Click through our slideshow to see how to turn your hose into a basket. | Photos by Lori Eanes
I used to think of my garden hose as a helpful tool—good for watering the plants, cooling off my kids in summertime (at least before the drought in California kicked in), and taking refreshing sips of water on hot days. But after reading about research done by Ann Arbor, Michigan's Ecology Center, I see it as a hazard—a poisonous snake coiled menacingly in the backyard. The Ecology Center tested the water from a hose left in the sun for a few days and found that it contained high amounts of lead, phthalates, and bisphenol A.
But fortunately there are alternatives: hoses made from nontoxic materials like polyurethane or natural rubber, which won't leach toxic chemicals into the water. I'm going to buy one of those and, just for good measure, store it in the shade. In the meantime, I've found a new, safer function for my old hose. I wound it into a durable basket and bound it tightly with a lot of sturdy zip ties. It's perfect for storing stuff in the backyard or garage.