rain water

 

    I'm a small gardener and I've heard anecdotal evidence about using
rain water rather than tap (city) water. If nothing else it would be
free of chlorine.

   I've found a source for free rain barrels (55 gallon plastic drums),
so I'm thinking about this. Other than hand watering, I'm unsure how you
would get this to work. Last year, with help from these groups, I put in
   a drip irrigation system. I don't want to go back.

   It looks like each foot of water height yields .43 psi and the pc
emitters need about 10psi, so that is about 25' of height to get this to
work gravity fed. That is impractical for me and probably for most
people. Seems like it would have to be pumped.

   Anyone using rain water for other than spot watering? Is it worth it?

   Jeff

 

Jeff Thies wrote:

You are going to waste your time with little drums like that if your garden
is more than a few pot plants.  They hold too little and as you have already
worked out getting the water out of them to the garden is a problem.  If you
really want to use rainwater and don't want to make your life's work
scurrying back and forth with buckets you should be collecting in a tank at
least 1,000 litres and 10,000 l would be better and you need a pump.

David

 

David Hare-Scott wrote:

Well, I was thinking of using several chained (and as a supplement) but
even 6 isn't 1000 liters.

Where I live, Atlanta, we've had watering restrictions. Food gardens are
now exempt and I believe most restrictions have been lifted. Rain
barrels are still sold everywhere, not that I could ever figure out how
much good 7 CF of water would be spread out over a week or two!

   I'll give up the idea. The idea of getting rid of the chlorine, etc..
is what made it "attractive".

   Jeff

 



Fish tank water is good to. Already has some nitrogen in it, and no
chlorine.
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Zinn/HZinn_page.html

 

In article


 I tried not filtering my small pond (~2 or 3 thousand gal I guess)
water last year.  Instead I vacuum out 40 gals a week or so and replace
with fresh water from a well.  Old water goes to favorite plants.  
Sometimes I just bucket some out and do the same.  The pond filter was
getting to be a bit labor intensive and dirty/scuming/disgusting/mucking  
etc.  

Works for me but I'd not feed indoor plants  inside just when out for
summer break. Fish seem happly with just plants and a small bubbler
along with a horse heater in winter.

--
   Bill   Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA