DIY Solar Project - Portable Water Pump - Part One - Basic Planning

The practical application of your knowledge should be the goal of any DIY project you may decide to undertake. A DIY project can be a simple solution to a major problem. If you just give it some careful thought and a little basic planning, you can find a solution that will solve the problem.

 Mrs. RW had a big problem in getting water from our rain barrels to her plants. With numerous rain barrels (and plants) in different places and spread out over a couple of acres, Mrs. RW needed some way to get the rain water that was collected to her plants without having to pack a jug or bucket. The solution was fairly simple. A portable water pump was needed to move the rainwater to the plants.

Building a DIY Portable Water Pump - Basic Planning

1. Choosing a Portable Platform

A decision was made to use a Stanley Mobile Work Center for the platform to build a portable water pump. It was fairly inexpensive and cheap enough to scrap the whole thing if the project went south. This is the case in many instances in my DIY projects and more often than you might think. It also offered a large storage bin that would be ideal to house a battery that would be needed to run the pump and it also had a folding handle that would also work great for this DIY project. The top toolbox also offered a decent amount of storage. Although the sliding door to the bin sometimes comes off its track, the door is easy enough to put back on its track. It has wheels and a fairly strong axle to accommodate the weight of any items stored in the bin and the tool box. The next step is choosing a power source.

2. Choosing a Portable Power Source

Any portable water pump is going to need a power source and grid plugs and gasoline aren’t always available. Consider that a good grid-powered water pump can cost upwards of $150 and one powered by a two or four cycle engine can cost several hundred dollars or more. This made the decision to use 12 volt power easy. The problem would be keeping the battery or batteries charged. Since the pump’s primary use would be in the daytime, a little solar action would take care of keeping the batteries charged.

Several battery options were considered. When a large deep cycle battery (24 series) wouldn’t fit and was way too heavy for the toolbox, a smaller and lighter battery option was needed. Four 6 volt / 13 Amp Hour AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries were purchased on special for less than $60. This solved the problem as far as powering the portable pump. Using a couple of 12 volt (2.5 watt) solar panels that were purchased for less than $10 each would solve the problem of keeping the batteries charged. A solar charge controller would also be needed to protect the batteries from being overcharged and to regulate the load that would be placed on the batteries.

3. Choosing a Portable Water Pump

Several features were going to be needed for our portable water pump to get the maximum use and benefit out of a portable system. A 12 volt water pump with a flow rate of 1.2 GPH (gallons per hour) with a pressure of 35 PSI was decided as the best option. The pump would also need to be lightweight and with a very minimal current draw to prevent exceeding battery capacity. It also needed to be cost effective and allow for the maximum size possible for our toolbox platform.

Suction and discharge hoses can also take up a lot of space and greatly increase the weight factor. The size of the discharge and suction ports on the water pump should be a major factor when choosing a pump. The pump in this case had 3/8 inch ports which were suitable for this application.

4. Choosing Accessories

There are also additional accessories that may be needed in order to minimize any problems with your portable water pump. Some are required for safe and efficient operation. Others are optional and can be used or not used depending upon personal preferences. Fuses, switches, disconnects and battery monitors are just some of the items that are required for a safely functioning system.

With a platform, water pump, power source and the accessories chosen, the only thing left was to put all the pieces together and hopefully end up with what should be an extremely versatile and useful piece of equipment.

In Part Two, the actual details of building the portable water pump will be outlined. The manner in which problems were handled and the solutions that were chosen to deal with the problems encountered during the build process will also be covered.

Got pumping power?

Staying above the water pumping line!

                                                                                       

Riverwalker

Computers, Coops and Chicks

Things have been pretty busy this last week. Lots of computer issues that finally got resolved. There was a problem with my ISP for several days but that’s fixed now that the server of my ISP is working properly. Mrs. RW also has quite a few new additions to the flock and is going to need a bigger chicken coop. One more thing on my to do list.

This is also going to be a great project for me to show everyone some tips on building a lightweight but strong coop for your chickens. There was only enough time to build the coop gate today. We have a big family get-together planned for Easter Sunday and there are beans to cook and guns to clean. The plan is to do a little plinking with the twelve gauge. Now it's time to get back to the coop building.

