap materials gathered from the neighborhood. The box is 6ft long, 4ft wide, and 3ft tall-allowing us plenty of room to store a variety of tools and equipment. The frame is bulky and tough. Additional, vertical sections were added to the frame to give the plywood extra support and make it less vulnerable to strong impact.

Now that we have built the frame, the next step is to purchase plywood for the siding, two hinges, a lock, and a latch. We are also planning on giving the box some type of protective coating against the rain and the sun. Without the plywood the box is already very heavy, and although we will install a chain to secure it to a large pole, we are not worried about it being carried away.

For more information about the Toolbox Project refer to the December blog: Infrastructure Considerations: Toolbox . This blog will reintroduce the project and explains why we chose a box in place of a storage shed. You can also read about the earlier steps of scavenging and processing the frame materials in the blog titled: Preparing Toolbox Frame.

Pre-drilling the Frame 

Jason Adding Wood-screws 

Sturdy Frame Awaiting Plywood

Today I began construction on the toolbox for the Willits Energy Farm. I was able to meet the owner of a property where a house was being remodeled. I introduced myself and explained that I was attempting to gather scrap wood to transform into a toolbox for the farm at Brookside Elementary. As you might expect, the owner was willing to let me dig through scrap piles of wood in search of suitable material. In no time I had gathered enough wood to begin processing.

Since the wood had been torn from a house there were nails and uneven, broken ends on the boards. I therefore needed to use a T-Square to draw a line and make an even cut. Once one end of the board had been processed and “squared-off” I was able to measure out the exact length that I would need. Again, I used the T-Square to draw a straight line and got to sawing. Viola!-A perfectly usable 6ft piece of wood for the box frame!

I kept working, repeating the same process outlined above. Sometimes I would have to stop to remove nails, or switch to my left hand because using the saw with only the right hand is eventually quite tiring. Before long I had each part needed for the frame. I have to admit I really took pride in using a hand tool to do this job.

In a post petroleum situation the use of power tools may not be an option. Lucky for us, intermediate tools like a hand saw or scythe are quite user friendly and give one the added energy of knowing that we don’t need to rely solely on petrol or electricity to get some work done. Many of us are finding that if we roll up our sleeves and get to it we can achieve all sorts of wonderful things. I believe that working in this manner and sharing our knowledge will no doubt lead to the discovery of a multitude of “empower” tools.

Scrap wood that needs to be processed

Finshed 6ft board ready for use

Making cuts with a hand saw

Processed wood to build toolbox frame

Planners and participants at the Willits Energy Farm understand that the following winter months are intended to be used for infrastructure development. Thus, the goal for this winter is to ready the farm site to maintain spring crops. The fence is a big part of this infrastructure. Once completed, it should offer the site protection from deer and rabbits that frequent the farm space. Two other projects on the table are an irrigation system and a storage space for tools and equipment. Together with the perimeter fence these three projects are the minimum that is needed to initiate and maintain new crops.

This week there had been discussion regarding a shed that would be used to store the tools. However, after more consideration it seemed that the timing of the tool shed was a little premature. It is true that we need to store tools and other farm equipment, but until the irrigation system is solidified it will be hard to find a suitable long-term location for a shed. After a bit more thought, I suggested creating a tool box that could be locked and possibly even chained to the fence.

A tool box offers us a couple of quick benefits that a full shed does not. A box is low cost, highly portable, and can be assembled in relatively short order. I plan to acquire a majority of the wood from scrap piles of lumber that have been ripped from houses in the middle of remodeling projects. There are already two such houses in the neighborhood.

The dimensions of the tool box are as follows: 3ft tall, a length of 6ft, and a width of 4ft. This should be plenty of room for a mix of tools and is even able to store the scythe, probably one of the longest tools we have at the moment.

Remodeling project with piles of scrap wood