Cascadian Farm Organic Goodness

Editor's Note: At Cascadian Farm, we believe that there shouldn’t just be one day devoted to Earth Day, there should be 365 days. That’s why this year, we’re helping you live more sustainably every day by giving you tips and advice on how to do just that. If we all make a conscious effort to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle everyday, we will be helping to protect the planet for many generations to come. Below, Jennie Lyon from MySweetGreens.com gives us ten tips to get your New Year started a little greener. Over the next year, we will have more tips and advice on how to live greener, so keep a look out for those in upcoming e-newsletters.

1. Go Local: One of the best ways to live a sustainable lifestyle is by going local. Finding and supporting local resources is also great for your community. Research and find local farms to support while purchasing local food. Local artisans are the perfect resource for the purchasing of home goods, personal care products, clothing, jewelry and gifts. Going local can also include utilizing public transportation, frequenting thrift shops and tag sales and vacationing in your local area. The key is to try to stay within 200 miles of your home.

2. Find a Green Energy Supplier: Switching to a green energy provider may be one of the largest impacts that you can have on the environment. Most areas have a green energy program that you can enroll in. You pay a small premium on top of your normal energy bill each month, which puts green energy on the grid. You can find Green Power providers in the U.S. here and Green Power Providers in Canada here.

3. Conserve Water: Consider taking shorter showers and choose an Eco friendly shower head. Remember to turn off the sprinklers when it is raining outside and turn the water off while brushing your teeth. If you can, reuse rainwater or gray water to care for your yard, flush your toilets or wash your car. You can also help to save water by only washing full load of dishes and laundry.

4. Eat Less Meat: You don't have to become a vegetarian or vegan to make a huge impact on the environment. You can reduce your carbon footprint by simple making more of your meals meatless. Whether you decide to cut out meat during the weekdays or become a member of the meatless Monday club - less meat equals less emissions and pollution.

5. Refuse, Refuse, Refuse: Think of how many purchases we make, simply because we can. If you ask yourself the simple question, "Do I need this item?" before every purchase, you can reduce the impact on the environment and your finances. Also, there are many other venues to consider when you do need to make a purchase, including; thrift shops, garage sales, free-cycle or even borrowing items from a friend or family member.

6. Alternative Modes of Transportation: When choosing how you get around, consider other modes of transportation besides your car. If you are traveling to school or work, can you carpool, walk, bike or catch the bus, train or subway? Can your children walk or bike to school? If you have to get out to run errands, consider grouping all of your errands into one trip, this will save you time, money and the environment will thank you too.

7. Conserve Energy: When you leave a room, flip off the light. When you aren't using your electronics, power them down and turn off the power-strip. Choose a programmable thermostat and unplug electrical items that you don't use. If you have to change a light bulb choose a CFL. If you don't have to drive your car, ride your bicycle. Think twice before you purchase a new item and again when you think of throwing something away. All of these small things can save a good amount of co2 and money.

8. Recycle, Reduce, Reuse: Consider adhering to the three R's as often as possible. Reduce your consumption of products, resources, energy and water. Recycle and reuse anything that you are able to. If you no longer have use for a particular item that can be used again, consider selling or donating it before tossing it in the trash.

9. Choose Quality Items: When you do need to make a new purchase consider quality over quantity. Choose items that are built well, are energy efficient (if it is an appliance or vehicle) and that will last a long period of time. Refuse to purchase anything that is disposable or is only good for a one time use. For items that you have to dispose of including toothbrushes and razors, choose Eco friendly versions including toothbrushes and razors where you only replace the head. Also, look for products that come in minimal, recyclable packaging.

10. Buy Local Organic: When possible, choose local, organic goods. Especially when it comes to meat, poultry, dairy, fruit, vegetables and personal care products. If there isn't a local organic version available, consider the local product first. Purchasing foods or clothing that have been shipped across the world isn't as Eco friendly as buying an item that is local.

What ways do you plan to live more sustainably in 2011?

