DIY Weed Blocker - Newspaper

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! No more black plastic!!

One thing I hate seeing in gardens it that black plastic. Sure it will help prevent weeds from growing in your garden for a period of time, but it has so many more cons than it does pros. It will not compost, that means it will sit there forever, until it gets moved to a landfill and then it will sit there forever. Weeds may not be able to push through but your plants can't either. There are many types of spreading plants that won't be able to do their job if plastic is used. It's ugly. When the mulch on top of your plastic starts to compost (and it will) it turns to soil making a nice little spot for weeds to grow ON TOP of your plastic. 

TA-DA!!!

Use newspaper as a weed deterrent in your garden instead of black plastic.

Newspaper is a great alternative to black plastic. It's a thick enough layer that weeds can't push their way through but sturdier plants can. Most people recycle this anyway, why not recycle it the most natural way there is? Give it back to the earth. The newspaper will start to compost after some time. Not only does this help the environment but it helps your garden by adding nutrients to the soil. Your plants will eat it up! The newspaper will hold water as well, so it's like an extra layer of mulch.

I can hear you now thinking "But if it composts don't I have to replace it?" Why yes, yes you do. But you have to replace top soil and mulch in your garden seasonally as well. You would of had to fix that plastic after it was tore up and moved around. Just replace the newspaper seasonally with your average garden work. Instead of adding layer on top of layers of trash to your garden, you will be adding layer on top of layer of compost and nutrients. 

If you live in a particularly windy area (shout-out to Kansas!) and having a difficult time getting the newspaper to stay put while you work with it try this helpful tip. Wet the paper down first. Wet newspaper is heavier and and molds to the ground easier. 

If want to be even more eco-friendly and give your garden an extra boost, use grass clippings as mulch on top of the newspaper.

What are some of your experiences with using newspaper in your garden? Share them in the comments below!

20 Reasons to DIY Compost

You see quite a bit in the news and online about global warming and environmentalists speaking about the world going south and how we need to save it. I know a lot of people roll their eyes and change the channel or keep on scrolling. However, here I have 20 reasons for you to start this easy activity that will not only help you reduce your footprint on the environment but will also improve that homegrown backyard garden of yours. Here are 20 reasons for you to start DIY composting.

20 Reasons to Compost:

1. Adding finished compost to your ground soil will add nutrients without polluting the ground water like chemical fertilizers.
2. The nutrients that you put there will stay there. The nutrients you find in compost will not be washed away by rainfall like chemical fertilizers.
3. Compost can completely replace chemical fertilizers, which is not only better for the environment and your plants but your checkbook as well.
4. It keeps organic materials out of landfills. Some researches show that over 60% of landfill waste is organic but it's buried so deep the oxygen needed to turn it into something valuable cannot reach it.
5. Composting at home is an all natural process. No fossil fuels are used to break it down like in factories that mass produce the compost you buy from stores.
6. Plants grow healthier and stronger with the nutrients you are adding to your soil with not risk of "burning"as with chemical fertilizers.
7. Promotes microbial activity in the soil.
8. Improves the soil structure, which in turn protects the topsoil from erosion.
9. Soils that are fed with compost retain more rainwater. This allows you to use less water and irrigation systems.
10. The compost you create is safe to use to nourish plants that sustain human health.
11. It improves soil aeration by allowing small air pockets to form. 
12. Doing it yourself generates rich, diverse and affordable compost.
13. DIY composting supports organic and sustainable farming.
14. Instead of one large shot of nutrients, compost gradually releases nutrients to your plants throughout the season.
15. Healthy soil fights and helps prevent plant disease and reduces the need for chemical fungicide.
16. Composting at home minimizes the amount of methane released into the environment, most commonly to zero.
17. Composting embraces the natural cycle of life and decay. In nature there is no waste, everything is used for a purpose and then returned to the earth to serve a different purpose. Composting embraces this ideal.
18. Contrary to some myths you can compost anything that has lived or grown recently.
19. Composting requires very little work, it's a natural process.
20. Avoid wasting valuable organic material. 

So there you have it. Why keep using chemical fertilizers and fungicides and everything else that major companies tell you is necessary to grow a decent garden. It's nonsense. Nature provides you with the very best nutrients for your plants whether it's a bed of marigolds or a field of tomatoes. Stop wasting your money. Stop killing the ground. Stop poisoning your plants. Embrace what nature gave you by starting DIY composting.

Check out here for great tips on composting!

DIY Homemade Rain Barrel

I have not tried this one yet, but I am definitely planning on it when I have the supplies available. This is a very nice article on how to make your DIY homemade rain barrel. There are many valid reasons to consider making a rain barrel, and if you're not feeling that crafty there are many varieties available in home improvement stores. If you are debating the pros and cons of placing a rain barrel(or several) around your home, check out my article 11 Reasons to Invest in Harvesting Rainwater in a Rain Barrel!

Not only is rain water better for your garden plants and flowers than chlorinated tap water, but by using rain water you also save money. Plus you reduce the water that leads into the local storm sewers, gathering various chemicals and oils along the way and taking them to the natural streams.

Making a rain barrel is one of the simplest do-it-yourself projects that you can approach. A rain barrel can be filled within a matter of minutes during a good rain, and you will have a good supply for watering your garden during a dry season.

Tools

• Jig Saw

• Power Drill

• Scissors

• Pipe Wrench and Pump Pliers

• Screw Driver

• Hack Saw

• Tape Measure and Level

1. - Calculate the capacity of the barrel

How quick your barrels fill depends upon how large the collection surface you have.

The equation to calculate the size of the barrel will be something like this: 200 sq ft (rooftop area) x 0.0042 ft (average rainfall) x 0.9(losses to system) x 7.5 gals/ft 3(conversion factor).

