Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Dish Detergent

For a few years now I have been looking for and trying to find a automatic homemade dishwasher detergent, that I really like. Today I was visiting Green Living Tips and found this one. It's worth a shot! And I already have all of the ingredients in my kitchen! It can be used for both hand washing the dishes and in your automatic dishwasher!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup liquid castile soap
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
3 drops tea tree oil
1/2 cup white vinegar

Method:
stir all ingredients together until blended. Store in a squirt top bottle. Use 2 tablespoons per load of dishes, shake well before use.

I'll comment later with my thoughts.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Rain and Composting Barrels

I recently made a rain barrel and a compost barrel for my yard, both things I have been wanting for a few years now. Mission (finally) accomplished!

I bought my (food quality) barrels off Craigslist for $10 a piece. The seller was nice enough to bring them to work with him for me to pick up. He works about 5 miles from my house, but lives more than a 1/2 hour away. I ended up buying a total of 3 barrels from him, 2 plastic and 1 steel (for my hubby).

I was pretty impressed with my loading of the barrels into my van.

My Lil helpers.


The Compost Barrel

55 gallon food grade drum barrel
drill
jig saw
1/16 inch drill bit
3/4 inch drill bit
2 inch drill bit
2 hinges with nuts and bolts
latch
2 inch pipe (longer than your barrel is tall)
1 piece of re bar longer than the diameter of your barrel
4 sets of nuts and washers that fit the re bar
2-3/4 inch brass grommets
2-2 inch brass grommets
Something to keep the latch shut.
Permanent marker

Use the maker to make an outline for the door of your barrel.
Use the 3/4 inch drill bit to make a hole to insert the jigsaw blade and cut out your door.

Mark and drill the holes for your latch and hinges, using the 1/16 inch drill bit.

Use the 3/4 inch drill bit to drill holes in your barrel for aeration.

Attach your hinges and latch.


Reinforce 2 of the holes at one end of the barrel with the 3/4 inch brass grommets. Place the re bar trough the grommets with the nuts and washers to hold it in place. This will function as your handle to turn the barrel.

Use the 2 inch drill bit to drill 1 hole at either end of your barrel, reinforce with the 2 inch brass grommets and place the 2 inch diameter pipe trough the 2 inch brass grommets.

Place on stand.



I reused many items we had in the garage that were here when we moved in. The stand I got from my dad. It used to be his rain barrel stand and we had to alter it to make it work for us.

The Rain Barrel

Materials needed:

55 gallon food grade drum barrel
Drill
Jig saw
3/4 inch drill bit
3/4 inch spigot, male
3/4 inch pipe coupling, female
2-rubber washers with inner diameter of 1 inch
Window screen
Silicone
screws
Permanent marker

You have to forgive me for not having picture of the steps I took to make my rain barrel. I was so into making it, I forgot to take the picures. Sorry.
Just like on the compost barrel, make an outline on the top of the barrel. Use the 3/4 inch drill bit to make a hole to insert the jigsaw blade and cut out a hole in the top.
Use your arm to measure where to put you spigot, by putting you arm into the hole you cut our of the top of the barrel and reach as far as you can. Use the marker to mark this spot. Use the 3/4 inch drill bit to drill a hole in this spot. Insert the 3/4 inch pipe coupling, put silicone around the coupling and place a rubber washer on ether side of it. Attach spigot. Use the screws to keep the screen secure.



We do not have gutters on our house or garage, so here is my collection system. I have collected several buckets and line them up under the eaves to collect the rain water. I Put the lids on so I don't lose the water, put buckets into the wagon, pull them to the barrel and dump them in.