Photo Credits: Local, Green Energy, Conserve Water, Eat Less Meat, Refuse, Transportation, Conserve Energy, 3 R's, Quality, Organic

For many families the start of the holiday season is marked with choosing a holiday tree. Each holiday season more than 25 million coniferous trees are cut and sold as holiday decorations. Although, the holiday tree is an important symbol of the holidays, it can be a hard choose to make when considering the environment.

It can take up to 15 years to grow a holiday tree that will be used for about a month. Many holiday tree farms use large amounts of pesticides and fertilizers which pollute the waterways, land and poison wildlife. Then after the holiday season, these trees usually disposed of in our local landfills.

You do have options when it comes to choosing a holiday tree and many of those choices can be friendly to the environment - and beautiful in your home too. Here are my top 6 favorite holiday tree alternatives.

1. A Potted Holiday Tree: You will see many varieties of potted trees that are available at your local, organic nurseries. When choosing a potted tree, consider one that you will be able to replant in your own backyard or that can stay indoors all year. If planting in your own backyard isn't an option, you can donate the tree to an organization that will plant the tree for you. Remember when purchasing your tree that you will want to buy one that is indigenous to your region and will fit in your yard, once it becomes full grown.

2. Rent a Tree: There are many companies popping up our there that you can rent a holiday tree from. These companies will deliver a full sized holiday tree to your home and then picked up after the holiday season is over. These companies use minimal energy to bring the tree to you since the trees are locally and organically grown, then delivered to your doorstep via a bio diesel truck. When the holiday season ends, they nuture the tree until the following year or plant them in local parks, watersheds or schools.

3. A Reusable Tree: There are many reusable tree options available that are PVC free. I have seen trees made from magazines, reclaimed wood, recycled glass bottles, cardboard, and even tinker toys. Many of these options are available for purchase, however, I think that it would be more fun to build one of these alternatives with your family as a holiday tradition.

4. Local, Organic Cut Tree: Although purchasing a potted tree or renting a tree would be the more Eco friendly option, many people still prefer the convenience and affordability of a cut tree. To minimize your cut tree's impact on the environment, purchase it from a local, organic tree farm. Organic tree farms grow the trees without the use of pesticides and fertilizers. Most organic tree farms, also plant 1-3 seedlings for every tree that is cut down. Remember if possible to recycle your tree when the holiday is over.

5. Decorate a houseplant: There are many large potted houseplants that you can decorate for the holidays. You could also choose to decorate an outside tree. The best part is that these "trees" can be enjoyed all year long and when the holidays come around again next year, you are already prepared.

6. Deck the Walls: Use cardboard, paper, paints or even lights to create a holiday tree on any wall in your home. There are also companies that sell reusable canvas holiday tree stickers that are bright, colorful and festive. You can arrange the gifts on the floor belong your wall tree.

I hope these suggestions give you some inspiration when choosing your Eco friendly holiday tree this year.

If your family celebrates with a holiday tree, what Eco friendly alternatives have you found?
Is there a tried and true "green" tree that your family enjoys?

Potted Tree, Rented Tree, Wooden Tree, Local, Organic Tree, Light Tree

Every day life can get very busy, leaving very little time to think of the ways that our lifestyles can impact the health and happiness of our family and the environment. There are simple steps that you can take everyday - some that you may already be doing, that can have a huge positive impact on both. Some of these steps you may be already doing on your own. And by incorporating more of these activities into your daily routine as a family, you will find that living a happy and healthy lifestyle is second nature.

Here are my favorite 7 tips to a healthy and happy family lifestyle that won't harm the environment. Once you master these 7 tips, everything else just falls into place.

1. The Whole Family: Eating a balanced diet full of whole organic foods is essential to healthy living. To maintain a healthy body and mind, proper nutrition is necessary, every single day. Proper nutrition directly effects the immune system, weight, brain and body function and mood. A great way to incorporate healthy eating into your family lifestyle is by sharing the experience. Preparing, cooking and cleaning up after meals together makes it a family affair. And eating together as family every night is the perfect way to reconnect and strengthen your family bond.

