Fixing up rusted iron candle holder

Instead of taking this completely rusted iron candle holder to the metal recycle shop, it now sits on our deck looking quite spiffy.

Just scrub old iron down with a wire brush or steel wool, then wash with warm soaping water. Let dry thoroughly. Finally spray with a rust-resistant paint.

Wah-lah! A beautiful new piece.

Love to hear any quick and easy ideas you have for recycling old material.

DIY Less-Waste Chicken Feeder

Since we got our first batch of baby chicks yesterday, I have chickens on the brain. There's snow on the ground anyway, so gardening is right out.

Ice cube trays are working wonderfully as feeders for the babies, but they'll grow fast and so must their feeder.

RobBob has a wonderful YouTube Video on how to make a feeder.

He lives in Australia, and perhaps plumbing parts are slightly different, but I couldn't find the exact same items at my local Home Depot or Lowes.

While lamenting this fact, a friend asked, "Why don't you just buy a feeder?" Innocent question. Do I really just make life hard as my mother keeps telling me?

Hard . . . I like to think of it as better ;-)

This feeder design, which I can take zero credit for and have to thank RobBob for sharing (and he got it from another guy), limits waste, provides some protection from rain, looks easy to clean, stores lots of food, and well, it's just fun to know you made it!



So here's a version that works with common parts found at local home supply stores with the addition of a tight gasket from L.O.T.U.S.. (If you can't find the gasket, caulk will suffice.)

We used an old 5 gallon bucket to store plenty of feed to allow a weekend away without having to have someone stop over to fill feeders.

Step 1: Drill a hole at the side of the bucket close to the bottom. If using a gasket, push that through now--we used 3" piping and a gasket that worked with that size. You usually can rent a circular bit or in a pinch you could drill pilot holes and saw the opening.

Step 2: Get some 90 degree PVC elbows. We got 3 because we wanted 3 openings for the 1 bucket, which you'll see later. Cut part of one end at an angle--this will create an awning to prevent rain from getting into the feed. Cut the other end (we cut off at least an inch, but it depends on how long of a pipe you can find) so it looks similar to the picture above.

Step 3: The tough part, which I admit Mike, my husband, did, is to push/twist the pipe into the gasket. If I had done it, I would have used coconut oil to make it easier, but perhaps he's more stubborn than me or just wanted the challenge.

Notice how the inside of the pipe is about 1/2" off the bottom of the bucket. You can play with measurements when drilling the hole and cutting the pipe to make sure there's some space for the food to drop into.

Cool thing of this gasket is that the pipe won't twist around. While you could use caulk, it won't last anywhere near as long. RobBob has some suggestions if you don't use a gasket that would be worth checking out.

Step 4: Not sure if we'll need it, but on one of the three pipes we cut a 3" pipe end (for about 30 cents at Lowes) to create a lip. RobBob found this tactic useful in keeping the food from spilling out if you have a particularly messy eater.

Here's the final project:

Will be exciting to see it in action. Now to build a chicken shelter!

Fermented Tea: Kombucha

I've been fermenting various foods for over a year and have had a lot of fun with it. What started for medical reasons has opened up a whole new way of eating and drinking.

Thanks to Mark's Daily Apple I found a method to make fermented tea (Kombucha) that works perfectly almost every time. Yes, I've had to toss a couple of batches, but over 1 1/2 years that's not too shabby.

Today I made two batches using $1 jars from the Science and Surplus store in WI.

Just 1/4 cup of sugar in each jar is plenty for the organisms to feast on during the fermentation process.

2 tea bags per batch. Oolong works the best--I've tried several. Still I like Green Tea, so I'm making one of each. Add 2 1/2 cups of hot water to steep the tea and dissolve the sugar--thus the wooden spoon you see to stir the sugar into the warm water.

I cover it with a cloth to keep dust or bugs out because the next step it to let it cool to room temperature. I don't think the cloth is needed yet, but I use it anyway.

Once the sugary tea is cooled, add 1/2 cup of kombucha--you can buy this at the store and pick the most stringy looking one. I know, I know, sounds gross, but think of all the yummy nutrition you'll be getting!

Also, add one S.C.O.B.Y. (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast).

The real trick is finding or making a S.C.O.B.Y. to add. I made my own (growing it from store bought kombucha), but most folks get one to start from a friend or even craig's list. If you live near me, I'm happy to share.

Here's my collection of S.C.O.B.Y.s. the top one is folded over so you can see it better.

Now all you do is let the magic happen. Cover the jar with a cloth and place it in a dark place, warmer is better. In about 5 days this tasty healthy drink is ready to go.

When I started doing this, I used pH strips to verify the mix was acidic, shooting for lower than 4.0. A sign that it's ready is a second S.C.O.B.Y. will have formed just above the original.

If you're new to this, it'll look odd. Compare to pictures on the internet (or the ones above). If it turns gray on top--definitely mold and that's when it goes down the drain--the whole thing.

Just take the S.C.O.B.Y.s out (with washed hands) and store covered with a little kombucha in the fridge or start another batch right away.

The remaining liquid should taste a bit tart, like vinegar. You can stop the fermenting sooner by removing the S.C.O.B.Y. and refrigerating the liquid for a milder sweeter flavor. I, on the other hand, drink this in part to aid the microbiome in my gut and thus drink it quite strong and acidic.

Storing it in a refrigerated covered jar it'll last for months.

Enjoy and drink up!

Baby Chick Waterer

Saw this idea online for a waterer for chicks. I improvised with what was in the kitchen: matchsticks, plastic lid and glass jar (from olives).

Put some water in the jar and place the lid (or small plate) over the jar top. The key, if the photos don't make it obvious, is to have the lid or plate a bit larger than the jar. Too large and the adorable chicks could drown. Too small and they could not get to the water.

Carefully flip the jar and lid upside down. Yes, I did this over a sink as the first time water poured everywhere. Guess the lesson is hold on tight!

Then to get the water to sneak out of the jar, put some toothpicks between the jar and lid. I didn't have toothpicks, but wooden matches with the ends popped off worked great--I would say even better because they are a bit thicker.

Hoping to get chicks in the upcoming month and we'll see how they like it.