Collecting rainwater has been around for thousands of years. Rain sometimes seems like an infinite resource, but it is truly missed when we are in a time of drought. If your water comes from a well, or a stressed aquifer then you are even more at risk, during a dry spell, of not having water to water your garden or lawn.
Using a rain barrel is a fantastic way to be less dependent on your cities water supply and to collect the rain water that freely falls from the sky. Rain barrels are not only a fantastic solution, but they also look great and show your neighbors that you really do care.
Why use a rain barrel?
The best reason to get a rain barrel is to save money! With a healthy rain fall you should be able to fill up a rain barrel per downspout in your home. That's 55 gallons of rain water per downspout. The other exciting thing is that rain water is naturally soft water.
The rain water you store can be used to water your garden and your lawn. This is where it is great to have soft water. Soft water is naturally devoid of minerals, chlorine, fluoride and other chemicals we put in our drinking water. For this reason your plants will thank you.
Why is rainwater better for your plants?
Since the water you will be collecting is collected off of your roof it picks up very little contamination. This is obviously dependent on what your roof is made from. When you water with tap water your are typically using hard water that is full of all sorts of chemicals. This is not ideal for your plants and produces an imbalance in your soil and will cause your plants to weaken and be susceptible to disease.
As many gardeners know, soil is the most important aspect of your garden and keeping it alive and teaming with beneficial microorganisms is critical. Using organic fertilizers, such as worm poop, is a start, but if you water your garden with tap water you'll be adding chlorine into your soil (the purpose of chlorine is to kill bugs) which is exactly the opposite of what you should be doing.
How do I install my rain barrels?
Simple. Just place it under your downspout and you're ready to go. You can elevate your rain barrel by placing bricks underneath.
How much water can I collect?
For each inch of rain water that falls on a 1,000 square foot roof you will collect 600 gallons of rain water. In a rain fall you should expect to be able to fill up your rain barrel at every downspout of your home.
How much water am I saving?
We anticipate that an average home will be able to cut its water bills in half, if rain barrels are used exclusively to water the lawn and garden.
The Spec's in Midtown is busy. They sell a whole lot of wine, but they also want to sell you on helping out the environment. They're asking customers to bring in all of their used corks. Lisa Key is the Director of Sales and Marketing and she says,
Dear Editor,
<><>
I just read your piece on Waller County’s postponement of their recycling center. I agree that a recycling center is completely necessary, but while residents wait for it, I thought you might be interested in another initiative they can participate in right now.
I think it’s...
It’s commonplace to recycle glass, aluminum cans and certain plastics. But that still leaves a lot of other materials that end up in the trash. Thankfully, there are companies like Trenton, NJ-based Terracycle Inc. that find a new life for materials that would otherwise end up in landfills. It has...
If you’re feeling cautious but willing, you could just water your fruit-?bearing veggies like tomatoes/cukes/peppers with the stuff (instead of your root or leafy veggies), since they absorb fewer contaminants like lead.
By the way, you can get yourself a rain barrel from any hardware store...
