'Upcycling' Water?

This might sound like a ludicrous notion, but in reality all water is 'upcycled' or recycled. It all goes back to the three part system I learned in grade school. Water is always in one part of the water cycle or the other, it is either part of a body of water on the ground, evaporating/ed and floating above our heads as clouds, or falling to the ground as a type as precipitation.

This is not quite as complicated. Here I am speaking only about reusing rainwater on a small scale. Rainwater can be collected and redistributed to your garden very simply. Instead of letting rainwater run from the gutters into the street and into the city storm water system, it can be gathered in rain barrels and used when most needed. 

Here are some places for learning about how to make your own rain barrels:

How to Build a Rainwater Collection System

Simple Rain Barrel Plans

As you can see from the plans a spout is attached to the base to attach a hose and make watering easy.

Another fun water use for the garden:

A bird bath!

Happy Gardening!

Nikki

This 'N That Creations

Wasteless Wednesday: Water-Wise Gardening

Last week I attended a water wise gardening fair with my family in New Smyrna Bach, FL. We had a great time. The kids enjoyed coloring a rain barrel and making flower garden boxes.
We went home with a ton of water saving information, all printed on chlorine free recycled paper with vegetable oil based ink! I wanted to share of few things I learned and a few thoughts on water wise living this week.

During the morning event, we discussed Florida's aquifers, sustainable gardening, and ways to efficiently use water in our homes. Most of the water used in our home (30-70% depending on climate) is used for landscaping, so it is important to evaluate your outdoor water consumption.  We all need to reduce water usage in this area!  Some experts estimate than more than half of landscape water is wasted due to evaporation, wind, and over watering.
 

Tips on Saving Water Outdoors

Plant native, climate appropriate plants

Use more mulch and practice Grasscycling

Don't over fertilize. You will increase the lawns need for water.

Let your grass grow long.  Raising your lawn mower blade to at least 3 inches will promote deeper roots and hold soil moisture better than a closely cut lawn. Guess I won't fuss at my husband for mowing the grass as much now. ;)

How often do you check your sprinkler system? Do you change the settings with the seasons? EPA Water Sense says we should make a monthly date to regularly inspect our systems. Check for leaks, broken or clogged heads, and other possible problems. It is important to make sure your sprinkler heads aren't watering the payment, right?!



One of things I liked was they discussed micro-irrigation at the fair. Installing low-volume micro irrigation will do wonders for you water consumption. It's exactly what it sounds like, micro-sprinklers that include drip, trickle, and bubbler irrigation to slowly water and minimize evaporation, runoff, and over spray.

However you choose to water your garden and lawn, PLEASE water during the cool morning hours (or after 4pm if you can't), to reduce evaporation. It drives me crazy when I drive by a home watering their yard at noon. Is not even good for the plants. Notice afternoon thunderstorms come in the afternoon? Nature knows when to water, and so should we.

Upcycled Mushroom Bird Bath by Upcycled Stuff on Etsy

And finally, I think water wise gardening should involve water for wildlife! Remember to provide birdbaths, or build small ponds in your landscape to provide drinking water for birds, butterflies, bees and other creatures that are vital to our ecosystem.


Bee
Backyard FL Gardening
growing vegetables & kids