The Wonderful World of Rain Barrels
June 23rd, 2009
Filed in Garden Maintenance
Tags: Graywater, Rain Barrels, Water Conservation
Why use a rain barrel when you can just hook your hose to the outdoor spigot and get all that you need? Because water is not an infinite resource, and it often freely falls right out of the sky and can be harvested by the responsible organic gardener. The other option is that it runs off of our roof and enters storm drains and often goes to waste.
The use of a barrel is exceptionally important in the spring and early summer, when rainfall tends to be hard, heavy, and of limited duration. That kind of rain does not provide the deep watering that we are looking for like a light soaking rainfall would.
That is why harvesting that water is such a blessing. In most climates, those showers slow down in the summer months, and cities begin to put limits on watering of plants, lawns, and lead to a prohibition of car washing. However, if you have been busy harvesting the water from your roof, you should have a good supply of water to get you through those tough times. This water will have the added benefit of being chemical and chlorine-free, unlike ordinary tap water.
How Do I Harvest Water?
I have never heard of harvesting water, only of harvesting fruits and vegetables. What does this mean, and how expensive or difficult is this?
Use a rain barrel,
of course!
Most of us have heard of this gardening device, because it has become more acceptable for people to have these in their yards. However, you may or may not have one. There are a variety of units made from all sorts of materials, and with as few or as many accessories as you may require. Quick research on the Internet has a range of $30 to about $400 depending on what works for you.
It may be necessary to alter your downspout system to accommodate having a rain barrel set up. Much of this will depend upon the set-up of the rain barrel that you buy. There are barrels with spigots that allow you to use a hose, or systems of water collection involving 3 or more barrels. Some people have an excess of water, and use it to wash cars, or clean other items in the garage. 
It is possible to find a place where water runs off of your house without the advantage of a downspout, and to catch it in a garbage can. It’s certainly not a requirement to spend $300 to harvest the water that is available from a rainshower! If using this method, you can install a spigot at the bottom, or just dunk your watering can into the can. Keep it covered when not in use to avoid accidents with children, or standing water for mosquitoes.
Challenge yourself to think outside the tap
How else can you harvest water without a rain barrel? How much water runs down the drain when you are waiting for water to heat up from the faucet? When you rinse vegetables, do you rinse them in running water, or in a bowl of water? In all of these cases, the water can be captured in a pan or bucket in the sink, and added to another container outside used to collect water.
Do you have a dehumidifier? There is one in my basement that creates close to 5 gallons of water per day. That gets added to our non rainwater container outside as well. Depending on the type of detergent that you use in your laundry, you can keep the water from the rinse cycle to water non-edible landscaping plants.
I certainly do not have all of the ideas on how to reuse or harvest water that generally runs down the drain. If you use a different method, share it here, share it with friends or with whomever will listen to you. Part of the excitement of organic gardening, is thinking of sustainable solutions in our yards and gardens.
June 23rd, 2009 at 7:33 am
One thing I found quirky is that in some areas it is actually illegal to harvest rainwater! It goes back to the 19th century to protect farmers and cattle ranchers from competitors diverting rainwater from their land. Sounds rather silly now, but it’s still on the books.
Anybody in Colorado been arrested for using a rain barrel?
“What are ya in for?”
“Using rain water.”