The first tip for building a strong but lightweight chicken coop is to use what I call the sandwich technique. Simply put, you just sandwich your wire between your boards (1X2's). This makes it stronger and there’s less chance of a possum or coon getting in your coop...which it seems we have more than our share of both. The wire is almost impossible for them to pull apart when fastened to your framework in this manner. In this case, I’m using welded wire fabric with the small squares (1/2 inch) to attach to the framework.

I’ll include some later updates as the coop begins to take shape.

Have a Happy Easter!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

We have a composting book winner!

We have a winner! A lucky reader has won a free copy of The Mini Farming Guide to Composting: Self-Sufficiency from Your Kitchen to Your Backyard. Here is the winning comment:

TMM said...

I tried composting, I built one of those rotating barrels out of a 55 gal plastic barrel. Spent hours making that thing. even had an aeration tube down the center and all. Put all the clippings in it, rotated it regularly.. and after an entire year, I had stinky mushy clippings... 

Then I did the metal can in the ground with holes for worms to go in and out.. tossed in the kitchen scraps for a few months and then let it sit for a year.... ended up with stinky mushy kitchen scraps! 

Guess composting is not my specialty :(

March 5, 2013 at 9:27 AM

TMM please send me your shipping address via email to riverwalker_texas@yahoo.com

and your free copy of The Mini Farming Guide to Composting: Self-Sufficiency from Your Kitchen to Your Backyard will be sent to you direct from the publisher.

Please respond within 72 hours to receive your prize or an alternate winner will be chosen.

Congratulations to TMM.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker’s Book Review and Bonus Giveaway - The MiniFARMING Guide to Composting

Probably one of the least understood things when it comes to gardening is being able to make compost. Knowing a few basic techniques can help you enrich your gardening experience and make your plants a lot happier. Brett Markham in The Mini Farming Guide to Composting: Self-Sufficiency from Your Kitchen to Your Backyard can help you achieve your goal of better gardening through the use of composting.

While not a technical manual on composting, Markham manages to provide a basic and simple understanding of what is required to be successful when composting. He also provides an explanation of several ways to make a compost bin including a simple plan using a five gallon bucket to make a small composting bin. This would even be a great project that would allow urban dwellers with minimum amounts of space to benefit from composting as well. He also gives very good instructions on how to make compost tea in simple and easy to understand terms. Just don’t use one of your wife’s good pillowcases or you could wind up in the doghouse.

Even if you are an experienced gardener, there are numerous tips and tricks throughout his book that can help make your gardening efforts more successful through the use of proper composting techniques. A little compost can go a long way in making your gardening efforts a success.

As an added bonus, one lucky reader will win a free copy of The Mini Farming Guide to Composting: Self-Sufficiency from Your Kitchen to Your Backyard. Just leave a comment telling us of your composting experience. Feel free to include any tips or tricks you think others may find useful. A winner will be chosen at random on March 15th and the winner will receive their free book directly from the publisher.

You might also want to check out Brett Markham’s other books including Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre.

Got compost?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Backyard Bushcraft - Apex Predator of the Insect World - Hippodamia Convergens

Ladybugs are one of the most commonly recognized of all the beneficial insects and are considered an apex predator in the insect world. They have few natural enemies other than the carpet beetle and have an excellent defense mechanism. They can be a gardener’s best friend and an ally in controlling other insect populations.

Ladybugs have a voracious appetite for aphids and will consume a large amount of aphids during their lifetime. Ladybugs also eat a wide variety of other insects as well. They are beneficial in controlling chinch bugs, whiteflies, mites and other soft-bodied insects and larvae. This can help to reduce your reliance on chemical pest control methods in the garden.

Ladybugs also produce an offensive odor for repelling predators through a process which is sometimes called “reflexive bleeding”. They can actually exude small amounts of blood which contains a toxic alkaloid. They are also brightly colored in a manner that also helps to deter predators. There offensive smell normally doesn’t affect humans.

It’s also important to remember that ladybugs do not feed on wooden structures or any type of stored food products.

Got ladybugs?

