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Articles by Douglas Hoover

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31 articles by Douglas Hoover · showing 31

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By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Fountains May Not Be Forever

After retiring from 30 years of designing and building well over two thousand waterfalls and fountains I have come to the conclusion that fountains are not everything that they seem or appear to be. Yes, most are elegant, charming, ornate, tranquil, appealing, relaxing, soothing, stress relieving and somewhat enticing. However, there is a darker side to fountain ownership. In this article I will teach you how to turn a fountain nightmare into an aquatic dream come true.

Primary topic: Gardening

1,565 views3/5 (2)

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

What is Solar Food Dehydration?

Raisins are undoubtedly the most common examples of dehydrated food sold and consumed around the world. Other common popular dried fruits are figs, dates, prunes, apricots, bananas, papaya, mango and the crispy, savory banana chips. Even though these foods change appearance in their texture and in some cases color after dehydrating, they remain very flavorful and retain their nutritional value. The most significant change is in size and weight resulting from the removal of water from the food through the application of dry heat in the dehydration process.

Primary topic: Gardening

1,515 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Concrete Ponds and Freezing Climates

The pond liner advocates have maligned concrete constructed ponds and waterfalls for years by making spurious claims that concrete will crack and not hold up over time or in cold freezing climates. This article will expose this fallacy for what it really is and explain the facts about the differences between the rubber liners versus concrete and rebar construction.

Primary topic: Gardening

4,306 views3/5 (1)

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Ponds & Waterfalls - Water Living

We can't live without it. Water is the very source of life That is why we are so strongly attracted to it. Maybe because we cannot live more than a few days without water, we want to have it close by. Most people would like to live next to it, whether in the form of a stream, river, lake or ocean.

Primary topic: Gardening

1,577 views4/5 (1)

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

What Is A Solar Oven?

I saw my first solar oven a year ago. My first reaction was amazement and general disbelief that a box with attached shiny reflectors could capture enough sunshine to develop a cooking temperature of 350 degrees inside the 19 inch square box and maintain it all day long by simply shifting its position to the sun every hour or so. The person demonstrating the cooking power of the sun actually cooked a five pound chicken with potatoes, onions and carrots in just one and a half hours.

Primary topic: Gardening

980 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Pond Construction -Liners vs. Concrete

Many people are still searching the internet for information on how to build a waterfall or koi pond. Unfortunately, there is very little information regarding professional construction. There are thousands of websites involved in marketing pond products to uninformed and unsuspecting customers.

Primary topic: Gardening

1,752 views5/5 (1)

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Water Leveler Devices - Water Level Controllers

Whether you sell pond or pool equipment or are in the market for a water leveler for maintaining the level of water in your pool, pond, fountain, hot tub or water garden, here are some important facts that could eventually save you both time and money.

Primary topic: Gardening

1,070 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Koi Pond - Liners vs. Professional Construction

Why is there so much talk about pond liners? Which ones are UV protected, or stronger, or last longer? I am by no means an expert on liner technology, nor have I ever used them in my 26 years of designing and building waterfalls. If you're a "liner guy" disciple, I'm sure you're thinking, "Oh no, here he goes." To tell the truth, I have been minding by own business for over two decades, just watching, reading and listening to all the "experts."

Primary topic: Gardening

3,965 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Koi Pond - Which Pump to Use

When I started in the waterfall and pond design & construction business in January of 1982, I was asking the same question. I had a slight advantage over most when it came to answering the question, "Which pump do I use?" I came out of the energy conservation field, so I was already savvy about energy consumption topics.

Primary topic: Gardening

1,276 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Survival Kit - Everyone Should Own One

What is a survival kit? It is simply a kit that contains necessary items to help you survive. Primarily food and water would be at the top of the list. You can survive five to six days without food, a flashlight or toilet paper, but try to survive without water. In a natural or man-made disaster, each of us has a somewhat different list of priority or essential items. Included in a woman's list, you may find makeup in the top ten items.

Primary topic: Gardening

1,735 views5/5 (1)

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Ponds & Waterfalls - Layout & Excavation

First of all: know what you want. If you need some ideas, visit the library or your local book store and browse through landscape books, garden and pond magazines. You can also search the web and read and study as much as possible.

Primary topic: Gardening

1,589 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Koi Pond or Pondless Waterfall - Where Do I Begin?

