Search Results for: blog the rain barrel

Types of Rain Barrels

Rain, rain, come again. Fill up my rain barrel for me, then you can fill another, and another. In the Pacific Northwest, with its overabundant rainfall, we often think that rain barrels are a ridiculous idea. However, the Pacific Northwest also comes with its summer time droughts, so rain barrels are actually an extremely sensible idea in this climate. In other climates that are more prone to drought, sensible gardeners have been using them for years. What styles of rain barrels are available for your garden? The traditional drum-style rain barrel can be wood or plastic. There is an area … Continue reading →

Rain Barrels for Water Conservation

Do you melt in the rain? How about your garden? Instead of watching your garden soil run away in the rain, collect your rainwater using a rain barrel. Rain barrels and water harvesting are a water to save on home water use during the summer drought. There are many styles of water cisterns that suit different gardens. As we move into spring, installing a rain barrel is a great way to summer proof your garden! Rain barrels come in many different styles, from simple wooden barrels to water storage tanks, to rain harvesting that doubles as a planter. Every style … Continue reading →

Rainy Day Fun for Preschoolers

Summer may have officially started on Monday, but you would never know by looking at the massive puddles sitting on our street. It may be summer, but that doesn’t mean Mother Nature is taking three months off from watering the world. When summer storms come barreling through and you are bombarded with bored preschoolers suffering from cabin fever, you need to be prepared. Here are some rainy day ideas: Cook: Instead of chasing preschoolers out of the kitchen, invite them in and put them to work. Get out your recipe books and have the kids pick a few dishes they … Continue reading →

The Rain Barrel

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This week there was a lot of rain at our house. There was also a lot of fist-shaking and banging. This is because I was installing our rain barrel. The rain barrel itself was easy to install. It is simply a half barrel that is designed to fit against a wall. Since we have a townhouse and therefore have very little space in our yard, the barrel needs to lie flat and do its bit to save space, just like everything else in our yard. However, along with your rain barrel it is also eminently sensible to get a downspout … Continue reading →

Gathering Rainwater in Los Angeles

If you live in Los Angeles, harvesting rainwater is easier than ever! The city has started a new rainwater harvesting pilot program and the best part is, they will install the rain barrel for you. The one million dollar project was set up by the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000 to preserve potable water as well as put a limit the amount of polluted rainwater that runs into the Pacific Ocean. The city has installed about 430 of the 600 available barrels. It is estimated that about 584,000 gallons of rainwater … Continue reading →

Collecting Rainwater

Did you know that the average American uses 101 gallons of water a day for their home and yard? As climate changes bring about increased drought, this number will become even more shocking than it already is. Some homeowners are choosing the green option of collecting rainwater. Rainwater can reduce the reliance on city water and save resources, especially as water ordinances and restrictions are becoming tighter and water more scarce. While non-purified rainwater should not be used for drinking, there are so many other uses for it. Rainwater can be used to water lawns and gardens, do laundry, fill … Continue reading →

Let There Be Light

I can see it, smell it, and almost touch it. It’s the light at the end of the tunnel. And by tunnel I mean my daughter’s school year. In two weeks I will enjoy a treasured reprieve from the worst mom job ever—packing school lunches. I abhor the near daily ritual, which hurts my brain, as much as it does my wallet. I’ve endured this penitent practice for nearly three years and I still haven’t figured out what I can pack that my now 8-year-old won’t toss into the school’s 80-gallon garbage barrel. Aside from the torment of devising a … Continue reading →

Should You Get Your Dog A Flu Shot?

Today in “vaccines I didn’t know existed for dogs” (last time it was for Lyme disease): canine influenza. That’s right, you can get a flu shot for your dog. Pet website ZooToo takes a look at it. Apparently, dog flu is a thing. I have to say I’ve never heard of it, not the way I’ve heard about bird or even pig flus. The difference is that while those strains can pass to humans, canine influenza doesn’t. It’s basically just dogs getting the flu, in a particular strain that won’t infect us. So while we might have to worry about … Continue reading →

How to Water Your Plants During a Drought

Water, water. Sometimes it’s not everywhere. Sometimes there is no rain to be found, not for days and weeks. This is scary for farmers and deeply frustrating for gardeners. In a drought, plants die, and if you rely on these plants for food and shade, this can be very difficult. How can you weather drought and plan for future dry times as well? Let some of your plants go dormant. Lawns and moss will go brown. This is fine. Keep your lawn a little longer before the dry season begins so that it will make as much shade and conserve … Continue reading →

Birthday Cake Part III

Low and behold I did not have enough ice cream. I quickly cleaned out the ice cream freezer barrel (after my son scooped out as much leftover ice cream as possible) so that I could get it back into the freezer. Six hours later I took it out and started freezing the rest of the ice cream base. After forty five minutes the ice cream was not freezing to my utter dismay. I racked my brain for a possible solution. Clearly the barrel was not thoroughly frozen. My first thought was that I would have to wake up at four … Continue reading →