Riverwalker

Mrs. RW's Potatoes from the Garden

Mrs. RW recently harvested a couple of rows of potatoes from the garden. She said it was comforting to know that she could at least grow a little something to eat. She usually grows a couple of different types of potatoes for variety. She's also starting to harvest a few ears of corn from the garden but usually tries to pick the ears of corn straight off the stalk before a meal.

Gardening is one of Mrs. RW's best survival skills. 

Got potatoes from the garden?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Mrs. RW's Flower Pics - Day Lily

Day Lily

Here's a high resolution pic of another one of Mrs. RW's flowers. She works very hard to keep her garden and her yard looking its best. She's extremely proud of both. 

It's also a great opportunity for me to practice my camera skills. Enjoy the pic!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Mrs. RW's Flower Pics

Rose of Sharon

Mrs. RW thought it was about time to post a picture of some of her flowers. She's got a couple of green thumbs and can grow just about anything. Although there can be danger in nature, there can also be a quiet beauty that is unmatched by anything man can create. 

Got quiet beauty?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Homesteading Information - Identifying Caterpillars in Field, Forage and Horticultural Crops

One of the major factors that can affect your garden is the little pests that invade your gardens. They can totally devastate your crops and ruin the yield you may obtain from your garden. It is also important to remember that many of them are also toxic and can cause severe bites or irritating skin conditions if you aren’t careful to use gloves or other means of protection to avoid inadvertent contact.

Not only can they damage your crops but they can damage you as well. It helps to be well informed as to what these pests look like and the dangers they may pose to avoid an unpleasant situation.

The hickory tussock moth is just one example. It starts its life as a white caterpillar and it has a set of black tufts along the middle of the back. It also has a black head. They normally feed on the leaves of hickory, pecan and ash trees, among others. They are considered venomous and can inflict a painful rash if they are improperly handled.

Staying well-informed about the pests that can affect both you and your garden will help you to maintain more control over your garden and its yield. It will also help you avoid those “unpleasant situations” when you come into contact with these pests in your garden.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension Service has an excellent brochure entitled

 “Identifying Caterpillars in Field, Forage and Horticultural Crops”

It is available for download at this link:

http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1121/ANR-1121.pdf

You can also view the most dangerous caterpillars at this link:

The Twenty Most Toxic Caterpillars

Information is always a critical part of survival and should be given a priority status in your planning.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Super Foods - Cucumbers

Cucumbers are a member of the gourd family and are also considered a fruit.  Cucumbers are quite easy to grow, can be eaten raw as a snack by themselves, on sandwiches or in salads and are easily canned for long term storage.  Cucumbers have many beneficial qualities that put them in the class of survival super foods.

Cucumbers contain the vitamins A and C, have high fiber content and also contain the minerals magnesium and potassium.  Cucumbers also have a very high water content which makes them important as a food source that will help keep the body properly hydrated. Cucumbers also contain silica. This is an important factor in maintaining healthy muscle and cartilage.

Cucumbers are very sensitive to heat and should be stored in a refrigerator in either a sealed container or tightly wrapped to preserve their freshness. When properly canned and pickled, they can last a very long time.

Cucumbers have many qualities that make them a survival super food.

1. They can be eaten raw and require no cooking.

2. They have a high fiber and water content.

3. They are excellent for long term food storage when properly processed.

4. They have excellent vitamin and mineral content.

5. They are easily grown in a small garden.

Got cucumbers?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker’s Book Review - The Homesteading Handbook

The Homesteading Handbook by Abigail Gehring is a basic guide suitable for those wishing to become more self-reliant and pursue a simpler lifestyle by developing homesteading skills. The book has an extensive section on home canning and an equally impressive amount on gardening. Growing your own food and being able to preserve it is a major part of homesteading. There is also adequate information for the novice included in this book. It also includes information on a wide variety of topics and subjects that can be of interest to the person new to or currently involved in homesteading.

Even if you’re just looking to save some money by growing and preserving your own food, this guide will help you achieve that goal. If you are looking for ideas about alternative energy projects, tips on raising chickens, building sheds and fences or a variety of other homesteading projects, you can find worthwhile information in this guide. It can most definitely help you learn how to live off the land.

