A Renewable Source of Water

At our home, water is precious.  We are on well water and are always conscious that we need to conserve.  We have had a rain barrel for years.  The rain barrel in the back of the house is used for many things but primarily it supplements the frog pond during the dog days of summer.  The barrel is at a naturally higher elevation than the pond.  A garden hose and gravity is all that is needed to keep good, fresh water in the pond.  When the water is running, we have seen frogs place themselves under the running water as if in a very refreshing shower.  The rain barrel in the front of the house is a new addition (this year).  We added it to help with watering the garden (also a new addition this year).  Having a rain barrel is an easy way to RECYCLE rain water from your roof.  Shorten your drain spout, place a good, clean plastic trash can under it to catch the water and you are in business.  You can take the lid and cut a square to fit your spout to keep debris out, but we don't bother with that.  The rain barrel in the front of our house is strategically located behind our rhododendron to keep it hidden and it is also within close proximity to the garden for ease of use.  Pete placed a spigot on this barrel so that I can add a garden hose to water my plants with ease.  He raised it up on cinder blocks so that the barrel is higher than the plants and in this way the water runs out by gravity.  It works very, very well.  I can water the garden 4 times from one full barrel.  One rain storm and the barrel refills.  It's a wonderful renewable source of water.