Monthly Archives: December 2014

30 Dec 2014 Around The House, Projects and Crafts 0

DIY Lace Candle Holders

momma

I know we just did a candle holder project, but I loved it so much I decided to do another one and I couldn’t post it until now because it was my mother’s Christmas gift. I think the gentle glow of candles is so beautiful and these candle holders just add even more to the ambiance. I made these lace candle holders pretty quickly and only used material that I already had laying around.

There are two ways you can make these. So, this gives you a bit of variety to play around with and your comfort level. I will explain both, here.

For the first way you will need:

Glass jar

Lace

Hot Glue Gun (w/ glue)

Scissors

Ribbon (optional)

I’m sure you’ve seen picture where people have used this project with mason jars. It’s entirely possible to do so, however, I prefer to recycle jars we’ve collected through our day to day activities. I do this for two reasons. 1) It recycles or up-cycles whichever terminology you prefer. 2) Mason jars have designs on them. After I clean off the labels, these jars are smooth and clean.

So, I used small baby food jars, large baby food jars and a Starbucks frappuccino jar (generously donated by mom and grandma).

Okay, once you have your jar label free (find an easy way here) and all your supplies gathered let’s get started.

1. Measure out your lace for your jar. I simply lay the jar down and wrap the lace around it, and make cuts at the corners.

2. Cut out the square of lace.

3. Make a line of hot glue down the side of the jar.

4. Lay the edge of the lace onto the hot glue and press it down into the glue. Use caution, hot glue is hot. I use a popsicle stick.

5. Wrap the lace around the jar. Pull it taunt so it won’t slip around but don’t pull it off. I was able to press it down in the hot glue that was already there. If your glue has already dried, add a thin line to hold this end in place.

6. Trim off any extra overlap after the glue has completely cooled. You can also trim off any that hangs over the top or bottom. With a small jar like this no other glue is required. With larger jars, I would recommend putting a couple drops or glue under the lace at the top and bottom, to avoid the lace slipping around too much.

7. If you have chosen to add ribbon, now is the time to do that. Measure out your chosen ribbon, cut it to length and either glue it around the rim or if you want it to hang down you can tie it.

8. My original plan was to glue it tight (as shown above); however, with this particular ribbon I liked it better tied.

Okay, now for option two.

For this method you will need:

Glass Jar

Lace

Mod Podge

Brush

Scissors

Ribbon (optional)

1. Measure and cut the lace to size as mentioned in the first method.

2. Using a paint brush or sponge, cover the outside of the glass with Mod Podge. You can work in small sections or cover the entire jar all at once, but in order for this to work successfully you will need to cover the entire jar by the end of it. A small strip of glue won’t hold the lace well in this instance as with the hot glue.

3. Lay the lace on top of the glue, and wrap it around. Pull it taunt and smooth out any bubbles.

4. If you’d like to add extra protection, add another layer of Mod Podge on top of the lace. **Note: Mod Podge applies as white, but it will dry clear.**

5. Let it sit and dry completely. It is done drying when there is no longer any white and it is not tacky. Trim off any extra lace.

6. Measure and add lace as desired. You can either Mod Podge this as well or hot glue. And voila! You have a beautiful candle holder. Simply, add a tea light and there you have a beautiful Homemade decoration!

The pink one in the first method was the small baby food jar. The white votive in the second method was a large baby food jar. The Starbucks jar is pictured in the group picture. It worked out well because the tea light fit snug into the top. So, it gave my arrangement a neat height layer.

Light them at night and they cast a beautiful glow.

Have you joined me on Facebook yet? If not be sure to go and give my page a like to keep updated and join in on the conversation! www.facebook.com/pages/homemadebymomma

29 Dec 2014 Blog 0

Happy Holidays!

momma

I realize it’s been several days since I’ve made a post, so I wanted to post this real fast for everyone. I took a few days off to enjoy the holidays with my family and friends. The boys and I celebrated Yule and Christmas, a very special family event (that’s to remain secret until a later date) and we are preparing for the new year.

I hope that all of you had a very happy and safe holiday season and I wish everyone many blessings and wishes for this new year. Is anyone planning anything special to celebrate the occasion? It was always a tradition in my parents house to watch the ball in New York drop on the tv. We lived in Kansas at the time so we only had to wait up until 11pm to see it. We’d drink sparkling cider and make a fun night of it.

This year the boys and I are going to have a bon fire in our backyard and invite family over to welcome in the new year. We don’t have cable to watch the ball drop but what better way to start a year than surrounded by those you love? I’m anxious to see how late my munchkins will go. I have a feeling it won’t be as late as they’re anticipating; they are very routine friendly children (lucky me). However, it should still be a lot of fun.

Is anyone making a resolution this year? What is it?

We’ll be back to our DIY projects and homemade tips tomorrow. So, look for what goodies we have in store for you then!

Best wishes to everyone! And just a friendly reminder that we always appreciate and welcome comments and shares. Join us on Facebook if you haven’t already – www.facebook.com/pages/homemadebymomma

Happy New Year!

