Earth Day 2009

This April 22nd will mark the 29th rotation of the rock since it was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in back in 1970. The first Earth Day saw twenty million turn out and thousands of schools participate. Very successful!  Rain water collection and delivery to our gardens is one way we can contribute to the celebration this year!

"The Blue Marble", official Earth Day flag, designed by peace activist John McConnell founder of the original Earth Day celebrated on the Spring Equinox, usually March 20-22. The United Nations celebrates this Earth Day every year since its founding in 1969 by ringing the Japanese Peace Bell.

While John McConnell invented the intent of Earth day 1969, it was Senator Gaylord Nelson who brought it into focus for the American culture. Both men had a similar vision of our world, our Earth, as a living entity and, as earthlings, how we need to honor and care for that which sustains our physical existence and provides untold impetus for our creative, imaginative, and spiritual journey on Earth. We need only take a moment to see it. Not only should we "see it", but we should actively take measures to care for it, to sustain Earth's life, which in turn sustains ours.

Generally, the Saturday closest to April 22nd is designated for the local celebrations that take place across the country. That was a few days ago so I hope everyone had a great day getting out in the community, participating and learning how we can make Earth more able to sustain our lives here. CNN reports very large-scale cistern projects to collect and recycle rainwater but there are small-scale steps we can take in our own yards. One way I've been investigating is rain water capture and delivery to plants around my small yard.

The harvesting of rain water to supplement, or even replace, the municipal water supply is "exploding" according to HarvestH20.com.  They define "harvesting" as the collection of rain water and the filtering of it for potable use and have quite a collection of "best practices", statutes and regulations, and valuable resources, for the practice of rain water collection. Of concern are the toxins that surely exist in the roof runoff and how safe they are. One thing is certain; the water is not for human consumption. Most people are using the runoff to water lawns, trees, shrubs, and flowers. I think that is most likely a safe usage and an excellent use of rooftop captured water that can realize a savings in your municipal water bill. The primary method of collecting runoff rainwater is the Rain Barrel.

Roll Out The Barrels!

... "and we'll have a barrel of fun"!

There are any number of barrels and accessories available these days. Clean Air Gardening has some nice selection in styles and sizes, and has several instructional videos on installation and usage of their products. Great place to begin your own investigation on the viability of using this method in your own yard. In addition to watering non-edible plants, trees and grass, use rain water usage for car washing or outdoor cleanup activities as well. If you're getting a tax refund, consider investing some of it in this personal water conservation effort.

- Be sure to check with your city or county government to see if they offer less expensive rain barrels or rebates for water conservation methods, and to see what installation requirements there are.

- Check with your local nursery or lawn and garden center to see if they have less expensive water barrels. I know our local nursery has ones similar to the photo in the $50 range.

- Check with your Home Owners Association, prior to your purchase, to see what their requirements are for rain barrel installation or if they allow it at all.

- Scout your current rain gutter setup to optimize the placement of the rain barrel and its proximity to the usage destination. Are a few smaller barrels more effective than one big one?

- Utilize gravity as much as possible by installing the rain barren on an elevated platform made of material that can handle the incredible weight of filled rain barrel, estimated at 450lbs. or more. Cinder blocks work well for this.

- Make sure not to place any wood products next to your home to prevent termite or other wood pest invasions.

- Develop a overflow plan for the excess rain water once your barrel is filled to prevent any water damage to your property.

- If the city or your HOA requires a certain color to match or complement your home, or if you just want to, consider if the product is paintable. If you decide painting is what you want, visit Aaron's Rain Barrels' for complete "how to" instructions.

- If you live where it freezes in the winter, make certain to empty your rain barrel prior to the first freeze. Block the collection path and leave the bottom spigot open. You can collect and thaw snow for indoor watering of house plants during this season.

Consider constructing your own "rain barrel" as there are several good, and possibly less expensive, alternatives. Recycled food-grade barrels or water storage containers are the preferred material, however people are using trash bins in this endeavor. Make certain you provide a screen or cover to the water to prevent mosquito nesting and leaves from entering. Here's a video from HGTV. Great advice, but I think their top catchment hole needs to be much larger and the flow more directed into the barrel.

That brings us to the deliver of the collected water. Drip irrigation is the most efficient delivery method of water to plants as was demonstrated in the above video and in this article from GardenScrapbook.com. (h/t tlg). This works particularly well on slopes or steep hillsides. The slow, steady delivery of water directly to the plant prevents runoff and evaporation. The initial expense of a drip system pays for itself in water savings over time. I recommend drip systems, not only for delivering the collected rain water, but for economical use of tap water for watering as well. This is also a great way to water your container garden as it assures each plant gets what it needs on a consistent basis.

Here is one product, from Gardener's Supply, that could be utilized hooked up to the rain barrel for a gravity fed system or, as they show, hooked to the household supply for patio plants. The cost is $25, which you may be able to find locally for less but would pay for itself over time. With the added use of a timer, for $54, the kit becomes even easier to use for those very busy or vacation times.

Then there's the least expensive method of filling your watering can directly from the barrel spigot and delivering it by hand. Regardless, it is a savings to our pocketbook and our valuable water resources. I'm not sure how I can make rain barrels work in my yard as where I have downspouts and could possibly place a rain barrel, is not close nor uphill from the plants and trees that could benefit. There's a chance I may be able to utilize one in the back, where there are no gutters, with the use of strategic placement at a roof valley and rain chains to direct the flow into the barrel. I'm still investigating the possibility of that set up and alternative "rain chains".

Do you have a rain barrel? Plan to get one? Let us know in comments or by starting your own blog here at Budget Artists. We'd love to hear from you!

I hope you all got out to an Earth Day Celebration and plan to observe and make a difference in our relationship with the Earth this Wednesday, April 22nd, Earth Day 2009!

Next week I'll be reporting on my field trip to my local Community Garden!
 

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