Where, if you have 200 sq ft of rooftop area and the average rainfall is half an inch (0.042 ft.) you will need a 56.7 gallon barrel.

2. - Gather your barrels

You need to identify a source of food quality 55 gallon barrels. Many manufacturers of fruit or drinks discard their barrels after the first use. Therefore they will be happy to see you take home as many barrels as you can for free, or at most for a few dollars. (As barrels are made of plastic, manufacturers have to discard of barrels as hazardous waste)

Keep a close eye on Craigslist. People used to post when they have extra barrels that the need to get rid of for a few bucks or even for free.

Consider the barrel should be food grade, it means no prior chemical or petroleum contents.

Plastic barrels are more convenient, as steel barrels are heavy and prone to rusting, very hard to drill, and generally they were used for chemical or petroleum products transportation.

Bring home as many barrels as you can, as long as you have room to storage them. One 55 gallon barrel can be fill up in less than 10 minutes during heavy rain. It's a good idea have a secondary barrel to fill with the overflow water and you can do a good use of extra barrels as water storage.

3. - Screen the lid

The use of strainers and leaf screens located in the gutters and downspouts are designed to prevent debris, like leaves, from entering the tank.

Cut a square hole in the lid with the jigsaw, and then place the piece of scrap window screen over the hole to keep mosquitoes out of the barrel. You can fasten it with duck tape or nails.

4. - Modify the downspout

Use the small drill bit to drill out existing rivets as you need it. Usually they are put together with sheet metal screws. Redirect the downspout so the water will flow directly on top of the barrel.

5. - Attach the garden hose valve

Drill a 1" hole near the bottom of the barrel. On the inside of the barrel attach the adapter and the washer. On the outside, install the valve. If you prefer you can use a 3/4 inch plastic faucet; make a hole slightly smaller than 3/4 inch, close to the bottom. Seal with silicone. Don't drill the hole too far down inside the barrel where you can't reach it as you will need to fasten the attachments.

6. - Attach an overflow

Cut a 2 inch hole very close to the top of the barrel and on a side that will allow you to run an overflow pipe away from your house foundation. Instead of a pipe, it could be a hose that end up into the secondary barrel. Seal with silicone.

7. - Raise the barrel

Putting your rain barrel on a platform will give you good water pressure, and you won't have to bend over to get to the water.An elevated stand can easily be built using a few pressure treated wood logs. Elevated barrels allow plants to grow in a shady spot, without taking valued graded space. The area under the barrels can be used to store stuff, like brushes and garden tools. The pressure of the water increases approximately half a pound per foot of elevation. The water pressure at the end of the hose is based upon the level of the water in the barrel.

8. - Make it pretty!

Paint the barrel with paint prime for plastic material. You can choose a color that blend with the exterior walls of your house, in that way it will stand out less, without altering the faade too much. Or, you can be creative and make it a decorative item of your garden.

Screening is a good alternative to conceal the barrels. Use natural materials as straw or wood trellis.

9. - Maintenance

Keep the gutters and system screens clean and free of leaves and other debris. The barrel also needs a periodic thorough cleaning, usually in the summer when its water levels tend to be lower.

During the winter, drain the barrel 100% if the temperatures drop under 32 F. Otherwise, it could have serious damage. You should fully drain the whole system, including pipes hoses. Also I recommend you remove the downspout that flows into the barrel to make sure no water enters the system during the frosty months.

Mariana Barrios is a licensed architect in Argentina, and a LEED Accredited Professional. She worked with several prestigious firms in Buenos Aires, gaining experience in a wide variety of projects. At http://www.architectityourself.com, we realize the importance of a sustainable green design and its options for architects and home owners. People all over the world are realizing the need for the conservation of natural resources, looking for designs and solutions that could help our environment remain green and sustainable to the next generations. Through http://www.architectityourself.com, we will be sharing ideas and concepts that contribute to the health of our planet. RENEW. REUSE. RECYCLE.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mariana_Barrios

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11 Reasons to Invest in Harvesting Rainwater in a Rain Barrel

I've been thinking lately and honestly, how many people would drink their tap water? The answer is very few; unless, you are part of the small lucky group that lives where the well water isn't contaminated. So, if you won't drink your tap water, why are you making your plants? And further more, why would you put that tap water into your edible garden? The fact is, plants absorb. If you are feeding them the chemicals from your tap water/hose water then that is what's going into your precious tomatoes and squash. Ew.

How do we solve this problem? Well, what do plants drink in the wild? Rainwater. You want to eat what's healthy for your family so let's give your garden plants what's naturally healthy to them. Good 'ol rainwater.

Collecting rainwater dates way back but people are just now finding the value in it again. So, here are 11 wonderful reasons of why you should be collecting rainwater.

1. Controls moisture levels around the foundation of your home.
2. Prevents basement flooding.
3. You control the overflow.
4. Reduces runoff into storm and combined sewer system
5. Reduces flooding from runoff
6. Reduces pollution due to runoff in local rivers and streams
7. Minimize your impact on municipal water supplies and aquifers
8. Available during times of water restrictions and droughts
9. Preserves the natural balance in your garden soil
10. Soft water is better for your plants- doesn't contain non-organic material
11. Saves money on your water bill.

So there you have it. 11 very beneficial reasons to invest a small amount of money into a rain barrel. Will it solve all the world problems? Probably not but it's definitely one step in the right direction and it will help you, your garden and the food you reap from it.  Following soon I will have a post about how to make a DIY rain barrel, so be on the look out!

Here's a link to the article on how to make a DIY Homemade Rain Barrel