Blessed Be.

19 Dec 2014 Holidays, Kids, Recipes drinks, holiday, kids, recipe, winter 0

Momma’s Hot Chocolate

momma

Like many people, I have a very strong memory of my mother making hot chocolate for us when it got cold outside, especially, when it would snow. My sister and I would go outside, sled and build a snowman (tried to have snow ball fights but the snow wouldn’t pack right). When we came it it was mandatory that we stripped our outer-layers by the door so we didn’t leave a trail of snow through the house. So, off came the boots, the top two layers of socks, the extra pair of pants, the hat and mittens, and the coat. Drop them in a pile (to be used later of course). And head into the library to warm up by the fire. And mom would bring us a cup of hot chocolate, with marshmallows if we were lucky.

One thing I always loved about my mom’s hot chocolate . . .she made the mix herself.

Now, my mother isn’t a fan of cooking. She has her dishes that she is amazing at, and everyone begs for, and she will cook, but she just doesn’t enjoy the act and my father always stepped up to the plate. So, when my mom would hand us those cups, filled with the most delicious warmth known, it was even more special. Because she made it. She didn’t just rip open a packet and dump it in. She mixed it up and stored it in the pantry. My sister and I often got to help her make the mixture, because you had better believe we went through it quickly.

My mother probably doesn’t know how special this small thing is to me but in honor of it, I decided to share the experience with Bug. It’s a very simple process with just a few ingredients, and so it’s perfect for little hands to help in the kitchen. In fact, Bug (whose 5) did most of this himself. He had a little help with the stirring, because it does make a big batch, but otherwise he handled this like a pro.

Momma’s Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

1 large canister creamer

1 large box dry milk

*my store didn’t have a lg box of milk, so I bought two small bags; you need about 18oz total give or take)

1 large box powdered chocolate mix (drink not baking)

Marshmallows

Candy Canes (optional)

1. Pour all ingredients into a large bowl (except marshmallows).

2. Stir ingredients until well mixed. Folding works very well and helps avoid spilling over edges and gets the bottom mixed too.

*This is the step where little hands may need assistance. Remember, a little mess is okay! It will clean up, I promise.*

3. Once, ingredients are well blended and you don’t have clumps of any one ingredient, you are ready to make your coco.

A good ratio is 1/2c of the mixture to 1c of hot water or milk. If you like yours a little chocolatier, (that’s totally a word) make it a heaping half cup.

4. Add marshmallows to the top of your mug, and if you’d like a candy cane makes a perfect stirring stick.

5. Enjoy!

With this recipe, you can get approx. 31 cups hot chocolate (using a heaping 1/2c). Store in an airtight container and label for future use. Keep in a dry area.

I really hope that you enjoy my mom’s hot chocolate as much as I do and I hope that it creates as many loving and lasting memories for you as it has for me. That’s all you really get out of life and all that matters in the end – love and memories.

I love you mom!!!

Happy Holidays Everyone!!

I would love to hear how well you liked this recipe. Did you alter it at all? Any other special garnishes that you add besides marshmallows and candy canes? What memories did you create? Share them below!

17 Dec 2014 Around The House 0

Cleaning Labels Off Jars

momma

Alright, so we have all of these amazing projects and crafts that we can do to recycle glass jars and create some awesome things. Problem – taking the label off leaves a sticky residue that isn’t very attractive and is difficult to work around. It’s just annoying. We want nice, smooth, clean glass for a work area. How do you get the sticky glue off the jar??? Many people use Goo-Gone, which works, but I personally don’t like it. It’s messy, takes up too much time rubbing and smells awful. Ugh. So, I was sitting here thinking “There has to be an easier way to do this. Right? Right?!” Of course there is. Momma got her grey cells working and churning and I started a thought process. What is Goo-Gone essentially? It’s like oil, it counteracts the stickiness. But what could I put with the oil to help it get the glue off faster? Then it hit me, vinegar. Vinegar is a great cleaning product for all around the house!

For test one I combined some olive oil and vinegar in a bowl, used a rag with the combination on it and rubbed the label off the jar. Wait – flashback, this is turning out a lot like Goo-Gone. It works, but it’s messy and time consuming. Think. Think. Think. Well, let’s see. I know that vinegar works wonders at stripping things down. So, what if I went with just straight vinegar?

Test two – I used straight vinegar on the rag to rub off the label. Again, it worked. Less mess but still time consuming. Think. Think. Think.

Test Three worked amazingly well. I was standing at the sink going “No Way!!” It’s impossibly easy. Okay, here we go. I’ll share with you the solution to getting the sticky residue off of your jars without the mess and with less work.

Test Three

Test Subject – One Spaghetti Jar

1. Peel off the label as best you can. You want to get as much of the paper off as possible, otherwise it’ll just be in your way later and it can get frustrating.

2. Fill your sink or a large bowl with hot water. Add at least a cup of vinegar to the water. Place the jar into the water/vinegar mixture with the glue fully submerged.

