Teeni’s Tips XVI

Posted on July 25, 2007 - Filed Under DIY or D-I-Y, Flowers/Gardening, Teeni's Tips

Ah dear nieces and nephews, unlike Kermit says, it actually sometimes is easy being green. You may not be able to use this tip until you are on your own, but it’s good to keep in mind.

It’s pretty well known how good it is to grow your own garden vegetables. But it’s also tough because these days, there are always watering bans in almost every town. So, a great way to keep your garden going healthy and strong is to either invest in a good rain barrell or build one yourself (pdf file). These used to be very popular in the old days but you hardly see them any more. Well it’s about time they made a big comeback I tell you!

Rain water is great for the garden and the water doesn’t cost you anything. The rain barrell itself is a one-time cost but is well worth it. Rain barrells work on any building that has gutters. The way it works is that any rain water that hits the roof gets directed down the spout right into the rain barrell. Our 1600 square foot cape cod home gets enough rain hitting the roof surface in a brief five minute shower to fill at least two 55 gallon rain barrells. You can get fancy, using a submersible pump to water your garden right from the barrell or you can just use a watering can filled from the spigot of the rain barrell. More info is available here. Besides, green IS a pretty color.

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Comments

6 Responses to “Teeni’s Tips XVI”

Hannah (382 comments.) on July 26th, 2007 2:05 am

I am the WORST gardener in the world!! My Step-FIL is a wonderful gardener and always gives me tips and advice, and I get all enthused about it, but then my stuff just dies. I try, but I’m just not gifted with green fingers. I admire those who can do it!!
Opal: Vegan Momma (6 comments.) on July 26th, 2007 10:16 am

I use rainwater on the flowers that are by my house.
teeni on July 26th, 2007 12:06 pm

Aw, Hannah, don’t give up. As I have commented before, I myself am all brown thumbs and left feets. But I don’t give up easy. I have ONE plant that made me feel better about myself and that is why I keep going with the gardening. I’ll have to blog about my buddy Floyd soon so you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Opal, I had an idea that if anyone was already using rain water that it would be you. You are so good and so green! I like to mention it though because one day the water police came by my house while we were watering our garden and he was so pleased to find that we were using rain barrells - he had thought we were breaking the watering ban - that even he said he wished more people would use them!
TGH on July 26th, 2007 6:14 pm

Umm, wouldn’t the water police hurt the environment more riding around town looking for waterers than you using water even if it was coming from the faucet?
laura (91 comments.) on July 27th, 2007 2:23 pm

this is a great idea… and so simple. i guess i’ll be looking for a barrel sometime soon.
blaqberry (68 comments.) on July 31st, 2007 3:42 pm

Bookmarked! That’s definitely something we’ll need to know for the future. Thanks for posting this!