Rain Barrels Iowa
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Store Hours
  • Online Store
  • All About Rain Barrels
    • SETTING UP YOUR RAIN BARREL
    • RAINWATER HARVESTING POTENTIAL
  • Locations
  • Composter Information
  • Blog
  • Photos
  • FAQ
  • Iowa Rebates

April 14th, 2014

4/14/2014

 
Picture
Hard to believe we are already halfway through April. People are out planting early cool weather crops and yards are looking healthy.  Please keep the environment in mind as you care for your lawn this season, it's not just farmers who are adding harmful chemicals to our water systems. Be careful to not over-fertilize or use more herbicide and insecticide that you absolutely need. Sweep up any pellets on concrete to use next time; if spraying chemicals keep close the ground to avoid drift onto things that will be harmed, like your neighbors' plants; set your sprinklers on low so that water has time to soak in and make sure the water is hitting the grass and not the sidewalks and streets. And see your county Soil & Water Conservation District - they have powerful information that will save you money!  You may learn to adore native plants with deep roots and rich flowers, as we have, instead of non-native turf grass. Mow less, grow more food & beauty.

If you are harvesting water, don't forget to clean out your gutters before harvesting. Allow the first rains to help clean out the dirt and residue from the winter, the rain this past weekend was a great one for flushing things out. Having algae problems? Put a piece of silver (spoon, fork...) in the barrel. I have had "how it works" explained twice but if you want to know, ask a chemistry teacher!

As you read this realize I'm still trying to figure this blog thing out. What do you want to know about, besides the rambling of an easily distractable gardener? I'm not an expert but we could easliy make this a dialogue, so sound forth and suggest. 

Happy planting.

Eric Doll link
6/18/2014 04:28:47 am

Hey! It's great to see a water harvesting outfit locally here in Des Moines! Mike Salmon turned me on to you guys and I'm glad he did. I personally am interested in how water can be filtered to certain levels to make it acceptable for washing clothes at the residential level. I have always wanted to do so at my house!

Look forward to more entries in the future.


Comments are closed.

    Archives

    October 2017
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    September 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    Categories

    All
    Canning
    Gardening
    Green Living
    Live Sustainable
    Rain
    Rain Barrel
    Rain Barrels Iowa
    Rain Harvesting
    Sustainable Living

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo used under Creative Commons from A_Peach
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Store Hours
  • Online Store
  • All About Rain Barrels
    • SETTING UP YOUR RAIN BARREL
    • RAINWATER HARVESTING POTENTIAL
  • Locations
  • Composter Information
  • Blog
  • Photos
  • FAQ
  • Iowa Rebates