Self-Watering Planters: Construction and Instructions for use

MATERIALS:
2  Buckets (5gal)
1  Corrugated drain pipe (length: one rib longer than the distance between the bottom of the top bucket and the bottom of the bottom bucket)
1  PVC pipe (length: from the bottom of the bottom bucket to about an inch above the top bucket. Cut a diagonal section off of one end.)
1  Garbage Bag with drawstrings (bottom cut off, leaving only 12 inches from the top.)
1 Rubber Band (Large or very stretchy)


CONSTRUCTION:
1. Drill holes in columns down the drain pipe, skipping every other rib, keeping columns 2-3 inches apart.
2. Drill two drainage holes in the bottom bucket a little below where the bottom of the top bucket will be.
3. Drill lots of holes in the top bucket and cut out holes for the PVC and the drain pipe. (Make the drain pipe's hole a little too small)
4. Cut a 2 inch line extending from the larger hole.
5. Flip bucket upside down. Push the drain pipe under one of the flaps until the top rib is caught under it. Twist the pipe towards the flap until the entire top rib is caught under the plastic.
6. Put top bucket inside of the bottom bucket. Slide the PVC pipe into its hole diagonal end down.
7. Pull the strings of the garbage bag closed. Fit the open end around the lip of the top bucket and secure with rubber band.
8. Open up the mouth of the garbage bag all the way and fold it down the side of the bucket.




     As a part of my project to promote self-reliance and combat poverty, I am building and distributing Self Watering Planters. Growing a successful garden requires us to take initiative, and as we tend to our plants' needs we increase in responsibility. My hope is that the positive results of people's gardens will help them in some small way to believe that the power is in them to act for themselves and fulfill their dreams. If we can get more people to increase in responsibility and self-reliance we will help our communities become more industrious and prosperous. When our communities act on principls of hard work and self-reliance not only will individuals and families be better prepared to provide for themselves, but businesses will also flourish better because of a die-hard and forward-thinking spirit. Unfortunately, even this will only help ease the recession a little bit; you see, a great problem is that power hungry federal and state governments as well as controlling unions have so many regulations, restrictions and taxes imposed that those businesses that do well are unable to prosper. This means more in layoffs, more in prices, less in salaries and less in food on the table. What I ultimately want to do is convince people that we don't need so many interferences from meddling governments and unions because we can take care of ourselves. I believe that laws are needed to preserve freedom, or to allow every person to do their own things their own way so long as that way does not infringe on the rights of others. I believe that an individual is better equipped to preside over his own needs and industry than anyone else, and therefore we need to get rid of those grasping government regulations that oppress individuals' freedom and agency.
          The bottom line is that freedom is good. As Joshua says in Joshua 24:15: "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." God delights in liberty; there is evidence of this all throughout His holy scriptures. I believe that as we learn to use our liberty wisely and as we increase those skills and means God has given us we are better able to serve the Lord. This is why I am doing this Self-Reliance project.