How to Disguise a Septic Tank Opening

If you have a septic tank opening that is obvious to the world, there is an easy way to fix that while still leaving ample space for pumping and maintenance.

• Planter, fiberglass, terracotta or plastic

• Circular, flat item to serve as a table top - a variety of materials will suffice such as glass, metal, plastic, mosaic etc., provided it is outside weatherproof and durable

1. Look for a suitable planter pot in a garden center or hardware store.

You will need a large planter pot, made from a sturdy material such as plastic, fiberglass or terracotta. In the case of plastic and terracotta, be sure to select thick versions that have strong wall sides to the pot.

2. Turn the planter pot upside down over the opening space of the septic tank cover.

It should be evenly placed around the opening so that it is not slanting or sitting on the opening in any way. You may need to build up one side with earth to make certain that it is steady.

3. Place the circular piece on top of the planter pot.

Use a circular piece of ceramic, mosaic, glass or metal to lay flat on the upended planter pot. Make sure that it is balanced evenly and does not wobble. It must be strong enough to stay in place during a wind and it must not be liable to tip. This will become a "table" surface.

4. Add a decorative element to the table top.

Now that you have a neat little table sitting over the septic tank cover, add an ornament or a pot plant to the table top. All of this will be very easy to remove and put to one side when you wish to pump or maintain the septic tank.

Tips & Warnings

• Another option might be to place a birdbath over the septic tank, provided that the base of the birdbath is wide enough to cover the septic tank opening. Alternatively, add a bird bath bowl to your table top, making sure it is sitting tight and is stable.
• Wear gloves to protect your hands from dirt, septic tank residues and cuts from any of the items you are handling.

I have also posted this on eHow.

Be a Sustainable Tea Consumer

Even when consuming your favourite cup of tea you can be sustainable in your choice. Here's how.

1. Look for fair trade tea and prefer it over other teas where possible. Fair trade teas are teas produced by workers working under good conditions and getting a fair wage for their work. By buying such tea, you are helping to sustain their livelihood.
   
2. Only heat the amount of water needed to make your cup of tea. Filling the kettle up when it is only to make one cup is a waste of energy and also takes longer before your tea is ready!
3. Cover it! If you are obliged to heat your water in a saucepan (perhaps when moving house, camping or just for lack of a kettle), make sure to add a lid to the water. This will help it to heat up more quickly, so that you can turn the stove off sooner.
4. If you're using teabags, throw the empty teabag in the compost so that it has a second use and doesn't add to landfill. If the teabag has any string or packaging label, remove these and place in the recycling bin.
5. Avoid consuming tea in disposable cups. Take your own portable and reusable mug or thermos cup with you and ask for it to be filled in cafes or at work.
   
6. Use the eco-cycle on the dishwasher. When the tea break is over, remember to press the eco-wash setting before starting the dishwasher. Also make sure that the dishwasher is full before using it to wash dishes; that way you save both water and energy and get the most out of using your dishwasher.