We join landscape contractor Jenn Nawada as she visits Bee City, USA: Detroit Michigan. She meets with a local beekeeper from the Detroit-based nonprofit, Detroit Hives, to learn more about bees, how they coexist, and what beekeeping looks like. Jenn experiences the fundamentals of the bee colony superorganism and the hive structure before tasting a sweet treat at the end of the day.

Next, we meet host Kevin O’Connor back at the shop as he discusses useful apps with some of the crew. Master electrician Heath Eastman shows us a handy app-based codebook while landscape contractor Lee Gilliam explains the app he uses to identify plants and their health. Finally, home technology expert Ross Trethewey shows us multiple apps he uses for air quality and other functions.

Finally, Kevin takes us back to the shop for a unique Build It project with general contractor Tom Silva. Equipped with a handheld CNC router, Tom shows Kevin how to upload a project to the router and layout a project board to create a detailed toddler stool that would be almost impossible to do by hand.

What to Know About Beehives

Jenn delves into the world of beekeeping with a Detroit-based nonprofit, Detroit Hives that manages multiple beehives across the city. Jenn learns the fundamentals of beehive care, from understanding hive structure to recognizing bee behavior.

Work Smarter Not Harder with These Trade Apps

Host Kevin O’Connor discusses some of the most useful apps that our favorite tradespeople rely on. Join us as we discuss them with master electrician Heath Eastman, landscape contractor Lee Gilliam, and home technology expert Ross Trethewey.

Where to find it?

Ugly’s Electrical App is a cheat sheet to the most up-to-date electrician’s code book that Heath uses.

Picture This is a plant identification app that Lee shared. Based just on a photo of the plant, the app can tell you with tremendous accuracy what the name of the plant is, what the genus/species is, what zones it grows best in, and can even give you a health assessment of the plant with links to caring for a sick plant.

TrueFlow HVAC Air Flow is an air handler health test app that measures the performance of the duct system that Ross likes.

Build It | Toddler Step Stool

Host Kevin O’Connor and general contractor Tom Silva are about to dive into the future of woodworking. With a handheld CNC router in hand, the two work together to find a design, upload it to the router, and cut out two unbelievably accurate legs for a toddler’s step stool. Here’s how it’s done.

Where to find it?

To prep your workspace to use a CNC hand router:

To protect your worktable clamp a spare piece of plywood down to the table. Use double sided stick tape on the plywood to secure the material you’re cutting to it. This will prevent the board from moving while using the router.

To prepare the router for a new project, add a special locator tape that allows the router to locate itself on any workpiece. Scan the workpiece to create a grid that the router will follow.

To keep your workspace clean connect the router to a HEPA vac for minimal dust transfer.

Baltic birch plywood was used for this project.
Chamfer bit for router to round the edges.
Cut the treads on the miter saw.
Wood glue to join pieces together and screws to secure them in place.

Original Air Date: Jan 30, 2025, Season 23; Ep. 13 23:42

Products and services from this episode

• Beehives: Detroit Hives
• Trade apps:
  Ugly’s Electrical App
  Picture This
  TrueFlow HVAC Air Flow