Pinterest has predicted that one of many greatest gardening concepts for 2023 would be the thought of ‘rain harvesting’.

Is smart.

I’ve a pair rain water harvesting anecdotes to share.

Rain Harvesting Story #1

My backyard doesn’t have irrigation.

I’ve tried – strictly for the greens.

The mix of properly water, nice distances, and a structure meaning the areas I’d prefer to irrigate are on the opposite facet of the driveway (so piping strains need to go beneath the asphalt) makes the final nuisance of all of it an excessive amount of to tolerate and too costly.

However earlier than I gave up – I attempted rain harvesting – which additionally failed – as a result of gravity.

I reside on the highest of the very best hill between right here and Boston.

I found this years in the past when an outdated timer in my city instructed me my place was as soon as referred to as ‘The Pinnacle Home’.

A earlier proprietor (50+ years prior) even had fancy stationary that includes a captivating pencil sketch of the facade and the moniker on the prime. (I’ve seen an image of it – I’m determined to get my arms on an precise sheet of it).

At first, I used to be uncertain that we deserved the identify. It isn’t tremendous apparent that that is such a excessive level. Plus, I’m from Colorado. I actually can’t be impressed by our 600 ft elevation.

There’s, nonetheless, an observatory subsequent door. (owned by Harvard College and The Smithsonian Institute).

Once I moved right here, It was largest and most lively observatory east of the Mississippi River. And it was a SETI web site. However then there was a hearth, and the astronomer moved away, and now it’s primarily used for creepy Steven King film units.

By definition, every part is often downhill from an observatory. Besides my backyard – which is technically a number of ft larger (sure, in fact, I geeked out and measured).

My barn is 20′ x 40′. That’s 800 sq ft of rain harvesting nirvana – sitting proper subsequent to the outdated pumpkin patch.

Somebody instructed me that the Pepsi bottling plant close by had enormous plastic barrels that they might promote you for affordable, for those who simply requested.

This turned out to be true. I paid $10 every for 4.*

They reeked of Mountain Dew sauce. However I figured the vegetation may not thoughts to Dew it To it, at the very least for a short while.

However my fastidiously deliberate roof water harvesting system on the outdated barn wouldn’t cooperate.

I ought to’ve guessed the outdated constructing was severely slanted within the incorrect path.

The one solution to make the gutters move in the direction of the barrels within the backyard was to hold them so crooked in the other way that finish end result was like a flashing neon arrow pointing on the apparent and not so cute jacked up constructing.

We briefly thought of a pump system. Ultimately, that was going too far down the rabbit gap of undesirable upkeep – so we lower our losses and gave up.

It was a reduction to tear off and recycle the janky gutter system in order that we may return to having fun with the sight of the charming, however not so clearly slanty, outdated barn.

Notice for January 2023: I’ve lastly given up and determined the rain water harvesting tanks will go to the tip of my driveway with a free signal later this spring. I hope they’ll discover a sufficiently degree or downhill panorama the place they’ll make water butt magic.

I’ll put up on my instagram story about the place you’ll be able to picked them up when I’ve them able to go.

The Most Inspiring Rain Harvesting Story I’ve Ever Heard Of

Bizarre conversations with surprising individuals are certainly one of my favourite issues.

Circa 2012-ish I made a type of situational friendships with the cable man. For too many annoying causes to checklist, he was at my home so much.

In the future, he instructed me a magical story a few man with the most important, finest vegetable backyard you’ve ever seen. And he lived on the Westford-Chelmsford city line.

He mentioned this backyard was enormous, and delightful and stuffed with essentially the most wonderful greens and it simply out shined each different vegetable patch he’d even seen.

He mentioned he put in cable there however couldn’t keep in mind the tackle (and he couldn’t inform it to me even when he may), however I’d understand it once I noticed it.**

He additionally mentioned, the key to this backyard was hidden within the storage.

The cable man described a real-life Rube Goldberg machine arrange that gathered rain water from all corners of the roof. Channeled water got here into the storage the place it consolidated and cascaded by a sequence of barrels (like mine!). And these barrels weren’t simply a part of an elaborate gravity pushed rainwater irrigation system – they had been additionally superfood therapy plant.

This fabulous backyard was fed with fish.

Common journeys to the native fisheries in Gloucester, MA offered the man along with his secret backyard sauce. Recent fish guts – dumped straight into one of many barrels – including unctuous vitamins to the water because it flowed by the tanks. Apparently, the outcomes had been plain.

This isn’t a paid advert for Gloucester based mostly Neptune’s Harvest . (But okay – it’s an amazon affiliate hyperlink – in case you‘re ). However it’s value noting that there is perhaps one thing within the Gloucester water. (I imply, keep in mind that complete loopy being pregnant pact factor… that was in Gloucester, MA too). 🤔 😉

Don’t you assume this story could be an incredible advert for an organization that makes natural seaweed and fish fertilizers particularly off the by-products of Gloucester fisheries? …

…If solely we may discover the man with the backyard and fishy Rube Goldberg rain water harvesting system on the Westford-Chelmsford line. ***

The marketing campaign as I see it: Neptune’s Harvest! – As a result of not everyone desires to take up half their storage with Versailles degree rain powered irrigation techniques, handled with common infusions of recent fish guts.

(However am I the one one mesmerized by the fabulous individuals who do create stuff like this?)

*Should you don’t have a soda pop bottling plant close to you – you’ll be able to buy the identical barrels right here. I’ve additionally seen them at ULINE for half the worth (however I can’t stand the garish blue colour – I spray painted my whitish ones a forest inexperienced). I additionally simply put in these spigots close to the underside.

** I’ve pushed the neighborhoods of the Westford-Chelmsford line numerous occasions. Sadly, I’ve by no means identified it.

*** Have you learnt of this backyard? Please inform me the place it’s! I’ve been searching it (and the sensible creator) for over a decade. I’m a modern-day Ahab – obsessive about a white whale backyard.

Picture from Past a Man's Machines - within the The New York Occasions