I was out of town when I made that first post, then checked with hubby at home. He actually used 1/2" mesh on the bottom, making it easy for the chickens to walk around on it. He built ours mostly for putting out in the pasture, so scratching dirt wouldn't apply. The grass will all pop up through the mesh for the chickens to eat. This mesh is pretty sturdy too.

Sheila - Did you find something that works for you? I can't imagine a reacher device or tongs that would work for weeding - if you found or made something, let us know. If not, did you look at the hoes that have a loop for cutting (scuffle or action hoe)? Marshallz mentioned it in an earlier reply. This type of hoe is very easy to use and is available with small cutting loops for getting in close to plants. I have seen them at a couple of local retailers, but those often have heavy handles so you might check for a lightweight version online if interested. Scuffle hoe description: ""Scuffle hoes" are designed to cut in two directions - on both the push and pull strokes, thus they can work twice as fast as a conventional hoe. Furthermore, they donÂt have to be lifted out of the ground. Many have blades that are shaped in a loop. The loop may be rigidly attached to the toolhead, or the loop may be free to wobble through a short arc. Again, personal preference will dictate your choice. These hoes allow faster and easier cultivation than a standard garden hoe." Description of dutch scuffle hoe, action hoe, and others. Wolf Garten is an excellent source for hoes and other tools. You choose a handle and attachments separately, so it's very customizable to your needs. They offer several great options that might work for your specific weeding needs. You could even get one or two handles and switch out different attachments.

Isn't nature hilarious sometimes? I remember well, as a child, my first encounter with a bunch of frogs doing their thing........ Great pictures =:)

Thanks guys. Your comment on heat in blacksmithing, Eric, reminds me of the old punch line: "Nope, just doesn't take me long to look at a horseshoe". Anyone who has ever grabbed a just worked piece of metal can get that joke. The pic is half of a coneflower with the sun backlighting and lighting it up from the top.