Rig up a rain barrel to catch rainwater from your gutters! Try an inexpensive 50-gallon food-grade drum, which you can get from drum and barrel suppliers for around $10. Be sure you get a heavy-grade plastic container that won't let it light, otherwise you might have a nice growth of algae. Attach a spigot to make reclaiming this water that much easier. Then, use that water on thirsty plants and flowers, for hosing off lawn furniture or even for washing your car. A rainfall of just one inch will fill a 75-gallon container, so a little bit goes a long way!

Today we're gonna go outdoors. If you're like me, you're plotting your gardens and your flowers. This year, how about making those areas no-spray zones? Start with disease and pest-resistant plants. You can also repel many pests with homemade concoctions and certain herbs and flowers. Basil, chives, mint, marigolds and chrysanthemums are all good for this. Mix them in among your other plants. Use live traps or barriers to remove pests instead of using chemicals. Buy ladybugs to control aphids. Also, while you're at it, why not try organic compost and mulch to improve soil health, which will also reduce the need for pesticides.