Chainsaws no longer just for the brawny and the pros
The home-improvement industry is taking the once-fearsome chain saw and redesigning it for weekenders and women.
New models weigh about 10 pounds, cost a couple hundred dollars, and are easy to start. With a little experience and effort, new users can cut up trees and branches that a storm dropped into their yard or across their driveway.
Before starting, users should invest in safety gear. With the increasing popularity of chainsaws, emergency rooms are seeing a significant increase in chainsaw injuries.
The left leg is one of the most frequently injured spots. Chaps are recommended for protection. Those infused with Kevlar can halt saw blades in less than a second.
Safety gear includes a helmet, goggles, gloves made with cut-retardent material, a heavy shirt, and hard-toed boots with nonskid soles.
When shopping for a chainsaw,  find a dealer with an expert on hand who can demonstrate how it works. Other safety tips include:
* Only cut branches or tree trunks with a diameter of less than 60 percent to 75 percent of the usable length of the chainsaw bar.
* Leave climbing trees to professionals. Stay on the ground and don’t cut anything higher than shoulder height.
* Have the bar pointing behind you when carrying the chainsaw.
8 Find an experienced user to advise you when you first use the saw.
Most chainsaws are gas-powered. If your property is not large, an electric saw might serve your purposes. Just press a button to start it.

A rainbarrel could save 55,000 gallons of water per year
Rainwater collection has long been used in dry states and places where people are urged to conserve water.  With water bills rising, however, more people are turning to conserving rainwater to use on their gardens, to freshen sidewalks, and to wash their cars.
A rainbarrel could save 55,000 gallons of water a year. An inch of rain on a 1,000-square-foot roof can produce 632 gallons. What’s more, rainwater contains no chemicals like chlorine and fluoride, which are hard on plants. Collection also helps reduce storm runoff, a growing problem caused by acres of concrete in the neighborhood.
Lack of rainfall in many places and the high price of water elsewhere is making people think twice before turning on the hose. Additionally, the editors of This Old House say that, in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, some people are looking for an alternative source of water in case they are faced with another catastrophe
A rainbarrel has a spigot near the bottom where  you attach a hose, a “mosquito donut”  floating on the surface, an overflow valve near the top, and a child-proof screen on top of the barrel. A wooden barrel can be adapted for the purpose.
Rainbarrels in a number of colors can be bought at garden suppliers such as cleanairgarden.com, gardeners.com, or aridsolutionsinc.com.
To get the most from your barrel, consider adding an overflow tank to your system. It’s a second or third barrel connected to the first or second one with a hose.