How to Set Up Gravity Drip Irrigation

Bucket Drip Setup, originally uploaded by espeedy123.

I started researching drip systems because I’d like to attach one to my rain tank for my raised vegetable garden.

There’s all sorts of great information about gravity drip systems on the internet, including these plans for a simple bucket setup.

I decided to try out this bucket dripper first as a dry run before getting into the bigger project. It’s really fun because it costs very little and doesn’t require a ton of tools.

I used a regular drill to put a 7/32″ hole at the bottom of an extra bucket I had, and I used a blow dryer to soften the 1/4″ tubing enough that I could squeeze it in the bucket. Amazingly, that connection isn’t leaking. I put the reservoir on top of a stool I find too chunky to use inside the house that was just sitting out in the garage.

I plan to try to grow some gourds in this spot so we shall see how well this works. Check back for more later about the vegetable garden drip setup. If anyone has a great drip system set up, please comment!!!

Flag Talk

Erin’s U.S. Flag, originally uploaded by espeedy123.

Today on the radio (570 AM, around 4:30 p.m.) my topic is the flag.

July 4 is less than 2 weeks away — is your flag setup ready?!?!?

Do you know how to mind your P’s and Q’s with regard to the Stars and Stripes?!?!

Here are some quick thoughts I have about flags leading up to the holiday:

• If you are new to flags, best not skimp on the flag hardware. The wind blows mighty hard, and it’s well worth getting the appropriate heavy duty bracket specially suited to wherever you’re putting it. I wanted mine to go on an odd skinny porch pole, and it took some hunting to find this bracket online. It is working nicely thus far.



• You can make a premium flag pole on a tight budget using a wooden closet rod. Here are some plans for an indoor standing one. It would also work directly in the ground outside for occasional holiday use, or in a bracket. My dad made a sharp looking pole from a wood rod that he keeps a high gloss finish on that goes in a bracket.
• Flag etiquette is all about respect of the flag. Avoid dropping it, letting it get drenched in the rain, or flying it in total darkness. The best place to find the info about rules and folding, etc., is the website of the American Legion. I wrote a short piece about flag etiquette for the paper that will run July 4, and the Legion flag expert I interviewed said etiquette is especially important during wartime. In such a stressful time for military service members and their families, it does make sense that we should be more aware of the flag.

How to Keep the Birds from Eating Your Tomatoes

Tomato Runway, originally uploaded by espeedy123.

Bring them inside!

Is there any disappointment greater than finding the tomato for which you waited and worked and watched HALF EATEN BY A BIRD!?!?

This sad situation has deflated me more than once. Solutions I have heard about include creating physical barriers like nets, hanging fake snakes, and tieing old CDs near to the plant to blind the birds with sunlight.

The net sounds like a lot of trouble, and I doubt the effectiveness of fakery. The grackels around here seem smart and plentiful.  I heard about my solution on the Neil Sperry radio show.  Am I allowed to love the Dirt Doctor and still respect Neil???

He suggests bringing the tomatoes in just as they start to turn and letting them ripen on a sunny windowsill.

So far this has worked out great. They seem to turn red in a day or two. These photos are from a week or so ago and I have around 40 newer ones out there now, mainly from a single “Husky Red Cherry” tomato plant.  I have been eating a cherry tomato and cucumber salad every day.

I imagine they do not taste quite as nice as straight off the vine, but if I don’t wish to share with the birds this is the best I’ve figured out thus far.

Does anyone else have suggestions for keeping birds out?

The Universal Joys of Spray Painting

The New York Times ran a story this week about a set designer who rescues and refurbishes junky furniture.  Online there’s a slide show of her spray painting a hairpin chair on a city street.  What she came up with isn’t Earth-shattering, but it is sorta cool:

I give her extra points for accomplishing this on a city street and for making the comment that she avoids heavily upholstered pieces to keep from getting bedbugs.

