Simply Thrifty

What’s Your Rain Barrel?

by Deborah Ng on May 29th, 2007

Do you have a rain barrel? Neither do we, well, technically we don’t. Our son’s old wading pool works wonders, however. We just leave it on a corner of our deck or backyard and use it as needed. A good summer downpour will provide a couple of day’s worth of water for veggies and flowers. A neighbor once asked me, “But water is free for you, you have a well, why do you need to save rainwater?” First of all, water isn’t free for everyone. Many of my neighbors use public water and that costs money. Second, I’m all for saving and recycling our natural resources. Why waste well-water when rain water is so easy to obtain.

If you’re interested in harvesting rain water, you don’t actually need to purchase a rain barrel. Use what you have on hand - buckets, coolers, plastic or rubber tubs, and even a child’s old wading pool. Plants and flowers love rain water! Instead of saving for a rainy day, let the rainy day save for you.

Also see:

• Don’t Throw Out that Vegetable Water
• Cheap Gardening Tips: Use Newspaper for Mulch
• Thrifty Gardening
• Why Grow a Vegetable Garden?
• Frugal Flowers

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