What about this DROUGHT thing???

So it looks like the whole state of NJ is in a drought! According to the news most of the east coast is in alot of trouble! I wonder how this is going to affect the farmers and all us gardeners??? This is the website for NJ..
http://www.njdrought.org/
sue

Yes, Maryland is in drought too. We are down like 10" of rain just since September, not to mention the drought we had last summer. My back yard usually looks like a duck pond this time of year and it is as dry as can be. There have been people here that have had to have their wells dug deeper. Sure hope we don't have that problem.

I saw that report yesterday too,not good' We're entering our7th yr.here and that's why I'm doing more container and xeriscaping' I'm also getting the nurseries here, more in tune to supplying more of our natives also,really helps' I also purchased the moisture crystals(Moisture Plus)by Schultz and am using them now when I plant everything' Did you know the "water barrels" are now back??? Some are very sophisticated too'

Have you seen that water barrel designed by the city of Vancouver? Incredible. Designed specifically for collecting runoff from downspouts, it has two faucets (one at two feet, for filling watering cans, the other at ground level for attaching a hose), and overflow pipe, is covered, and holds up to 75 gallons.

I want a few!

Brook, If you have some info on how to obtain these barrels and the cost, would you please post it? My daughter lives in Brick N.J., just bought a new home on an acre that needs a lot of work, especially the yard. Poor Girl loves yard work and gardening. Guess she will have to wait a while to tackle that part of her move.

Found this for water barrels....http://www.sprucecreekrainsaver.com/

Never thought I would have to think of water barrels but looks as though we will have to think again. Serious drought here too, for the last couple of years in fact!! Jusy hope my well doesn't dry out or we are in big trouble!! Thanks for the link Sis!!

There's gotta be a way to make something just like that out of the giant garbage cans that have covers. Just not sure how to attach the faucets.

This message was edited Friday, Mar 15th 8:42 PM

Been thinking 'bout that too Joan and why couldn't we use the hole cutter(make holes for door knob installations)that goes into a drill?? Then sand down the rough edges and install the faucet and seal with aquarium sealer or a sealer that would hold up with varying outside temperatures?

Couldn't we use some weatherproof flex hose to attach to our downspouts and make a larger hole in the lid attach there and seal it too??? Then attach our garden hose or hoses if we put a dual valve' Think I'll try it''' I have to consider the "wind factor" here too and could drive some short stakes around the bottom perimeter to hold the cans in place' We've discussed doing it and will also help keep our city water bill hopefully down too'

hay! how is that pond of yours doing? So enjoyed seeing it happening before our very eyes!

The pond is comming along. I have alot of landscaping to do and water plant's to buy, but that is never a problem for me!!! (hehe)
DH put in the electric now we have to finish all the little stone the extra irrigation (what drought)?? Check out the watergarden forum for updates!!!! Thanks for asking!!!!!
sue

I like your ideas Sis. I think I'm going to try it too. I hadn't thought about the wind blowing it away, and if it doesn't have water in it, that might happen. Might try to talk DH into building a wooden cage for it, or them. Would look better that way too, since it would hide the garbage cans and can be painted the same color as the house. I'm thinking of making two, and connecting them so the second catches and overflow if the first gets full.

You smart cookie,I never thought of overflow,see 2 heads are better than one,lol' Like the cage idea too,think I have some paint saved for this project,if someone didn't pitch it accidentally,lol' Hey Joan how 'bout another hose near the top,like a radiator hose to go from one barrel to the other??? I think we have a great idea here,eh??:D

I think we are onto something here Sis. That's what I was thinking of, is either a large hose or a piece of downspout (you know, the part that runs from the raingutter down to the ground)? Cut two holes near the tops of each can and attach them with the hose or downspout. I don't know if we'd ever get enough rain to need the second one, but I'd be mighty happy to have two if we get a gully washer. Okay, I'm getting excited and about ready to make run to walmart to check out the material prospects. LOL!

I have been using water barrels since I started gardening. One and sometimes two at each downspout. I siphon over when one fills. Last year, dh dammed our creek and ran water lines to my garden and put in 3 water spigots for me. I have endless water now. We are in a terrible drought but I have never run the creek dry. I've also saved my gray water too. If it weren't so messy, I would do it all the time...

LETS DO IT JOAN''' OOPPS,JUST THOUGHT OF SOMETHING ELSE,SOME SCREEN ON THE INSIDE OF THE GUTTERS TO KEEP DEBRIS FROM GOING INTO OUR BARRELS''' THOUGHTS???

VIC,THAT'S GREAT,ANY PICS FOR US BACKYARD INVENTERS,LOL????

Hmmm....hadn't thought about the debris. If we use a screen though, it will get plugged with leaves and stuff. Need to think on that one some more.

If the gutters have a guard then there will be no deposit of leaves or debris. The downspout can be shortened to reach the top of the barrel. When it rains take the top off the barrel and if it starts to overflow then open the faucet just slightly so that water drips out. (the faucet placed near the bottom of the barrel) Not the best method I suppose given the downpours we have. But anything is worth a try. Now who has a really handy husband or would I have to do this myself.....lolol!!!!

That's true Louisa and we do have them covering our gutters,really helps too,that is until the squirrels decide to play and pry them up,lol' We had to put the grates over them when we discovered a small "forest growing"in them,a few years ago'lol' No Lou,we want to save the rain,not let it drip out,lol' Handy husband,what's that????LOL''

lolol Sis, nearly had me falling off my chair regarding the handy husband!!! The project really looks so easy - surely us women could do that, after the million and one others things we have to do. Sheesh..... it's a breeze!!! :-)

I agree, it's definitely do-able. I'm going to give it a try I think.

i've been saving milk gallon containers. cleaned it thoroughly. fill it w/water. take a cotton string [for wick]. measure 3 times the size of pots i used for planting as the total length of cotton string/wick. place one end of the string inside the water gal. container, the other end to be inserted inside the pot near the root level of the plant. place the water gal. container, next to the pot. i think that will work. there won't be any water spill and the plant will have enough water to sustain it. same thing i've always done for the houseplant whenever i go away to visit my son. it work for me.

A doctor out in the Texas Hill Country has been catching rainwater for years. He started because his home was too far away from any water lines, and the well water was not good or not dependable. He designed a system he calls a rain barn, which is really just a shed with a tin roof, especially for collecting rainwater. He built a system of sealed reservoirs around his house, complete with relay pumps, and his entire home runs on this water source. He says it's easy to collect enough and he never runs out of water. According to him, a very small amount of rain will provide a lot of water from his barn, as he collects all that hits the roof. Even dew figures in. So you might have overflow more often than you expect. I think you should stop
publishing this now and apply for a patent. Water shortages will be huge in the future, and any device that can help will be in demand. By the way, that doctor has a very successful business selling water barns now. He has one set up along IH-35, with a phone number. Sales seminars teach "find a need and fill it", and you have a good start, Joan and Louisa.