When I lived in New York I never attempted spray painting on the street.  Now that I’ve got loads of space of my own, I can pretty much spray paint whatever I want.  Like today, I am spray painting these white planter boxes my mom found either at an estate sale or discarded in some Amarillo alley:

All my house trim is white vinyl, so I wanted these to be not white.  I thought maybe a really dark blue would be nice.  I bought Krylon “navy” blue plastic spray paint, but this appears more cobalt:

I like the result, they are sort of modern this way.  Here’s one filled with some begonias I’ve been really lazy about planting:

Vote to Help Me Win a Kitchen

I entered a contest sponsored by Electrolux to win a $50,000 dream kitchen.  Can you imagine how sweet (and green) an induction cooktop would be?!!? 

I need for you to vote for me so I can seal the deal.  I know how many silent, noncommenting blog visitors I have, and I’m really really hoping you guys pull through for me.

Visit this site to cast your vote (super easy, no registration required):

http://www.ivillage.com/redir?iv_url=http://ivillage.waidev5.com/electrolux/site/index.php?page=photos&id=52280

All About Garden Sheds

Garden Shed – Start to Finish, originally uploaded by C r u s a d e r.

How cool is this time lapse project photo sequence? I found it on flickr from Crusader, and it is listed as a favorite by many.

A story I wrote about sheds ran on the front of yesterday’s Home section.

Sheds in a nutshell:

• Be aware of city codes and permit requirements when you build.
• Avoid the big box hardware store sheds – you can get a better shed for the same money from a shed builder, at least around Dallas. That’s because custom ones have better overhangs and welded steel frames.
• You can double your space for not much extra by building a “shed attic,” which is exactly what it sounds like, a second level.
• Cedar of course looks best but costs more.

Crazy Compost Video

I couldn’t resist creeping everyone out with this nutty video I saw posted on a blog called The Compost Bin. It made me want to paint a tongue and some monster eyes on my tumbler!

It also made me ponder this … what’s the largest thing I’ve ever composted? I believe it must be a whole acorn squash that never made it to the table. It went into the tumbler for quick(er) turnaround than my pile.

What’s the biggest or weirdest thing you’ve ever composted?

First Tomato, Plus Some Veggie Photo Tips

Husky Red Cherry Tomato, originally uploaded by espeedy123.

The first ripe tomato has officially arrived! It’s a husky red cherry, born on Sunday morning. It weighed ….. just kidding, but I do call them plant babies.

My veggie-mama joy at the garden progress will soon be crushed when I have to pull out at least one and maybe two of the squash plants — they are simply too large for their spots and aren’t climbing the trellis the way I’d intended. They are choking out a bunch of other stuff. A fatal error on my part was not putting them on the edges of the raised bed so they could trail off.

Also just in time for first harvests: here’s a story from a NY newspaper with tips for photographing your hard-won vegetable treasures.

Why You Should Vacuum Your Fridge Coils

Under the Fridge – Eeew!, originally uploaded by espeedy123.

Doesn’t this picture say it all?

Yes, that’s my fridge.

I bought a new Miele canister vacuum this week. I’ve been vacuuming all sorts of odd dirty things — vent covers, ceiling corners, that little utensil tray in your kitchen drawer that gets crumbs in it that I’m too lazy to dump out completely …

But nothing comes close to the pure grime I found on these fridge coils!! I think our house is generally pretty clean, and we don’t have any pets, so I had no idea this would be so gross!

Removing this gunk is supposed to increase the efficiency of the fridge condenser, resulting in greater electrical efficiency. So let my photo be a reminder to all that if you’re feeling a little OCD-ish, this is a satisfying and Earth-friendly task.

If you too decide to do this, email me your dirty coil photo and I’ll post it. 😉

Veggie Tales

There’s nothing better than a few good before-and-after photos to show progress.  I suppose in the garden it’s more like a neverending movie than before-and-after, since the plants are always changing.

Scene: Girl builds box…

She fills it with soil and plants…

The plants become snobby and won’t drink tap. She gives them a rain tank, and a trellis to climb on.

The beans …

… and cukes …

… and baby tomatoes …

… and the solitary pepper …

… wonder why THE ZUCCHINI AND SQUASH ARE SUCH SPACE HOGS!!!

Girl ponders the leaves-as-big-as-her-head and wishes she’d stuck the big suckers on the ends. She begins to doubt the wisdom of her square-food-gardening book.

Live and learn, and tie them up with a bunch of string. Reconsult that book. The veggie garden goes on another day.