GardenFork – Eclectic DIY

Tag: full-image

Electric Clock Repair GF Video

Electric clock repair video I made with my sister. She bought an Empire style electric clock that needed to be rewired, so we made a how-to video on rewiring an electric clock. Make sure the clock is unplugged while you work on it!

When repairing an electric clock, pay attention to whether the old plug is polarized. Polarized plugs have one power lug larger than the other. If so, be sure that the wire from the polarized lug on the new plug attaches to the same place in the clock that the old polarized plug wire did. Its important to pay attention to this detail, it can reduce the risk of shock.

Push Connectors for Electric Clock Repair

We use push connectors to fix this electric clock. I like push connectors because they make stripping the wire insulation unnecessary. All you do is push the ends of the old wire and the new wire into the push connector and press the metal blade down through the wires to make the connection, then close the plastic tab to seal the deal.

This same technique could be used for other electric appliances that need rewiring or new wires. However, make sure these old appliances are OK to use, and are not a fire hazard.

Here is a good book I like if you want to learn basic home wiring:
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Have a question or suggestion or story? Let us know below:

December 26, 2012
How To Install A Dishwasher – GF Video

Learn how to install a dishwasher with this video I made for you. Installing a dishwasher is not hard, nor is it rocket science. If you have to remove an old dishwashwer, see my video on dishwasher removal. The hardest part might be buying a new dishwasher and then reading the installation instructions.

How to install a dishwasher, the GardenFork way

To remove the old dishwasher, you’ll need a screwdriver, a pliers, and an adjustable wrench. Be sure to turn off the water supply and make sure the power to the dishwasher is turned off or disconnected. Most new dishwashers plug into a wall outlet under the sink, older models may be hard wired.

Hard wired means there is that metal cable attached to the dishwasher or it may be what is called Romex, the vinyl covered electrical wiring. Either way, turn off the circuit breaker that the dishwasher power wire is connected to, then disconnect the power wire. Put wire nuts on the bare wires. If the machine is plugged into a wall outlet, usually under the sink, just unplug it. Simple!

One thing to keep in mind: Have a bowl handy, as when removing the hoses, they may need to be drained. You don’t want dishwasher water draining all over the floor.

If the floor has been tiled after the cabinets and original washer was installed, you may have problems getting the old washer out. The new tile floor is higher than the original floor, so the dishwasher can’t slide out.

Make sure the insulation wrapped around the new machine is intact and goes in neatly, this is key to reducing the noise of the washer.

A common misconception I see is people using teflon tape or pipe sealant on the compression fitting from the water supply line. You should not use tape on that joint. You will need to use teflon tape on the right angle fitting that comes out of the dishwasher. See the photo below for how to hook up the water supply line. Make sure the right angle fitting points toward the back of the dishwasher. Remember that the dishwasher is hooked up to the hot water supply.

It helps to have a friend help when figuring out how to install a dishwasher, and remember, if all else fails, read directions.

December 18, 2012
Heirloom Simple Squash Soup Recipe – GF Video

Here’s a simple squash soup recipe that uses heirloom winter squash- Blue Hubbard – instead of the usual Butternut Squash. You can use any type of winter squash in this soup, but we wanted to trumpet the use of more heirloom vegetables in our recipes here.

We grow heirloom and hybrid squash in our neighbor’s field, using the weed stop fabric. We made a how to video about using the weed free plastic gardening mulch, which you can watch here.

Winter Squash are easy to grow. The biggest problem we have with growing squash is the Squash Vine Borer, and we have 2 videos on dealing with them

An organic method to prevent the Squash Vine Borer Video

How to deal with a Squash Vine Borer infestation Video

You can cook winter squash several ways, steaming, frying, baking… I prefer to roast squash. You need to be careful when cutting winter squash, it’s quite dense, and you need a sharp knife. Take care to steady the squash and yourself when cutting it up, if you slip, its a bad thing with a knife.

Baking or roasting squash helps sweeten the flavor of the squash, i think. I split the squash in two, put both halves face up in a pan, and stick in the oven; don’t cover with foil.

Heirloom Simple Squash Soup Recipe
Ingredients
•   1 Heirloom Squash, such as Hubbard
•   1 medium onion, chopped
•   1 small handful sage or thyme or a mix
•   2 cups lowfat milk
Cooking Directions
1. Split the squash in half, scoop out the seeds, place face up in roasting pan and roast for 1 hour at 350 or until squash flesh is soft. you can check this when a knife easily inserts into the flesh.
2. When squash is roasted, put 2 glugs of oil in a dutch oven or deep pot, toss in oinion and cook till just golden and kinda clear
3. Add cooked squash flesh to the pot along with chopped herbs
4. Mash the squash with a potato masher and add some of the milk.
5. You can use a hand blender or masher to cream the squash, adding more milk to get the consistency you want. A blender will work also, but its more messy.
6. Salt and pepper to taste and ladle into individual bowls.
7. You can add in home made croutons, which makes the soup more of a filling meal.

December 13, 2012
Oyster Mushroom Identification, Foraging, Hunting – GF Video

Foraging for Mushrooms this fall, I found a bunch of Oyster Mushrooms, and made this Mushroom Identification Video. Oyster Mushrooms are edible and delicious. They grow on dead or dying trees. The trees can be standing or on their side. I’ve found oyster mushrooms growing out of the ends of cut logs, and the stumps of dead trees.

Oyster mushrooms grow in clusters, and are usually stacked on top of each other, the individual mushrooms are kidney shape. It has gills and doesn’t have much of a stem. Oyster mushrooms are white to tan colored, they are usually darker in color later in the season. The mushrooms in this video were harvested in late November.

When harvesting, I always leave some mushrooms on the tree to allow the mother plant to spread spores to create more mushrooms. So don’t strip a tree of all its mushrooms, you may get a second growth of mushrooms on the same tree, so check back a week later, or after a rain.

Be sure to be very sure what you are doing when foraging for mushrooms! Learn from someone who is a practiced mushroom hunter, or consider taking a class. Do a web search for your state or county or city and “mycological society” and you may find a group offering classes. Also check nearby nature centers.

Click here to see our other mushroom identification posts

Cross check the mushrooms you find with several sources, books are best, I think. I use several books for identifying mushrooms , below are the mushroom identification books I recommend:

Click Here To Buy From IndieBound
Click Here To Buy From Amazon

Click Here To Buy From IndieBound
Click Here To Buy From Amazon

December 6, 2012
Fall Garden Tour 2012 GF Video

GardenFork viewers have asked for a tour of the yard, so we walked around a bit to show you what is going on in the garden and yard and the kitchen, plus of course, the Labradors.

What are you doing in your garden and home? What are you plans for the winter? Lets us know below:

November 17, 2012