This last day of April has been amazing! Finally 80 degrees. I don’t know if anyone else feels the same as I do, but I feel like we were cheated out of some 70 degree days this month! This has to be one of the coldest and wettest Aprils I can ever remember. According to Weather.com, we have had a total of 10.80 inches of rain this month, the average total is 3.78!! I’m just ready to wear t-shirts and flip flops….without a sweater.
I shouldn’t complain though. It hasn’t been so cold that I needed the heat so my electric and gas bills will be a welcome birthday gift in May. In the spirit of saving money the Green Way, I’m writing to you today about Recycling the Rain.
According to an organization called Bridging the Gap, the roof of your house can receive anywhere from 600 to 1,000 gallons of water with just an inch of rainfall. This rainwater hits your roof, flows to the gutters, and pours out of the downspouts into your driveway or yard. The Kansas City area has an average of 37” of rainfall per year, so that means tens of thousands of gallons of water could be “harvested” and used on your garden or lawn, reducing flooding of some rivers and waterways such as the Blue River and Brush Creek.
Some reasons why you should consider a Rain Barrel:
1) Brings high quality H2O right to your yard. No chlorine and no calcium carbonate.
2) Diverts water that could potentially leak into your foundation away from your home.
3) Cuts down your dependence on the City water supply.
4) Keeps water where it is needed rather than sending it to the water treatment facility.
Rain Barrels are not just an old-fashioned relic from your great-grandmother’s backyard anymore. People from all over town are starting to adopt the practice. There is actually a Rain Barrel Workshop in Kansas City that is sponsored by Bridging the Gap. The workshop costs $35 and includes all materials needed to make your own rain barrel.
More than likely there is plenty of rain in the forecast, so consider building yourself a rain barrel because it might just be the greenest and cheapest way to keep your yard the envy of the neighborhood.
~Ashlee