The Homesteading Handbook covers just about everything that is homestead related. While detailed information on many of the topics is somewhat limited, it has enough information to properly steer your homesteading efforts in the direction you wish to go. It’s a fantastic beginner’s homesteading guide that can get you started on a path to being more self-reliant. This guide was very informative on the subject of modern day homesteading and covers a multitude of topics in a very simple and easy to read format at a reasonable price.

The Homesteading Handbook is available here:

The Homesteading Handbook: A Back to Basics Guide to Growing Your Own Food, Canning, Keeping Chickens, Generating Your Own Energy, Crafting, Herbal Medicine, and More (Back to Basics Guides)

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Gardening - The Ultimate Food Storage Backup

Shallots from the Garden

The importance of gardening is sometimes overlooked when considering a long term food storage plan. The ability to grow your own food will ultimately make your ability to provide a true long term food source for your family a reality.

Gardening does require a lot of more effort on your part and presents challenges that will test your skills in self reliance. The rewards for your efforts are well worth the time and effort it requires. Nothing tastes quite like fresh vegetables from the garden.

While it may seem easier to stack cans of food on a shelf, you will eventually need to acquire gardening skills to be fully self reliant. When the stores in your pantry start to diminish, you will have the knowledge and ability to restore your pantry without a trip to the grocery store.

There are some limitations on gardening depending upon where you live. The different types of soil and weather conditions will play a large part in which direction your gardening efforts should take. You will need to learn what will grow and when according to the conditions in your area. You can then focus your efforts to take advantage of these conditions for your maximum benefit.

One of the easiest ways to get started with gardening is by learning from your friends, neighbors and relatives. Most will readily share their experiences. You will be able to learn quickly what plants are successful and which ones will most likely be doomed to failure before you even start. You can also learn the best times of the year to plant and what can be done to improve or maintain your soil to get the maximum production from your garden. There is no need to re-invent the wheel when it comes to gardening.

Another advantage that comes from developing your garden skills is the barter factor. Fresh garden produce is one of the easiest items to barter. If you get to the point where you start to experience real success in your gardening, the extra foods items that can be traded for other items you may need. You can trade food for just about anything from anybody. If they’re a little hungry at the time, it’s even easier.

Gardening will also allow you the opportunity to “customize” your food storage to fit your family’s needs. You can concentrate your efforts on food items that grow easily in your area that your family enjoys eating and that are easy to preserve for future use.

Got food with dirt on it for backup?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Shallots in the Garden

Shallots  usually have a very mild taste that combines the flavor of a sweet onion with a hint of garlic type flavor. While often mistakenly considered just another variety of onion, shallots are actually a separate species of onion plant that is characterized by the fact they actually grow in clusters.

They are great to eat all by themselves.


Salad and an appetizer all in one!

Got greens in the garden?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Stealth Gardening - How to EAT in a SHTF World

Please, Please, Please, do NOT take this article as a general assumption, just as my thoughts on long term planning! I've seen so many posts claiming that many preppers have 500 pounds of rice, wheat and beans or whatever...when it’s all gone, then what? Sure, you may have a year or more supply of basic food staples but let's look at the big picture.

Let's assume there are 3 different types of gun owners. Type A just bought a big black nasty gun, assumes he can kill anything, but never goes to the range. Type B bought a big black gun, but only goes to the range every 6 months. Type C, well he has a gun for every critter on earth and goes shooting every weekend!

    

 In a SHTF scenario, Type A will just scare off the game, type B may get a few, and type C will get the leftovers...not a good plan!!!

Based on the previous assumption that you have 500 pounds of each food staple....have you ever loaded it to bug out? We're just talking the dry stuff, not the camping gear, generator, solar panels, propane, fuel, etc. I drive a 1 ton dually and there would not be room for 30 or more 5 gallon buckets in it, much less the camping gear! So, unless you own a U-Haul or some other kind of big trailer, your stuff just won't fit in there!

   Don't plan on hunting once you get to your bug out spot either, as everyone else will have the same plan because they will be starving for food also. And if you are lucky enough to have a few acres to garden, the zombies will try to take anything halfway ripe. Anything that looks like a plowed field or a garden is an open invitation to be raided.