2. Let's Get Physical: Adding physical activity into your family's lifestyle is not only healthy but a great way to spend fun time together. There are many way to incorporate physical activity into your everyday family routine. You could walk the dogs together in the morning or before school or work. You can take a stroll or bicycle ride around your neighborhood after dinner. Volunteering your time to helping the environment is another fantastic way to get physical as a family. If you are unable to get outside for physical time, get physical inside by turning up the music and dancing or by playing a game of yoga pretzels.

3. Take a Deep Breath: Everyone experiences small amounts of stress in their everyday lives - that is normal. Learning how to handle those small and even large stresses is an absolute for a happy and healthy family. Family time means leaving the things that stress you out at the door. You can't focus on reaching a healthy and happy family life, if your mind and body are full of stress. There are ways that you can eliminate stress as a family including; family yoga and exercise or as simple as telling stories that make you laugh and relax.

4. Hydration Station: Hydration is one of the simplest ways to stay healthy. Encouraging each member of your family to stay hydrated by reminding them that proper hydration helps with digestion, energy levels, immunity and elemination of headaches. A great way to get your family to drink the adequate amount of water, is by giving each of them their own BPA free reusable water bottle that they can refill throughout the day. Another great idea is to incorporate water into all of your meals at home together. If your family isn't crazy about having water with dinner, give regular water some pizazz by adding citrus or cucumber slices, fresh berries or a sprig of mint from the garden.

5. Light's Out: There are recommended amounts of sleep for all age levels and it is very important that you get the proper amount of sleep. Sleep gives the body time to repair itself and is a fantastic stress reliever. Putting the children to bed a couple of hours before you and your spouse gives you quiet, alone time together. It's like having a free babysitter that lives with you, every single night of the week. If you are having problems achieving the adequate amounts of sleep there are herbs and homeopathic remedies that may help.

6. Talk it Out: Taking the time to talk as a family is very important. As children get older, they may shy away from talking to you openly and honestly. A great way to make talking to each other (about anything) natural and fun - is by simply talking. The family dinner is the perfect time to sit down together as a family and talk. This is also a great time to discuss ways that you as a family can be more Eco friendly. Just remember that many grown up conversations are better when not heard by the ears of little ones.

7. Enjoy Life: One of the most important things to remember is that taking time to enjoy life with your family is the point. If you are doing tips 1-6, but don't have time to enjoy tip 7, you are missing the point. Life is too short - you don't want to miss all of the little things - all of the fun that you could be having together as a family. Remember that every missed opportunity was at one time simply an opportunity.

How do you keep your family life healthy and happy?
Are there steps that you find challenging?

photo credits: Food, Sleep, Hydration, Stress Relief, Family Dinner, Laughter

Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year? Have you considered immersing your entire dinner party into the Thanksgiving feast process. Thanksgiving is really about celebrating the things that we are thankful for - wouldn't sharing all aspects in the preparation of Thanksgiving dinner be the perfect way? Many Thanksgiving dinners are centered around one or two members of the family doing all of the holiday preparation, cooking and serving by themselves. Wouldn't it be fun to go back to our roots and share the complete Thanksgiving process as a family, starting at the place that the food comes from - the farm?

If this sounds intriguing to you, here are 5 steps to get you started:

1. Make a Plan: Ask your friends and family members that you plan on having over for Thanksgiving dinner, what dishes they would like to have. A great way to get everyone excited to be involved in the entire process of Thanksgiving is by getting their input. Many people have family recipes that they will be excited to share and see on the dinner table this Thanksgiving.

2. Make it Fresh: Invite your dinner party to meet you at a local farm or farmer's market a few days before the big event to choose the fresh ingredients that will be used to prepare the Thanksgiving feast. If you plan to get all of your ingredients from your local farm, you may want to plan a farm tour day. Schedule a visit to a poultry, dairy, and vegetable farm, as well as to the local orchard.

3. Prepare as a Family: Ask your dinner party to arrive early on Thanksgiving morning to help prepare for Thanksgiving dinner. Ask your party what menu items they would like to help make. Elderly and very young members of the family will find delight in helping to decorate the family table with organic place settings and simple local floral arrangements.

4. Share your Gratitude: Once dinner is served and everyone has enjoyed their fill, take turns sharing your thoughts on the Thanksgiving dinner process. What parts did you find especially endearing? Are there ideas that you would like to incorporate into next years feast? Do you think that sharing the entire process brought you closer together as a family?

