As I sit here looking out the studio window, big, billowing white clouds are scudding out of the west, moving fast heading east to the Atlantic Ocean.
Yesterday bands of rain came through town. Every 30 minutes or so another rush of heavy rain arrived, whooshing down with a sound like an 18-wheeler running over the speed limit.
All this weather comes to us courtesy of Isaac, churning away in the Gulf of Mexico. Rain. Rain. More rain. We grumble and stay inside. But forget grumbling. Let’s be positive.
Rain barrels invest in water and pay great dividends
On Wall Street just the rumor that a stock will do well sends investors into a buying spree. Why not the same rally with rain? The forecast: more rain (a no brainer, this is hurricane season in Florida). If there ever was a time to invest in rain, THIS IS IT.
Investors will tell you it is all about the numbers, making them work in your favor. Here are some water numbers from University of Florida IFAS Extension: Florida gets some 56 inches of rain a year. If an inch of rain covers 1000 square feet that is a yield of over 600 gallons of water. Interested yet? Plus, when you invest in water you are also recycling.
How? Buy a rain barrel. Or two, or three or more (I confess, until just recently, I had four rain barrels). Keep them in separate locations or hook in tandem. Rain barrels hold from 60 to 75 gallons each. Master Gardeners, if they are nearby, have rain barrel classes where they demonstrate how to set one up and you can buy a rain barrel at class or anytime.
“Florida’s water is ours to protect”. That is the title of a Florida Department of Environmental web site. That recycled water comes in handy for watering plants, filling the birdbath, using on vegetable beds, filling the fishpond. Oh, and water conservation helps the Floridan Aquifer.
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- rain barrels
Rain barrels, though beautiful in function, are not the most glamorous looking things. After all, they are recycled food storage containers. In my book “Florida Gardens Gone Wild” the chapter on rain barrels talks about what fun it is to turn a rain barrel into a family and friends painting project. Call it water conservation with an artistic twist.
A rain barrel project that combines conservation and art
Here is a new project that combines both conservation and art: Rain Barrels for Conservation 2012.
The Marion Audubon Society and the Pioneer Garden Club of Ocala have partnered with each other and local artists to raise money for environmental projects in Marion County by selling tickets for four painted rain barrels.
rain barrels
The goal: raise $30,000. How? Selling tickets at $2 each. Such a deal – rain barrels sell for $55 each (minimum) and that is BEFORE an artist has made them beautiful. I have seen these rain barrels. They are quite wonderful. Their pictures are here.
Anyone can participate by buying tickets. Judy Greenberg with Marion Audubon said any Saturday Morning subscriber who wants to buy tickets may do so by sending a check to:
Judy Greenberg, P.O. Box 457, McIntosh, Fl 32664.
Make check payable to: Marion Audubon Society. Note on the check the number of tickets being purchased. She will send the portion of the ticket you need to hold then add your ticket stubs to the drawing.
The drawing date is Nov. 11, 2012 during the Ocali Days Festival at Silver River State Park in Ocala.
While you are waiting for your winning ticket to be drawn, and installing your first rain barrel, consider visiting some places with water conservation demonstration projects.
One is Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainesville where a stream and waterfall are all done with recycled water from a city utility plant.
Or go see the water conservation demonstration garden at the Environmental Studies Center at Spring Hammock Preserve in Seminole County near Lake Mary.
UPCOMING:
Lucy will be giving a talk on e book publishing on September 13 during the Florida Outdoor Writers Association conference in Melbourne.
See her web site for a FREE handout on “E Speak – 14 Words You Need to Know.”
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