So, how do we make a garden that won't be raided by zombies??

Plant things they won't see!

Everyone knows what a tomato plant or corn looks like. Any bright color plant will get attention. A green pepper is less likely to be seen than a red pepper, a tomatilla (green tomato) will hide nicely...peas and beans 50 feet away from a trail won't draw attention. Maybe you could use something like an old badminton net for a lattice for the beans or peas to grow on or to camouflage the tomatoes? Think eggplant, potato, carrot....how many non-preppers could spot a potato or carrot top? Root veggies keep better and are never seen by most. If you stumbled across a patch of dandelions, you would know they are edible but would anybody else? The leaves are edible and the roots can be cooked like carrots!

So, in general...my concept of “Stealth” gardening is... the less obvious, the better!

Dean in AZ

Thanks Dean for a great guest post.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Basic Prepping - Buying in Bulk

When it comes to finding bargains, buying in bulk quantities can quite often save you a lot of money. There are a lot of bargains around and all you really have to do is keep an eye out for them. Sometimes special circumstances will give you the opportunity to find a real bargain...even during a drought.

Mrs. RW realized real quick that with the current drought conditions we are experiencing it’s been a big job to keep up with her plants. She’s also been checking the plant nurseries in our area on a regular basis and some really good bargains have shown up. With the current drought conditions, many plant nurseries have been selling a lot of inventory real cheap...many times at cost or even less.

As an example, Mrs. RW recently bought a lot of potting soil (a whole pallet) for a bargain price. The price was way below normal and had to have been at cost or maybe even slightly below cost.

Unfortunately, when she walked into the house  and asked if we had a forklift available my answer was “Why?”

Got forklift?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

   

Grasshoppers and Gardens

With the drought conditions affecting Texas, grasshoppers can become a big problem. While there are really no effective means to treat an infestation of grasshoppers, there are a few simple things that can be done to help minimize their impact on your yard and garden. Here are a few simple tips that may help you.




1. Provide a natural food source for the grasshoppers.


In periods of excessive drought, there won't be as much grass as normal. As a result of a lack of sufficient food sources, grasshoppers will start to look for greener pastures like your garden. Grasshoppers actually don't prefer to eat your garden plants, especially tomatoes and squash.
Keep the grass in border areas around your garden green. Grasshoppers will not move into your garden as quickly. The tall grass will provide food and shelter for the grasshoppers. By not mowing these areas it will slow down the movement of grasshoppers into your yard and garden.


2. Plant items that attract natural predators.

Plant flowers such as marigolds or sunflower daisies which will attract robber flies. Robber flies will feast happily on all the grasshoppers in your yard but won't bother the plants in your garden. Robber flies are a natural predator of grasshoppers and enticing a few to make a home in your yard will help.

3. Provide a water source for birds.

Providing bird baths or water fountains for the birds in your yard will attract another natural predator of grasshoppers. Birds are pretty smart and will realize quickly that a source of water also means there will be food (i.e., grasshoppers) in the area. 

Got grasshoppers?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Seeds for Survival - The Emergency Seed Bank

True self reliance relies on a very important factor...sustainability. Gardening is one of the best ways to maintain a sustainable supply of food for a number of years. Having a supply of seeds for your garden will help you maintain a supply of food that will be essential to your long term survival.

One of the best solutions for maintaining a sustainable supply of food is gardening. The basic requirement for a garden is having plenty of seeds available. One of the best ways to achieve this is with a supply of seeds in an Emergency Seed Bank .

An Emergency Seed Bank can provide you with everything you need to keep your gardening efforts sustainable for a long period of time. It has all the important qualities necessary in a seed bank required for growing a sustainable garden for your survival.

One of the basic requirements for any seed bank is protection. This seed bank is packaged in a compact storage case that is 6” High x 8” Wide x 14” Long and doesn’t require a large amount of storage space. Storage space can be critical and being very compact is a definite plus. It is also water-tight and offers the added feature of lockable storage to provide additional protection and security for your seeds.

