Electrical cable spool turned drip-tape roller
We have a lot of drip tape to organize at the end of the growing season. I've come to really appreciate these huge wooden spools, which originally held electrical cable and were given to us by a neighbouring electrician. I set up two sawhorses with a notch in the top of each. I put a sturdy metal pole through the spool middle and rest the pole on a saw horse at each side. I just turn the spool by
hand to wind the drip tape onto it. The large ones can carry over 400 metres of drip tape if you wind it evenly. When I'm done, I tuck the end of the tape in and I can transport the spool by just rolling it.
Taking the tape off again is just the reverse — but do watch that it doesn't catch on the edges of the spool if there are any rough spots in the wood.
A tip for rolling drip tape: take off any removable stoppers or female connectors from the ends first. Or, if the stopper is not removable, roll from the stopper end. You'll get a lot more drip tape on the spool if the water can escape out the far end as you're rolling.
Heather Ramsay, Umi Nami Farm, Metchosin, BC
When the drip tape has been spooled onto the roll, it can be either rolled away for storage or placed in cart (see cart in image).
Barn boards transformed into crafts
A few winters ago, our dry shed gradually keeled over. The following spring and summer was spent stacking barn boards. A neighbour found two patterns for song bird nests on the internet and I found patterns for other bird houses in a book discarded by the library.
Since then, we have sold a lot of bird houses, wood stars and lollipops at craft fairs. People appreciate products made of reclaimed material.
I’ve learned a thing or two working with warped and square nailed, knot-hole filled, creviced boards of varied thicknesses. After a lot of trial and error I drill holes at strategic spots of the star pattern. The holes give the scroll saw manoeuvrability around the points and inside turns.
The effort of improving until it was good enough for the craft sale left me with many odd-looking creations but it was and is the challenge that brings pleasure and sellable crafts.
Lori Smallegange, Mallorytown, ON
