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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Homemade Honey Wheat Bread Recipe

A few months ago I was thinking, which never leads to anything easy, and I wondered what do they put in store bought bread. Have you ever looked at the ingredients in the bread you buy? Well, you should. I couldn't tell you what at least three of the ingredients were.

So, I got even more curious. What's the point of these mystery ingredients? Can't you just make bread with some simple ingredients in your fridge? People seem to have managed just fine before we had all these big words that nobody, except people with a bachelor's in science, really knows what it is. As a result of my curiosity I left the bread in the cabinet to see what it would do. I left it for two weeks.

If we all think back to lower levels in school what do they teach you will happen to bread, or food in general, if you let it sit for a long period of time? It will get stale and grow mold, right? Wrong.

I checked that loaf of bread two weeks later and it was still the exact same bread as when I bought it at the store. How utterly UNNATURAL is that? Gross. To me that is more disgusting than if I had found a unidentifiable green loaf. And I'm eating this? I'm feeding this to my family?

No. No way, this has to change. If I can't pronounce it, it doesn't have a place in my food.

So, as a consequence of that horrifying experiment, I now make my own bread; which is not as difficult as one would imagine. Below is my favorite recipe for honey wheat bread, all natural. I make it by hand but you can just as easily use a bread-maker.

Honey Wheat Bread

Ingredients:

1 cup warm water

1 Tbsp milk

2 Tbsp oil

2 Tbsp honey

2 Tbsp brown sugar

1 Tsp salt

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

2 tsp instant active dry yeast

1. Combine the first six ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir until thoroughly mixed.
2. Add flours and yeast to mixture. Lightly flour surface to knead dough on.
3. Knead the mixture until dough is smooth and elastic (about 10-15 min)
4. Place dough in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover with a clean towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled. (about 40 min)
5. Punch dough down and knead for a few minutes until it is smooth. Then, form into a loaf shape. 
6. Place in greased loaf pan and cover. Let rise in a warm place until almost doubled in size (about 30 min)
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 min.
8. If the loaf starts to brown too so, lightly layer a piece of foil on top of the bread to prevent too much darkening.
9. Remove bread from oven and allow to rest in pan for a few minutes.
10. Remove to wire rack and cover with a cloth.

**TIP: For a warm place to let the dough rise you can use where the sun is shining in through a window or place in an oven on the WARM setting**

Bug and Tig LOVE this bread. If I'm not careful, the bread will be completely gone in just a few minutes because they sneak into the kitchen to eat it. But of all the things they could be sneaking to eat, I'm not going to complain about homemade bread. 

Be prepared for your house to smell like the wonderful aroma of baking bread. Another thing I will add is that this honey wheat bread is delicious when it's warm with some honey butter. To make honey butter just whip/mix together equal parts honey and equal parts butter. I use a 1/4c to1/4c mixture.

So there you have it. A completely homemade and natural bread for you and your family. With an added bonus of being half wheat you get some yummy grain nutrition in your diet! Go ahead give it a try! Everything is better when it's HOMEMADE!

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 

DIY Homemade Sensory Bags

Okay, so we all know that toddler and baby toys are ridiculously expensive but do they all have in common? Sensory objects. On nearly every baby and toddler toy there is something that has them experiment with one of their senses, sight(mirrors), sound (rattles) or touch (soft, rough). So, instead of spending all that money you earn on expensive baby toys here's an inexpensive activity for you and your youngster. DIY Sensory Bags. These are very easy and cheap to make and the bonus is.. (as always) you can make it however you want!

Sensory Bags

Basic Needs:

Quart or Gallon size FREEZER bag

Hair gel or soap

Items to go in the bag

Packing tape

You may use either a quart or gallon size zipbag depending on how large you would like it to be, the one pictured is quart, but always use a freezer bag. Freezer bags are thicker than the normal sandwich and storage bags, so they won't tear as easily. We don't want these bags to tear, what a mess.

Fill your chosen bag with your liquid. It doesn't really matter what type of liquid you choose just as long as it's thicker than water. I've found hairgel is the best texture wise but dish soap works as well, plus it makes bubbles. You can buy your liquid colored, add coloring or leave it clear whichever you prefer.

Next, add your chosen contents to the bag. You will want to vary the contents, size, texture and color so that the bag stays interesting to your little one. Like a game of "I Spy." At the bottom of this post are some sample bags and the ingredients I put in them.

Once you've added all your contents to your bag squeeze the excess air out and zip it up tight. Now, take the packing tape and tape up all four edges of the bag as an extra precaution against tiny muscles.

Voila! You have made your little one a cheap and easy sensory toy. They will get so many hours of squishing the bag around because it feels funny and as they grow into toddler ages you can start to play games with them. And I dare you to try not to squish it around yourself! They're irresistible!

You can make your bags themed or educational as well. Such as a beached themed bag with a blue liquid, shells, sand and foam sea animals. Or a "I Spy" letters bag with all the alphabet letters and they try to find the one you name or for smaller toddlers a shapes and colors bag. 

**TIP: If your infant tries to chew on the bag, tape two opposite sides to the floor and sit them in front of it or do some bellytime!** Please don't ever leave your child unattended with these bags. Accidents happen with even the best made projects.

Here are some examples of the ones we made!

Goofy Fun Bag
This bag contains green hair gel, foam letters, googly eyes, beads, rose petals, feathers and a balloon.

Bubbly Bag
This bag contains orange dish soap (which turns bubble when they start squishing it), foam letters, googly eyes, a balloon and feathers.

Garden Bag
This bag contains green hair gel, green glitter, butterfly beads and googly eyes.

Mardi Gras Bag
This bag contains blue hair gel, gold glitter and feathers.

Winter Wonderland Bag
This bag contains blue hair gel, silver glitter, rice, foam letters, feathers and beads.

The ideas and possibilities are endless! So grab your little one and start creating some fun! 

Homemade Salsa

Bug and I made homemade salsa. We love this salsa and nearly all the ingredients you can grown in a backyard garden and of course the benefits of making your own at home, instead of buying by the jar, are : you know where the ingredients came from, you know what exactly goes in it, no preservatives, and you can make it exactly to your taste. I'm not a fan of salsa in general but I LOVE this!

Ingredients:

3 tomatoes

1/2 onion

1 jalapeno pepper

1 bunch cilantro

1 lime (juice to taste)

Garlic salt (to taste)

1. I use a food processor but you may use a blender just as easily. Cut the tomatoes into chunks that your processor can handle. Pulse until they are finely chopped. Pour chopped tomatoes into a separate bowl.

2. Process half of an onion, the jalapeno pepper(seeds removed) and the cilantro. Once these are chopped you may add them to the bowl of tomatoes.

Involve your children in cooking activities; they get to learn about gardening, healthy food, kitchen safety and spending time with you!
Bug is four and loves to cook in the kitchen. **Be sure to practice knife safety and NEVER leave children unattended in the kitchen**

3. Stir all of the chopped items together adding the lime juice and garlic salt to taste. Depending on how spicy you like your salsa you may want to add another pepper or two.

4. Once, you have it all mixed together, voila! You have homemade salsa to enjoy!

Finished salsa.
Better hurry because it doesn't stick around long!

Homemade By Momma

Hello and welcome to this new blog: Homemade By Momma!

I think almost everyone would agree that everything is better when it's homemade. No one can make chili like momma's and no one grows better tomatoes than momma, right? So here it is, the place that shares how everything can be Homemade By Momma! Here on this blog I will share tips on how to home-make everything including: gardens, recipes, children and everyday life. Because everything is better Homemade!