3. Let the jar soak in the solution for at least 30 min. Go walk the dog, put the baby down for a nap, pull weeds in the garden or read the next chapter in that book.

4. Take a cloth or sponge and rub at the affected area. The sticky will begin to come off. If it’s a thicker layer run some hot water and hold the jar under it as you rub the glue off (be careful not to burn yourself).

* Note * – This process works in layers. If the jar had a thin layer of glue on it, the glue will rub off easily. If the jar had rather thick glue it will come off gradually in layers. But it is still a much quicker process than anything else I have tried.

5. Enjoy your clean jar and create some amazing projects with them!!

Let me know in the comments below how this process worked for you and if you have perfected it!

A video tutorial will be available soon at videos.homemadebymomma.com if you’d like to watch this process before trying it yourself!

Check out these beautiful glowing candle holders I made with these spaghetti jars!!

17 Dec 2014 Projects and Crafts 0

DIY Glowing Candle Holders

momma

Hello, everyone! I’ve been wanting to do this project for a very long time and . . . well, I have finally taken the time to do it. WOW! I am astounded at the results and sooo pleased! I plan to make many more, very soon. These glowing candle holders are absolutely gorgeous! Not only are they practical for when I want a soft, candle glow inside the house, but they are sturdy enough to put outside and pretty enough to use for special occasions. ADDED BONUS – – they can either sit or hang! So, if there’s limited space at the table just hand them up! I am in love with these!

Okay, lets get started! You only need a few materials and it doesn’t take much time at all.

Materials:

1 Jar (without label)

String

Scissors

Spray Paint

Paper

Wire (if hanging)

That’s it. That’s all you need to get started.

1. Cover your work area with the paper so that you don’t mess anything up with the spray paint. (Be sure that you are working in a well-ventilated area for this project. The fumes from the spray paint can be toxic if inhaled. Always be cautious and safe!)

2. Cut off a length of string and wrap it around your jar, in any design you want. Secure both ends so that the string doesn’t slip around. It will mess up your paint and lines if it moves around before the paint is dry.

3. Place your jar in the middle of your work area. Shake your spray paint well, remove lid and being to paint your jar. Hold the can approximately one foot away from the jar at all times. Try to give the jar an even layer of paint all the way around.

4. After you’ve finished painting the entire jar, let it set and dry until the paint is no longer wet or tacky.

5. When your paint is completely dry and is not tacky or sticky to touch you may but away the string and slowly unwind it from the bottle.

6. This is where your options come in. I opted to spray a layer of glitter on mine to make them sparkle a little more. You may choose to do so as well or leave it the flat color you have chosen.

7. After you are completely finished painting your jar and the color is how you’d like it to be. You may wish to add wire to make it hang. To so this wrap galvanized wire around the rim and twist it tight. Loop it up and over the jar and secure it around the jar on the other side.

8. Now you may place a tealight candle, a larger candle or even an LED candle in your jar and make it glow!

I hope you enjoy this project and its beautiful simplicity as much as I do! You can use any jar you’d like to make this project. The ones pictured are recycled spaghetti jars. Your jar doesn’t need to be as large as this one if you don’t want it to. That’s the wonderful of DIY projects . . you make it however you’d like to and alter it all you want!

If you’d like to view a video tutorial and see how I made these, you can view that HERE!

Leave a comment below to let me know how you liked this project and tell me how you did yours!

10 Dec 2014 Kids, Recipes 0

Homemade Salsa

momma

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!

10 Dec 2014 Kids craft, infants, kids, sensory, toddler 0

DIY Homemade Sensory Bags

momma

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!

10 Dec 2014 Blog 0

11 Reasons to invest in harvesting rain water in a rain barrel

momma

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.

Controls moisture levels around the foundation of your home.
Prevents basement flooding.
You control the overflow.
Reduces runoff into storm and combined sewer system
Reduces flooding from runoff
Reduces pollution due to runoff in local rivers and streams
Minimize your impact on municipal water supplies and aquifers
Available during times of water restrictions and droughts
Preserves the natural balance in your garden soil
Soft water is better for your plants- doesn’t contain non-organic material
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

10 Dec 2014 Recipes bread, diy, homemade, recipe, wheat 0

Homemade Honey Wheat Bread

momma

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

Combine the first six ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir until thoroughly mixed.
Add flours and yeast to mixture. Lightly flour surface to knead dough on.
Knead the mixture until dough is smooth and elastic (about 10-15 min)
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)
Punch dough down and knead for a few minutes until it is smooth. Then, form into a loaf shape.
Place in greased loaf pan and cover. Let rise in a warm place until almost doubled in size (about 30 min)
Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 min.
If the loaf starts to brown too so, lightly layer a piece of foil on top of the bread to prevent too much darkening.
Remove bread from oven and allow to rest in pan for a few minutes.
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!

10 Dec 2014 Garden conservation, diy, healthy living, rain barrel 0

DIY Homemade Rain Barrel

momma

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.

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