by Marie Chieppo For centuries water has been used as a focal point in gardens. Fountains, waterfalls and reflecting pools provide a symphony for the senses and add interest to any landscape. The extreme weather conditions we have been experiencing remind us of the ecological balance we need to work towards with many issues. Using…
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater for Gardens: Why Plants Love Rainwater Best
August 15, 2016 in Gardening Basics, Rainwater Harvesting
by Jesse Savou Reprinted with permission from BlueBarrelSystems.com. It might not come as a surprise that there’s no water plants love better than rainwater. Imagine your thirsty plants doused in droplets fallen fresh from the sky, their leaves expertly channeling the bounty down stalks and into the soil—right to the root zone where it is…
Greywater Made Clear: The Basics
March 14, 2014 in Rainwater Harvesting
by Ken Foster It is called “greywater” for a reason, and whether you spell it greywater or graywater obviously it is not one of those black and white solutions to water conservation. It’s, well…murky. Regardless of the spelling it’s one of the best strategies for maximizing your water economy. The new word “watergy” refers to…
Water: A Treasure to Be Captured
April 13, 2012 in Rainwater Harvesting
by Clémence Corriveau Water sustains and beckons us all: plants, animals, insects, and people. Yet, it can create challenges when it limits usable space or collects in the wrong location. By redirecting and reusing rainwater and by replanting to accommodate wetlands, you can turn problem garden areas into beautiful havens. Here are some examples of…
Rainwater Harvesting: A Simple Approach to Conservation
April 13, 2012 in Rain Gardens, Rainwater Harvesting
This article first appeared in the Summer 2005 issue of the Ecological Landscaper; Paul has provided an update for 2012. by Paul Kwiatkowski In this age of reckless consumption of resources and pollution without shame, conservation is vital. The numbers of individuals and businesses that embrace conservation are growing, but America is still lagging in…
Active Zone Profile: Water House Pools
February 13, 2012 in Featured Members, Rainwater Harvesting
by Maureen Sundberg Introduce water into the landscape and it brings changes in light and sound. Introduce water in the form of a natural pool, and the results are magical according to Chris Rawlings of Water House Pools. “Take something as ancient as stone and put it with something as alive and precious as water,…
Small Residential Rainwater Harvesting Project: A Hands-on Community Eco-Workshop
December 16, 2011 in Rain Gardens, Rainwater Harvesting, Stormwater Management
by Mary Flodin ELA sponsored a series of three hands-on eco-workshops in Santa Cruz, CA, during the fall of 2011; each presented by a different local landscaper: Native Plants: The Low Tech Landscape Water Conserving Solution, Darrin Miller of Central Coast Wild; Greywater Clarified, Ken Foster of Terranova; and Rainwater Harvesting, Golden Love of Love’s…
The Great American Rain Barrel Company: Members Making a Difference
February 15, 2011 in Featured Members, Rainwater Harvesting
Interview with Suzanne Gebelein Water is one of nature’s most abundant resources with over two-thirds of the globe covered in blue. Fresh water, however, has become an increasingly precious resource. In arid parts of the globe, fresh water falling as rain has been valued and saved for centuries. And now, traditionally water rich areas, such…
Rainwater Harvesting: A General Tutorial on the Components Involved
April 14, 2010 in Landscape Maintenance, Rainwater Harvesting, Stormwater Management, Water Quality
by Joe Sokol Rainwater harvesting is a simple term that refers to the use of some means or device of collecting rainwater to store it for later use and distribution.