5. Make Clean Up a Breeze: Imagine how quickly Thanksgiving dinner could be cleaned up if everyone did just a small amount of work. Including cleanup in your Thanksgiving dinner process is just another way for everyone to share in the experience of giving thanks.

Does your family prepare your Thanksgiving feast together?
Do you use whole, fresh ingredients?
What are your tips for involving each member of your family?

Photo Credits

Harvest, Menu, Fresh Ingredients, Glass

I love Autumn, in fact I would say that it is my favorite season. I love the scent during the cool crisp days, the sound of leaves crunching underfoot and seeing the leaves turn into beautiful hues of yellow, orange and red. Autumn is the perfect time to share traditions with your family.

Family traditions are important because they build memories that will last a lifetime and create a unique, strong bond with our forever friends - our families. Fall traditions are the perfect way to spend fun, quality time together. Starting your own Fall traditions is easier than you may think. Most of these traditions can be done on a budget and in an Eco friendly manner.

Here are some of my favorites:

1. Organic Apple Orchard or Pumpkin Patch Visit and Lunch: A visit to your local apple orchard or pumpkin patch is an activity that everyone in your family is sure to enjoy, regardless of their age. Make sure to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy while you lounge on a blanket at the farm. When you get home, spend time together making caramel apples or carving your bounty of pumpkins.

2. Make it a Corn Maze and Hayride Day: What family wouldn't bond -working together to find your way through a Corn Maze? Better yet, by snuggling together under a blanket with a thermos of apple cider on a hayride. It is the simple activities that your child will cherish the most. And you can usually find both a corn maze and a hayride at your local Autumn festivals.

3. Take a Family Hike or Bike: Fall is the perfect time to pull out your hiking boots or take the bicycles out of the garage. Nothing is more fun than spending time together as a family in nature. Take your time and really soak up the changes the environment is making this time of year. And don't forget to grab your camera and nature journal on the way out the door.

4. Stuff a Scarecrow: Grab some of Dad's old overalls and a flannel shirt to create a scarecrow for your family garden. Your children will enjoy stuffing the clothing and drawing a face on the burlap sack. You get a fun and unique decoration for your yard that will last through Thanksgiving.

5. Dim the Lights and Tell Spooky Stories: This tradition has been a favorite in my home since my son was a toddler. Each night before bed, we turn off all of the lights, light candles and take turns telling or reading spooky stories. This is an activity that can be adjusted for the age of your children and is an activity that older children find especially fun.

6. It's For the Birds: People of all ages enjoy watching birds, why not make it a fall family tradition. Make a simple hanging bird feeder, using a pine cone, peanut butter and bird seed. Then hang it on a tree outside your living room window. Give each person in your family their own set of binoculars and a notebook to record what they see. Enjoy your local birds together before they fly south for the winter.

Does your family have Fall traditions?
Which are your favorites?

Photo Credits: Apple Orchard, Corn Maze, Fall Hike, Scarecrow, Spooky Shadow, Bird.

Coffee is the number one consumed beverage in the world. Over 400 million cups of coffee are consumed each day in the United States alone. It is the 2nd largest globally traded commodity in the world, second only to petroleum. In the tropics, local economies and communities rely heavily on the stability and income from coffee beans. With that said, have you ever wondered what impact your morning cup of joe has on the environment or the people that depend on it for their livelihood? Does consuming only Eco friendly coffee make a difference?

Traditional coffee plantations require vast amounts of cleared land, displacing entire ecosystems of native plants and animals. Many traditional plantations also use pesticides, herbicides and insecticides in mass. These chemicals not only run into local water supplies, poisoning the water, they are harmful (some even cancer-causing) to the low-wage workers that manage the fields.

However, Eco friendly coffee plantations also known as "shade plantations" leave the natural canopy of trees over the plantation that gives animals, insects, birds and reptiles a protected natural habitat complete with native plants. Shade plantations allow the animals and nature to live in harmony with the coffee crops.  

