Collecting Rain Water
From The West Coast to The East Coast, we’ve been experiencing extreme droughts. The lack of precipitation this summer has increased the risk of Forest fires, drained lakes and reservoirs, and dried up crops across the nation. We’ve experienced this first hand on Fieldstone Farm. and today’s rain brought a much needed reprieve.
Every gardener or farmer in the world lives by the grace of Mother Nature, and so, if you’re like me, you check the weather app of your choice constantly, compulsively, obsessively. Our outdoor plants and crops thrive or die by her hand, and as a result of the recent drought, our veggies and plants have been drying up and thirsty as hell. Dave and I are on a well, so we’ve been watching the water line fall and shifting our habits to minimize our water consumption. We prioritize hygiene and food but minimize the frequency and length of showers, dishwashing, and clothes washing. It’s been difficult watching plants and flowers shrivel and wilt.
BUT today, after a month or more of dry weather, the rain finally came. I couldn’t sleep last night, tossing and turning, eagerly anticipating her arrival— like a kid hoping for a snow day. In preparation for Queen H20’s arrival, Dave and I spent yesterday afternoon gathering garbage bins, cans, buckets, bowls, teacups, thimbles, and anything else that might hold liquids to collect as much rain water as possible. We don’t know when the next bit of rain will come, so we want to prepare by gathering as much free, naturally occurring rain water as we can. We’ll use this to water the plants and gardens and orchard. We’ll continue to use the well water for consumption and feeding the animals because unfiltered rain water can be … dicey to consume without boiling or filtering. However, in a survival situation — beggars can’t be choosers. When the rain finally started, hours late and lighter than expected, it felt as if the entire farm could breathe again.
This was the first severe drought we’ve experienced since starting our farm, and it was a necessary reminder to conserve our water use and plan like we’ll never have it again because this will only become more common and frequent as climate change continues to wreak havoc on our lands. This was a first step in collecting rain water, and we have plans to develop a more permanent and efficient way to collect rain water in the future.
For anyone thinking of trying this at your own home, please make sure to check your local ordinances and guidance because — as crazy as it sounds — there are laws about how much and when you can collect rain water, depending on where you live. I have my own theories as to why that is, but that’s a capitalist conspiracy theory for another day.
Our reliance on fresh water is written in our DNA. We need it to survive, our food needs it to survive, and our land needs it to survive. Knowing this helps me to change my practices to be more mindful of my water consumption. Little things go a long way: if it’s yellow, let it mellow; turn your faucet off while you’re brushing your teeth; wear your clothes a couple times before washing them; take short showers; and skip a day of washing if you’re a trash monster like me. It can be a bit dark and overwhelming when we think about the state of the world, but it can help to remember that you only have control over your own habits, your own home, and your own choices. Stay wet, my homies!