Another basic requirement is a wide variety of seeds to fit your needs. With a numerous variety of seeds, you can plant a garden that will provide the variety of food necessary for maintaining proper nutrition and healthy food for your family. This seed bank also offers high quality seeds that are non-genetically modified and are non-hybrid heirloom varieties.

Proper labeling of the seed packets is also a basic requirement and this seed bank satisfies that requirement nicely. With clear and definitive labeling on the package, you will have no problems in this area and will be able to keep track of the types and kinds of seeds in your seed bank. The packaging also provides the best storage possible for your seeds to maintain their viability and also offers the option of being re-sealable even after being opened. There won’t be any need to re-package your seeds once they have been opened.

Cost is another important quality when considering a seed bank and Mrs. RW checked out this department and being the ever so reliable family accountant gave this package a green “thumbs up” when it comes to value for your money. 

Almost as important as the seeds are the instructions necessary to plant and save your seeds successfully. Not everyone has a green thumb and having guides to help you achieve success with your gardening efforts is a big plus in any situation. This seed bank also includes a Growing Guide and a Seed Saving Guide. A definite requirement if you don’t have a green thumb.

With value for your money, secure and protected seed storage in a compact package, a wide variety of seeds in a more than adequate quantity and a capability of supplying the nutritional needs for you and your family, makes this seed bank an excellent addition to the basic items needed to make your survival gardening efforts a success.


There is only one negative thing that was experienced with this seed bank. Mrs. RW is now looking at my ammo storage boxes in a whole new light. Looks like there will be a definite need for more ammo boxes to keep her from confiscating mine for her own use.

Your long term survival will require long term solutions and having an Emergency Seed Bank will help you achieve that goal.

Got Emergency Seed Bank?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Mrs. RW’s Survival Cooking Tips - Tip #3 - Grilling Green Tomatoes

  

Fried green tomatoes are a traditional use for all those extra green tomatoes you may wind up with due to a bumper crop of tomatoes or if you get close to the end of your growing season. Don’t limit your options if this is the case. Green tomatoes can also be used in different recipes to prepare a number of very tasty items.

One of the easiest things you can do with green tomatoes is to cook them on your grill or smoker barrel. This will give you a great way to prepare all those extra green tomatoes. Simply core them and remove the pulp and seeds, stuff them with some cream cheese and then wrap them with bacon. Grill them until the tomatoes are tender and the bacon is slightly crispy. These make a great side dish for your meal or as an appetizer for those that can’t wait for the rest of the meal to be prepared. This is similar to the way jalapenos are quite frequently cooked.

Got grilled green tomatoes?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Stealth Gardening - Hiding Your Garden in Plain Sight

Gardening is a great way to supplement your food supply. Unfortunately, having a big garden in the middle of your backyard may act as a beacon during a crisis. It will immediately get the attention of those who failed to put forth the effort and the time required for a garden. If they find themselves needing a food source, they will look at your garden as the answers to their problems. There is a simple way to minimize this problem.

The presence of decorative and ornamental plants is a common sight most everywhere and few people look beyond the pretty flowers. This is where you can put a little “stealth gardening” into action.

If you don’t have a fence or other barrier to help, you can simply add a garden plant here and there to your regular flower beds. The blooms from your vegetable plants will blend in with your flowering plants and still look quite normal and not be readily apparent to those who may be looking in your direction.

If you’ve got a solid wooden fence, this won’t normally be a problem since most of your yard is already hidden from view. It won’t hurt to put a few garden plants along the fence where they may be not so visible.

If you have a chain link fence, simply plant your garden on the backside of your fence line so as to hide your garden plants from normal view. Those persons passing by will only see the shrubs and plants you allow them to see. On the front side of your fence are your pretty flowering plants and on the backside of your fence are your garden plants.

Try to match your garden plants where they will be hidden by your ornamental plants. Low growing shrubs and hedges can be complemented with things like squash or zucchini plants, while taller shrubs and hedges can be used to hide plants like tomatoes or okra. Plants like beans or cucumbers can be allowed to vine along your fence line which will give them extra support.

Got garden in plain sight?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Garden Treasure

Sometimes you find more than weeds in your garden...


Staying above the water line!


Riverwalker