Isolation Valve

So I'd jump from one need to another, a sort of gardener's multitasking project.LariAnn has been gardening and working with plants since her teenage years growing up in Maryland. How could I just leave them?

The long wand also allows you to water plants at their root zone without bending, crouching or using a stepladder.The rain-like spray can also give plants in very hot locations a cool shower to reduce transpiration and drying out.

Pressurized stem extracts the volatile plant oils. The steam then cools into a liquid that contains both essential oil and the water used to extract it. The oil will rise to the top and you can skim it off and separate it from the distilling water.Put...

But finding this water dispenser has sparked my curiosity to do some research and find out when it might have been made. I discovered of a rusty old object on a rock pile, and it turns out to be a discarded automatic cattle water dispenser.

This was actually a more ideal solution than the plastic coupler because it could go on the waterline wet or dry. Plus, we swear the water pressure is better than ever. I came home from doing some work in town, turned on the faucet to wash my hands, and...

Because the ram pump is losing 80 percent or more of the water it uses onto the ground around the pump, enlist gravel and solid rocks to help stabilize the pump if on a slope so it doesn't erode the ground, or so the pump itself does not slide downhill.

For many people, a hose reel will be what they want, but even narrowing the choice down to a reel still leaves a lot of options. This happens because the amount of friction in such a long hose is great enough to overcome the water pressure, bringing flow...

Beverly and Scott tried several materials looking for something to float inside the sight gauge. Our hose bibb needed a 1” hole drilled. Beverly painted them black or red with a permanent magic marker.All that was left to do was adapt the top to accept...

If you don't have a toolbox for the house, take a few minutes to assemble one. After you run through the tools you may need—as well as supplies like adhesives, extra screws or bolts—pull them together.

Many garden and home-improvement stores offer insulated foam caps for covering outdoor faucets that serve as extra protection for your pipes. Seal air leaks. Protect outdoor faucets.

Towering up to 50 feet tall with bent arms, these plants grow wild only in the Sonoran Desert, where temperatures swing from 134 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade to freezing at night.Saguaros evolved to endure extreme temperatures and little rainfall.With...

If in doubt, let the canner vent a little longer. I thought about my grandma's old rattling canner, though, and I worried that pressure canning might be just as dangerous. Home canning gives you a chance to preserve the bounty of your garden, orchard,...

The birds were let out of the coop automatically in the morning, and the doors shut at sunset with the timing being adjusted depending on the season. You'll only need to refill the rain barrel and—depending on the size of your flock—it requires refilling...

“One of the drawbacks with a market garden is that not all the crops need the same amount of fertilizer or water at the same time. Drip-system costs vary depending on size and water source.

Spigots or standard garden-house connections provide easy access to the stored water. Buy rain barrels with childproof openings, and check rain barrels often to make sure lids are firmly in place.

As a general rule, it's best to limit lengths to 100 feet or less to provide even water distribution. If you're curious about soaker hoses stocked alongside regular hoses in the garden store, take a few minutes to investigate their many benefits.

At least one set of leaves and a bit of stem should stick up above the soil surface. See last week's article, "Seed Starting 101: Hardening Off" for more information.It's much easier to lay soaker hoses across your garden bed now, with no plants to worry...

Snowdrops grow well in a forest soil type, with leaf litter (duff) that never dries up during summer. I've always wanted to have my own snowdrops in my garden. They can be grown in pots too, as long as their growing needs are fulfilled.Snowdrops are native...

It isn't very lady like!Now you are going to begin drilling your holes for the spigot and your overflow or jump valves. Get a fair sized barrel, pictured here are 50 and 60 gallons.Next you will need a drill, something with some power behind it to cut...

Allow these to cool, placing tape over the vent holes, and leave until ready to use.Alternatively, you can place two pounds of moist soil in a polypropylene bag. Close the lid and bring to a boil, leaving it open just enough to prevent pressure from building...

I simply walk over to where I have allowed jewelweed to volunteer, and break off a stalk. The pod itself is actually made up of five valves fused together. This type of preparation is called a succus and can also be created by putting the plant in the...

If you lose the manual, visit the manufacturer's website to download the instructions you need. Use parts that come from the pressure cooker's manufacturer to ensure the proper seal.

Don't omit this step. Botulinum and the other bacteria that contribute to spoilage are easily destroyed when cooked for the right amount of time at 240 to 250 degrees F—the temperature in a properly-regulated pressure canner.

(Photo by Matt Fowler) In southeastern Illinois, the Woods brothers—Elvis, Leo and George—have revived the old sorghum mill their parents operated from 1947 to 1960. Photo by Matt Fowler Sorghum cane is a large cane plant in the grass family.

In either case, after you remove the seeds from the refrigerator, soak them overnight in a hydrogen peroxide solution to kill fungi -- adding 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide to 1 quart of water, along with 1/4 teaspoon of dish detergent to allow the...

(My Weimaraner got bored and deconstructed the other one for me—she's so helpful.) Snuggled in the corner by the back door is our upright freezer, and across from it by the door is a small dresser that houses dog leashes and accessories, flashlights...

Without a doubt she would add crushed mint to the parts of the plant that she boiled, so that the final mixture would smell like mint. The small one seeded fruit is enclosed in three winglike and deeply toothed valves.