Green Options » conserving water

DIY Gardening: Build a Rain Barrel

Becky Striepe — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:00:39 +0000

[Photo by Becky Striepe]

So your garden’s all planted, and your rows are marked. Maybe you’ve got some upside-down tomatoes going, and your compost bin is chugging right along. You’ve probably got quite a few thirsty plants to take care of!

Rainwater collection is controversial in certain parts of the U.S.. If rainwater harvesting is allowed in your area, though, it’s a great way to water your garden without drawing from the municipal water supply!

Store bought rain barrels can run you upwards of $100. Instead of dropping a ton of cash at the garden center, though, you can make your very own! Some restaurants will even give you their used 55 gallon food grade containers for free, which are perfect for making a rain barrel. Ask around…you might just be surprised!

Here’s a great video from HGTV on how to build your own rain barrel, complete with a spigot:

Go Green With a Moss Lawn

Becky Striepe — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 07:00:55 +0000

Many homeowners consider moss a problem calling for harsh chemical “solutions.” Lately, more and more folks are embracing moss lawns as solutions in themselves.

The EPA says that about 15% of the average American family’s water use goes to maintaining their lawn. That’s around 60 gallons of water per day. On top of all that water, Americans dump 67 million pounds of pesticides onto their lawns each year. Wouldn’t it be great if there were a way to use less water, fewer chemicals and somehow have a lush, low-maintenance ground cover? Moss lawn to the rescue!

Conserving Water: Rainbarrel Love

Becky Striepe — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 07:00:13 +0000

It feels like you can’t check the news lately without hearing about another area coping with severe drought. Here in Atlanta, we’ve been dealing with a water shortage for years, as have folks in California.

Texas is in a worsening drought situation, too, which is leading to cattle deaths. There’s no grass for the poor cows to graze on because there has been so little rain. The lack of food means they’re too weak to survive the cold January temperatures. It’s hard to grow anything when there are such long periods in between rainstorms.

So how can those of us in these drought-stricken areas save the precious little water we get when it does rain? How about installing a rain barrel or two!

I have to admit here that I’m not the most handy person. My husband, Dave, and his dad, Denis, did most of the installing, while I provided moral support (aka: snacks and beer). The project can be as simple or complicated as you want it to be. Here are some tips straight from Dave and Denis on getting started!