Pic: Annie Taylor, (Queen of the Mist) who, in 1901, became the first person to plunge over the brink of Niagara Falls in a barrel.
Come along Lil'HippyChillen' and sing along with me...
"My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean,
My Bonnie Lies Over The Rain Barrel!"
My Bonnie Lies Over The Rain Barrel!"
I've been bemoaning the price of my water bill on here lately. This morning on a whim - since it's raining here today - I put out an old trashbarrel under the inside L corner of my roof, where two ridgelines meet, to fill w/rainwater. I'm planning to use it to water the banana trees and tomato plants later this week when the sun comes back out. Don't try this at home if you've got small children about. If you've got kiddos you need a closed system that one couldn't fall into!
Then serendipity led me to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fwe_pVOYOrY&feature=dir
Holy Toledo, this place says there are beacou gallons to be had? WOW!
http://www.rainbarrelguide.com/
So, if you are feeling greenly conservation minded you might want to do something similar. As a teen I was constantly washing my hair w/rainwater, but that was back before acid rain and such. Oh, we probably had it, we just didn't know it!
I did speak to Hubster this week about perhaps installing a graywater system of some kind, and he said he thought we could hook one up pretty easily, so we'll see. Doubtful we'll go this far! I was just thinking of hooking off of the bathroom sink or something. I'm not this much of a gardener!
http://www.emmitsburg.net/gardens/articles/adams/audrey/wa...
This reminded me of my time in Honduras. Many people live w/cisterns year round as their main source of water.
And once I started thinking of this and googling around for pics I found this link that many of you may enjoy sloshing around in:
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/diy_projects/122.html
and this should have a special appeal for a certain someone who opposes composting toilets!
http://www.reuk.co.uk/Rainwater-Toilet-Flush-System.htm
Well, of course I have to categorize this post as INFLOW!
May 7th, 2008 at 05:41 pm 1210182117
May 7th, 2008 at 06:38 pm 1210185524
May 7th, 2008 at 07:05 pm 1210187140
May 7th, 2008 at 07:53 pm 1210190003
But, I like your idea. I do set my indoor plants outside sometimes.
@Homebody, I too think they are a bit costly. Ask around at schools or someplace to see if they don't have some cheaper. Maybe something that had cooking oil in it? For now mine's a medium sized kitchen plastic wastecan that caught my eye as I was passing thru the utility room. It's not often used, so out it went. I was just planning on scooping the water out w/a pan or something when it was time to water.
In my neck of the woods come summer the misquitos would take over if it wasn't coverable somehow. So today is just temporary. If I want to do something more permanent, I may have to invest in something that looks a little better than average as the best place to collect sits in the L right beside the front door and the sliding glass door. No place for something fugly!
@Paulette, I'll have to look for that book!
May 7th, 2008 at 08:29 pm 1210192161
I'm glad some of those articles emphasize how much water there can be to collect from the roof. When I hear of people having one or two rain barrels, I always scratch my head wondering if they know how much rain they actually get. Fifty gallon barrels would be overflowing here in no time. We have 40 inches of rain a year and usually I have to water very little, as the rain is fairly reliable all year round. I do not however, insist on a near hydroponic lawn the way some people do.
May 8th, 2008 at 01:12 am 1210209160
May 8th, 2008 at 03:16 pm 1210259798
A Department of Water Representative stopped at a ranch and talked with an old rancher.
He told the rancher, 'I need to inspect your ranch for your water allocation.'
The old rancher said, 'Okay, but don't go in that field over there.'
The Water Representative said, 'Mister, I have the authority of Federal Government with me. See this card? The card means I am allowed to go WHEREVER I WISH on any agricultural land. No questions asked or answered. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand?'
The old rancher nodded politely and went about his chores.
Later, the old rancher heard loud screams and saw the Water Rep running for the fence and close behind was the rancher's bull.
The bull was gaining on the Water Rep with every step.
The Rep was clearly terrified, so the old rancher immediately threw down his tools, ran to the fence and shouted out..... 'Your card! Your card! Show him your card!'
Now Paulette, all you need is a bull, or bulldog!
May 8th, 2008 at 05:45 pm 1210268736