Setting up Automatic Watering Systems on a Shoestring

It's hot, it's really hot here in north Texas.

The heat has made it difficult to move along with some of the projects, but is mandating others.

The chickens, ducks, rabbits, and plants all need a lot more water every day. Some inexpensive supplies have been collected from Amazon. Metal watering nipples, some clear plastic hose, T-connectors, and spigots that can be mounted in 5 gallon buckets.

Most of the buckets were collected from nearby restaurants. While 5 gallon buckets are inexpensive at the home improvement stores, "free" is better.

The rabbits have a large barn fan, and the cages are shaded. The quart size watering bottles have been changed out to 2 liter soda bottles, but need to get refilled at least twice a day.

Replacing the water bottles with water lines will allow a couple 5 gallon buckets to ensure the rabbits have plenty of water. Blocks of ice can be added to cool the water and lower heat stress.

The container garden is also showing signs of heat stress! After watering this morning, it was only a few hours before plants were wilting in the Texas heat.

The container garden of a few years ago had a soaker hose laid across the tops of the plant pots. It worked fine in that situation.

However, this time it needs to be a stand alone system. A small submersible water pump has been ordered as well as another 50 feet of clear tubing. Like the soaker hose of the prior garden, the tubing will be laid over the top of the containers. A couple holes will be made with an awl above each plant so a small amount of water can drip. The pump can be adjusted to whatever water flow is necessary, and with a switched plug indoors, can be turned off or on at need.
Cost for both systems is under $90.

The plant pots got moved a little further north in the front yard, so they will have some shade, but where the potting bench got set up was in full sun. The heat this afternoon got to be a bit much. Some more work will get done when it gets shaded again.

Here are the links to what I've used for these projects. Take advantage of my penny-pinching search queen results! (these are Amazon Affiliate links. If you use these links to get your supplies, it helps me - a LOT)

5 gallon bucket spigot
small water pump
rabbit watering nipples

An Announcement From Princess Mocha

I've instructed my servant to change the title of this blog to reflect one of the goals of the farm.

That is; to EARN a living with the activities the human servants perform. I do need to be fed in the way to which I've become accustomed.

The title is now: Art-earnative Life Farm