I have a bunch of projects in the works that need to happen before I head out to the great plains to go storm chasing with the folks at the College of DuPage at the end of the month.
Wire up the Jeep for two batteries
I have a dual battery rig being delivered later in the week. I need to get that working if I ever plan on taking the Jeep out storm chasing. The second battery is what powers all the gear and toys inside the Jeep, leaving the main battery to do it’s main job…keeping the Jeep running. When I go storm chasing with College of DuPage I’m just a passenger. But when I’m on my own, a vehicle with a rock solid electrical system is a must.
Install the bees
I’m expecting a call any day now from Charles (instructor of my bee class) to tell me my bees have left California. They are suppose to arrive in the Chicago area around April 15th. And if the weather is good Charles is going to do a “field day” so we can get some practice on his bees before we do ours. Any later then the week of April 20th and I’ll be somewhere between Illinois and South West Texas trying to find a tornado. One of my neighbors (also a beekeeper) has volunteered to hive my bees if they arrive late. I want to hive them myself for the experience so I hope they get here on time!
Install small critter electric fence
We have a creak in our backyard that is a perfect runway for all sorts of native creatures to run up and down the neighborhood. In fact you can see a critter path in our backyard where the skunks, ground hogs, coyotes, you name it, are wearing a strip in the dirt. It just so happens that my garden and beehive are only a few feet from that path. Last year I installed a low voltage electric fence to protect a piece of my garden. It worked wonderfully. It will give you a shock (no pun intended) but it doesn’t hurt. This year I’m moving the battery operated one to the front yard vegetable garden and installing an AC version in the backyard. That means I need to dig a trench and install an AC outlet in the shed. Not difficult, but not many Saturday’s between now and the bees arriving.
New flower garden
I’ve asked my wife to turn a piece of my vegetable garden into an all season flower garden for the bees. That’s a difficult task, (the all season part) so she wants to get some advice from the great folks at Planter’s Palette. They open on April 1st, so we’ll probably be taking a trip out to them on Saturday (April 3rd) while everyone else is at the Apple store buying an iPad.
Lastly…Illinois Native Plant Sale!!
I’m going to miss it this year. Dang it! But I’m guessing my wife and the girls will go. We’ve gone two years in a row now and it’s a blast. Have to be there before 7:30am to stand in line and bring something to put your plants in. It’s a mad house like black friday at BestBuy!
Saturday, May 1, 2010 • Begins @ 8:30am – ends when plants sold out!
Wheaton Public Works Building • 821 W. Liberty Dr.
To view plants that will be available (while supplies last), click here.