We’ve had more than 5 inches of rain this week. What a blessing!
We’ve enjoyed the sound of rain, the smell of rain, the sight of rain against the streetlamps at night, the feeling of rain on our skin. I wish I’d remembered to stand outside with my mouth open to enjoy the taste of rain.
I had been nudging my husband to set up rain barrels for our garden needs. He’s been pricing them, but finding them a bit too fancy in style and price for his taste. But then yesterday he was outside, looked up, and saw them: 3 old metal trash cans that we had for the house and apartment from the days before the town handed out big plastic rolling bins for curbside collection.
He put them under the downspouts and within an hour or two, we had more than 100 gallons collected for the garden when the plants get dry again. We also have a row of buckets of various sizes and shapes that are now full of water.
There are certain benefits to hanging on to things ….
3 Comments
October 28, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Don’t be a mosquito farmer! Use BTI or empty those metal trash cans within 5 days. If your hubby wants to make his own rain barrels – check out the kits offered at http://www.aquabarrel.com
October 28, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Sue,
That’s an important point. For the short-term, there are make-shift ways — the trash cans have lids, and we have screens for some of the buckets. Also, given how long the drought has lasted, we’ll almost certainly use this water within 5 days.
For the longer-term, we do need to think more about ongoing water-saving mechanisms. Thank you for the reference!
I had to look up BTI – it wasn’t in my personal acronym library. I assume this is what you meant: Bacillus thuringiensis israelenis -
http://www.arbico-organics.com/organic-pest-control-beneficial-insects-organisms-mosquito-control.html
Thanks for the information.
Kathryn
October 29, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Mission accomplished. BTI applied.
Thanks again.