If you feel that Eco friendly coffee does make a difference, choosing "shade-grown" coffee is the best way to go. There are other types of certifications that are also important when looking for Eco friendly coffee such as; "Bird Friendly", "Rain Forest Alliance Certified", "USDA Organic" and "Fair Trade." Whichever type of Eco friendly coffee you choose, remember that you are making a conscious decision on the impact that coffee beans can have on the environment, humans and wildlife in those areas.

What does it all mean? How to break down what the label says:

1- Shade Grown: Coffee beans that have been grown on plantations with a natural tree canopy above the fields, instead of clear cutting the forest. This allows native animals, birds, insects, reptiles and plants to live in harmony with the crops.

2- USDA Organic: Pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and other chemicals are never used during the coffee bean growing process. Many of these chemicals are known endocrine-disrupting and cancer-causing chemicals, they also are known to kill native animals and poison local water sources and the soil - which is another good reason not to ingest non-organic coffee.

3- Bird Friendly: Similar to the "Shade Grown" certification, it protects migratory birds that will be lost forever due to clear cutting of the rainforest for traditonal coffee plantations.

4- Fair Trade: Fair Trade means that the family farmers are treated respectfully, are paid a fair living wage for their coffee beans, allowing them access to medical care and educational services.

Do you consume Eco friendly coffee?

Do you feel that the benefits of Eco friendly coffee make a difference?

photo credits: Coffee Beans, Traditional Coffee Plantation, Shade Grown Coffee Plantation,

Chances are you or someone you know has used disposable plastic diapers on their children. Have you ever stopped to wonder what impact plastic diapers have on our environment? Did you know that Americans alone put 50 million plastic disposable diapers in our landfills every day? That is 20 billion diapers a year. Each one of those diapers takes over 500 years to decompose - now that IS a dirty little secret.

There are solutions available that can lessen and in some cases completely eliminate the use of disposable diapers that will stay in our landfills for centuries. Whichever option you choose will significantly reduce this huge impact on the environment. Just think, if everyone choose one of these options, what a difference it could make. To get you started, here are my top 3 favorite options.

Option #1: Reusable and Adjustable Organic Cotton Diapers: Companies such as Little Beetle and Happy Heinys offer reusable organic cotton diapers that are adjustable and can be used on babies from 8-35 pounds. The reusable and adjustable organic cotton diapers cost around $15-$25 each. However, since these diapers are adjustable, your child can use them the entire time that they are in diapers. These diapers come in an array of colors and patterns for your little ones delight.

Option #2:Plain, Standard Pre-Fold Diapers: Pre-Fold diapers such as the ones from Green Mountain Diapers range in price from $1.75-$2.66 each. You have the option of choosing pre-fold diapers that are chlorine free and unbleached. Just remember that you will also need diaper covers to wrap over top of the pre-fold diaper to make it waterproof and diaper pins to keep them in place. You will also need to purchase these in several sizes because your child will eventually grow out of the smaller sizes. Pre-Fold diapers generally come in white or off white, you could dye your own using water or soy based inks in an array of colors.

Option # 3: Flushable, Compostable G Diapers: G Diapers are plastic, latex, perfume and elemental chlorine free. G Diapers have an insert that is placed inside the reusable g pants that your child will wear. The insert can be flushed if it has solid waste in it and can be flushed, composted or thrown away in the garbage if it only has liquid waste in it. The G Diaper will breakdown in a compost bin within 50-150 days. Also, G Diapers come in a great assortment of rich, vibrant colors that are sure to please the eye.

**Tip: If you decide to use reusable diapers, you can figure the number of diapers that you will need to purchase by taking the number of diapers that child goes through daily and multiplying that by the number of days you want to be able to go between washings.

What type of diapers do you use on your little ones?

Have you found one type to be a better option for your family? Which one?

Photo Credits: x86x86, Victor Chapa, Ja-nelle, Conor Keller

My family made a cross country move last weekend and while moving can be a lot of work, it doesn't have to have a huge impact on the environment. There are many things that you can do before, during and after your move that can make your transition as Eco friendly as possible. Here are 8 tips that my family used while making our move, hopefully next time you move, these tips can help you too.

