Creating a beautiful garden is not just a matter of landscaping, but one of practicality as well. The more veggies and fruits you grow in your own backyard, the more money you save at the grocery store. Besides that obvious bonus, there is the fact that you can control what goes into the growing of your own food. You can choose the fertilizer type, or choose not to fertilize at all. You can create a truly organic produce experience in your kitchen by simply handling all the growing in your own backyard garden.
There is one big secret to having the most beautiful organic garden in town, and it doesn’t cost much at all. In fact, after the initial one-time investment, it costs nothing at all for years to come. What’s the secret?
It’s nature itself, and capturing the water from the sky in rain barrels set around your home.
Rainwater is perfectly free, and since it comes from the sky instead of your taps, it doesn’t have any sort of chemicals included, such as fluoride. Catching the rainwater in barrels ensures that you never have to use city or groundwater wells to replenish your garden’s water needs — you can simply tape into the barrels and have plenty of fresh water any time you want it.
Rain barrels sit near your home and collect the water that runs off the roof. Using a series of drainpipes and overflow valves, these rain barrels can collect gallon after gallon of water during one good rainstorm, which can then be used for several weeks.
To make the most of your rain barrel, you need one that has a leaf screen, overflow valve, and spout. The plastic models come in standard sizes of 55 or 75 gallon, but custom sizes are available, too. The standard models run between 80 and 200 bucks each, but you can opt for nicer options, such as high-end whiskey or wine barrels. These lend a classic look to your landscape while providing all the water you could ever need for your garden.
There are other very good reasons to have rain barrels around your home. Some areas far away from local fire services might find rain barrels handy as fire protection, and sometimes will receive a discount on county or city taxes if the rain barrels are kept full and easily accessible. Areas that run the risk of a water shortage will find rain barrels are a good peace of mind, and those in areas prone to natural disasters, such as hurricanes or tornadoes, will be thankful for the ready supply of water should emergencies strike.
But the most common use for rain barrels is that backyard garden — and isn’t it nice to know exactly what you’re putting on your veggies? Rain barrels are a gardener’s best friend!
