The Ups and Downs of Sustainability
With Felicity Stevens, Australia ๐ฆ๐บ @Felicity11 and Jennifer Schnier, Canada ๐จ๐ฆ (HAB 2022-2023)
โChildren love water, grown-ups love water. Having Rain barrels also means providing outside water, while not having to leave a hose outsideโ
Consider installing a Rain Barrel at your downspout.
Highlights
- Municipal Water can be expensive
- Some water sources are limited in areas where water tables run dry
- Rain is free and always fun
What can your guests do with a Rain Barrel?
- Water your gardens for you
- Cool off in the summer
- Put out a smoldering fire pit
- Clean off their golf clubs
- Wash puppies feet
- Let small guests play with the water
- Fill a kiddie pool
Thoughts from Up North ๐จ๐ฆ
In Canada installing Rain Barrels in your listing will take a little time to sort out. The best place coast to coast to get a rain barrel are:
- Rainbarrel dot com (Ask for Leah. A great company based in Hamilton but repurposes rain barrels out of Olive Containers that are used to ship across the seas.
- Home Depot Rain Barrels.
Rain Barrels are best installed at a downspout of your home. Each rain barrel comes with a watering spiggot with an off and on valve as well as an overflow hose to avoid flooding.
But What about the winter?
Planning what you will do with your rain barrel in the winter and cold months is important to consider. Some options:
- Store upside down and outside in a safe place from wind
- Store in the garage or a shelter, upside down
How to install a Rain Barrel
Various hardware stores can sell you the equipment you need to redirect water from your downspout to the barrel. A flexible elbow can fit many eaves systems. The idea is to go to the water source and collect up a barrel full of water, at no additional expense.
Place the barrels near your downspout and plan ahead in your gardening to have outdoor pots near the rain barrel. Make sure your rainbarrel is level and let gravity help you. Having the barrel a little higher than your garden will make watering easier in the future.
Use the space around the rain barrel to decorate with local flowers. Keep the spigot accessible so you or your guests can water your plants for you. It is a fun outside activity that makes your guests feel at home.
โEnabling your guests to be able to water your plants if they want to, will make your listing feel more like home. Rain Barrels help with that because they are fun, the water is free, and watered flowers are always a little more loved.โ
Thoughts from Down Under๐ฆ๐บ
Water is a very precious resource and we need to use it carefully. Many Australian homes now have water tanks that collect grey water from the roof. The grey water is then used to water gardens, flush toilets and in washing machines.
What do we want to know from you?
- Where do you get your rain barrels/water tanks?
- What do your guests do with the water from your rain barrel?
- How do you use the water in your water tanks?
- How do you store the barrels in the winter?
Let us know! Join the conversation.
Jennifer Schnier