I am going to become a rainwater farmer. I would like to tell you that my idea to collect rain water is purely for the benefit of the earth. It is not…well not completely. I mean we do recycle and I have not littered since I threw my sisters doll’s head out of the car window many years ago, but this idea has many reasons. One of the main reasons is that when we put on the new porch the downspout is going to send the rain water right down the hill toward the neighbor’s poor ole pit bull who lives a meager life as it is. I am scared to death of that dog, but I certainly do not want it to suffer or drown. I need to redirect it.
So, I am going to put a rain barrel and have the downspout redirected into it. Then I will use the harvested water to water the lawn and plants. There is a way you can use this water, it is officially called gray water, for the toilets but I think that might be an expense we need to ignore for right now.
Things to consider:
I think I need to build a platform, other wise there will be no pressure for the water to run out of the hose with any force other than a drip drip drip.
What about a soaker hose in the flower beds?
Would there ever be pressure enough to use a spray nozzle?
These and other questions will have to be answered.
Asheville
37°
March 24th, 2008 at 7:58 am
you can always get a simple pump. Even the ones they use for ponds and fountains will work for what you need to do and they’re cheap. And if you don’t want a pump, take a good look at the barrel in your picture. See how the hose comes out down low? The weight of the water in the barrel really can force the water out…so it isn’t exactly trickling out by gravity anyway…but a pump is best. When i was a kid we had a spring fed cistern we used to water stuff…the cistern was gravity fed from the spring (the spring was actually higher than the cistern) but we pumped it out. Works great. Using it for toilets requires running some extra piping (which you don’t want to do) and you shouldn’t try it unless you have an assured unlimited supply of grey water.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:23 am
Hey Pam…Always love picking your brain. I have ordered a rain barrel from a local green community. They are quite in demand, and I have to wait for the shipment that comes in two weeks. In the mean time I am going to build a platform about three feet high to help gravity bring the water out of the barrel. I think a soaking hose will be a good investment also.
Half the grass area is planted. We will finish that today, but all else has to wait. It is a waste of money and time to plant now, at least here in the mountains.
I found my raspberry connection so I am going to really concentrate my efforts this summer on raspberry preserves and sauce. I will mail you one when the event takes place.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
one? one? but i have an extra set of teeth to eat preserves with….
(yes i DO still have them!)
March 26th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
hahaha I remember those teeth. I have mine too…somewhere…I saw them when we moved. I will put you down for one of each!!