1. Have you thought about A Water Feature?-- Is it true that a water feature will add equity to my home? What about a swimming pool? Doesn't a pond require a lot of upkeep? What is the average cost? Do I need a building permit? Do I have to have fish? ...we travel a lot! According to the American Society of Landscape Architects, Landscape Architects Identify Trends for 2007:

Primary topic: Gardening

1,584 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Fountain Water Level Controller

You ask, what is a fountain water level controller? It is a device that controls the level of water in a fountain. If you own a fountain or are thinking of getting one in the future or have a friend or family member who owns one, you need to read this article.

Primary topic: Gardening

4,122 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

The Best Solar Sun Oven

If you have not heard of solar or sun cooking and baking, you are in for a pleasant surprise. Cooking with the sun has been around for quite some time. The first documented research and successful results of solar cooking or baking was in 1767 by a French-Swiss physicist, Horace de Saussure.

Primary topic: Gardening

1,093 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Choosing the Right Pond or Pool Water Leveler

When choosing an automatic pond or pool water leveler, you should first realize that there are over 130 water leveling devices on the market today to pick from. There are five very important features to look for. 1. Most of the mechanical water levelers will eventually stick or jam in the open position, allowing for a continuous flow of water resulting in an overflow. Consequently, it is best to choose a non-mechanical float that is not prone to warp, stick, jam, rust or corrode. The least likely autofills are the electronic type such as the Levelor, Pentair, Savio, Jandy or AquaFill.r

Primary topic: Gardening

1,030 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Solar Ovens - Saving Lives

Half the world's population is dependent upon a wood, coal, bark, charcoal, grass or even dried dung for fuel for cooking their daily meals, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). They also report, as a consequence, that we are now losing a staggering 28,000 acres per day in countries like Africa, Asia, Mexico, Central and South America, and India. Countries such as Haiti and Nepal have less than two percent of their original forests remaining.

Primary topic: Gardening

1,306 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Solar Ovens - Chocolate Chip Cookies Are Healthy

Our environment can have as much impact on our health as food and water. Smoking three to four packs of cigarettes a day can totally negate the healthful benefits of a steady diet consisting of organic vegetables, meats, fish, grains and dairy products. There are not enough vitamins, minerals, proteins or carbohydrates in the world to offset the harmful effects of smoking.

Primary topic: Gardening

1,104 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Koi Pond and Waterfall Builders - What You Need to Know

Before installing a water feature you need to ask yourself several important questions first: What is your budget? How much can you spend on the entire project? You could spend $3,000 on a water feature and find out you still need an additional $1,000-1,500 for plants and amenities, such as a deck, gazebo, walkways, fish or landscape lighting in the pond, waterfall and lawn. Other possible extras are a biological filter, auto-fill for pond, skimmer, back-flushable bio-filter, and more.

Primary topic: Gardening

1,657 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Three Reasons Why You Should Not Use a Water Leveler on Your Koi Pond

1. There are well over 130 mechanical water levelers available today, and none of them can be guaranteed not to stick in the closed position. The most common of these are the cheap plastic ball valve usually found in toilet tanks, which are notorious for warping and jamming. There is a more modern version that can have as many as 15 various moving parts that can malfunction, resulting in a continuous flow. Even the more costly brass valves cannot stand up to acidic or corrosive water and over time will corrode and stick.

Primary topic: Gardening

911 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Is It God's Will For Us to Get Sick?

Once we understand where sickness comes from, we can understand why we are able to get rid of it! God's word clearly reveals that both death and sickness originated with sin and are being spread by Satan. Romans 5:12-21 When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. Adam's sin brought death; so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. And though there was no law to break, since it had not yet been given, they all died anyway-even though they did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did.

Primary topic: Gardening

1,824 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Solar Ovens - Which One?

Many people have discovered that solar cooking and baking is more than just a science project or cleaver novelty. Cooking with the sun can be fun, but it can also saves money while decreasing your carbon footprint. Sun ovens use the free unlimited energy of the sun to cook or bake. rather than the normal. Nonrenewable energy resources, such as gas, electric, coal or wood, not only cost money, they all pollute our atmosphere, whereas the sun is free energy and pollution-free.

Primary topic: Gardening

1,071 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Why Build a Koi Pond with Concrete?

Many pond builders have started out in the water garden industry by building ponds the easy way, by using a rubber liner, biofalls, and a sump pump. Many of these landscapers were not informed of what to expect in terms of durability and the longevity of these building materials. Unfortunately, the manufacturers of the pond liners only warranty this material against factory defects. A few years down the road and a few water features under their belts, and the bad news starts trickling in from perplexed or downright irate customers, complaining of losing water from their ponds.

Primary topic: Gardening

2,672 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Solar Dehydrator or Solar Oven?

Which is more versatile, a solar dehydrator or a solar oven? Many solar ovens are sold with the promise that, besides cooking food by the energy of the sun, you can also dehydrate food. I have owned two solar Sun Ovens for almost two years and have cooked every kind of food that I ever cooked in a conventional oven. I discovered that food cooked in a solar oven using the sun's rays tastes better -- moist, not dried out or overcooked if left in for longer than its normal cooking time.

Primary topic: Gardening

1,632 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Pond Design: Digitally Design Masterpieces - Virtual Water Features Part I

One of the most challenging aspects of designing ponds and waterfalls is trying to convey my ideas to my client. Coming up with award-winning pond designs or implementing them using adequate skills and experience is not a problem. My challenge is getting my client to see what I see. Drawing and painting are not my forte; it is next to impossible for me to draw a rock, not to mention water. The hardest part for me is drawing perspective.

Primary topic: Gardening

1,724 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Solar Ovens

What is a solar oven? It is an oven that uses the sun's energy to cook, bake, steam or broil all types of food, from pies, bread, cakes and cookies to barbeque, roasting an 18 pound turkey or pot-roast. Anything that can be cooked or baked in a conventional oven can be cooked or baked by the power of the sun in a sun oven in the same amount of time, if it is a cloud-free day. Sun oven/cookers have been around since the 17th century, and are becoming increasing more popular now for several good reasons. o Solar sun ovens use the free renewable energy of the sun.r

Primary topic: Gardening

1,349 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Pond Liners - 7 Reasons Why I Don't Use Them

1. Liners will eventually leak. Manufacturers have varying warranties, ranging from 15 to 30 years, with a 75-year life expectancy. In reality, it will definitely last as long as the guarantee claims as long as you leave it in the box, and store it in your garage. Once you place it in the ground, nature's forces begin a contest to see which will break its water-tight integrity first. Vying for the title of culprit are gophers, ground squirrels, chipmunks, rats, moles, roots from trees, plants and weeds, sharp rocks, heavy rocks, sharp objects, and moose (if you live in Alaska).

Primary topic: Gardening

1,840 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Tropical Paradise - In Your Back Yard?

If they could afford it, most people would love a vacation in the Hawaiian Islands or the Caribbean. Those who have been fortunate enough to do so wished they could stay. More homeowners are now spending money on home improvement that they may have saved towards expensive vacations or purchasing a second vacation home. The high cost of living and plummeting property values have made investing in their primary residence much more attractive and economical. This means that they plan to stay in their home for some years to come and make improvements to the inside as well as the outside.r

Primary topic: Gardening

1,060 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Solar Oven Cooking & Food Dehydration-DIY Solar Oven Dehydrator Kit

My wife and I have been living full time in a 40-foot motor home for over three years after we sold our house and donated everything to Disabled American Veterans. It has been a ride on the wild side, and part of that ride has been parking, and not always in a camp ground or RV park. If I am parked where there is no access to plug in for shore power, the generator is needed to supply the oven, toaster, microwave etc., including the need to charge the onboard house batteries. Operating the generator four or five times a day for an hour uses diesel and diesel costs even more than gasoline.r

Primary topic: Gardening

2,896 views3.3/5 (3)

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Starvation or Powdered Eggs

Bought any powdered eggs or dehydrated milk lately? Why not? These would be two very useful items on a survivalist’s grocery list, followed by canned meats, flour, wheat, rice, beans, canned cheese and butter, etc. If the answer is no, you are not prepared for survival in an emergency. And if your country experienced a national man-made or natural disaster, you would be one of many wishing that they had purchased not only nonperishable food stuffs but also essential survival items.

Primary topic: Gardening

1,374 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

Automatic Pool Water Levelers

If you are looking for a reliable automatic pool water leveler, I will save you some time and money by sharing a few facts about water levelers. Right out of the gate: Stay away from any auto fill device that hooks up to a garden hose! They are constructed mostly of plastic parts that can and will warp or become brittle from the ultraviolet rays of the sun.

Primary topic: Gardening

2,652 views

By Douglas HooverRecently published1 topic

How Prepared Are You?

Disasters always seem to be happening everywhere else but in our own neighborhood. After a while, we actually start to believe it will never happen here and in my lifetime. Case in point, have you prepared for a natural or man-made disaster or at least even thought about it? Through this article, it is my hope to at least plant a seed of urgency within your mind and help you to take that life-preserving step towards preparedness. Avoid the common responses to disaster uttered by thousands of people after it is too late, “Would have, could have, and should have, only if…”

Primary topic: Gardening

1,685 views

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