1- Get it Sold: Usually, the first thing that you will want to do before moving is sell your existing home. During the listing and selling process, consider using a website with fantastic pictures and details of your home for potential buyers to view rather than those costly home listing fliers. If you do opt for the fliers, instead of loading the 'For Sale' sign box with them, leave them inside your home by the front door. Hopefully, then only really interested buyers will take them and less will find their way to the landfill.

2. It's Time to Downsize: My family decided that the best way for us to make our move as Eco friendly as possible was to majorly downsize. This took a lot of preparation time, but we were able to sell several thousands of dollars worth of things that we no longer used or thought that we would no longer need. You can sell your items via eBay or Craig's List or donate them to your local charitable organization. This saved us a lot in the long run, less things to pack, transport and then unpack when we arrived at our new destination. It also gave us a nice amount of money to use towards moving expenses. Plus, it was nice to see my previously loved items go to new homes where they will live a second life.

3. Pack it Up: Once you have decided exactly what items you are going to take with you, pack it up the Eco friendly way. If you are doing your own packing, consider using recycled boxes, bubble wrap and other packing supplies (you can find a great supply on Craig's List or Freecycle.) My family decided to use a large supply of reusable recyclable plastic bins with locking lids that we have used on our previous moves. This bins are fantastic because they are water proof, have locking lids with handles for carrying, stacked nicely on top of each other in the moving van and can be reused in our new space for storage of season items. Any bins that you are unable to reuse after your move, can be sold or donated. Also, I used linens to wrap up breakables and valuables. I figured I will be taking the linens with me, so they should be put to good use in the process. If you do need to purchase packing supplies, consider choosing supplies that are made of recycled materials.

4. Home Sold-Time to Green Clean: Once your home sells and you have packed up all of your belongings, it is time to give your home one last good cleaning. Consider using all Eco friendly cleaning supplies and when you arrive at your new home, only stock green cleaners in your new kitchen, bath and laundry room.

5. Moving Day: If you are using a moving company, consider choosing one that uses green moving methods including recyclable packing materials, low emissions bio diesel fuel efficient trucks and Eco friendly business practices. If you are moving yourself, remember to pack everything up with Eco friendly packing supplies and then rent your own bio diesel truck if possible.

6. Make It Fun: Moving can be super hard on the entire family, especially if you are all traveling via the moving can, as my entire family did. My husband, nine year old son, 2 dogs and myself all traveled cross country together in a moving van. However, we were able to make it fun by talking, singing, playing games, reading and watching movies. Just continue to remind yourself that a few days of traveling will all be worth it.

7. Bring Your Own Body Fuel: Traveling can be hard on your body, especially if you are eating fast food or truck stop "convenience" store items. We stocked a cooler full of easy to eat, organic snacks, fruits and veggies to keep us going on the road and when we did stop for a meal, we tried to pick the healthiest option available. Also, while traveling bring a reusable beverage mug for each member of your family. It is super Eco friendly and much more affordable to refill a mug at the gas station. And those coffee breaks will be imperative during your move!

8. Time to Get a Good Green Rest: If your move is going to take several days of traveling, you will most likely need to stay in a hotel or two. Try to choose hotels that are committed to sustainability and Eco friendly practices. Green hotels lists hotels that choose water and energy saving equipment and techniques, use Eco friendly cleaning supplies, organic linens and also recycle and compost all waste. Now, that is something that can be celebrated with a good night's rest. You deserve it!

Now that you have made it to your new home, it's time to get unpacked and start living life again. Remember to reuse, donate, sell or recycle any of your packing supplies and enjoy your new space.

How will you or have you made your move Eco Friendly?

Please leave your comments below!

Photo via Alden Jewell

Last month, I wrote about the benefits both ecologically and economically of harvesting rain water. Ecologically, harvesting rain water to irrigate your gardens or flower beds and to wash your car, flush your toilets or to purify as a source of drinking water is a great way to recycle rain water. Economically, using the 600 gallons of water for every 1 inch of rain that falls on your 1,000 square foot roof can equate to thousands of gallons of water that you can reuse each year, saving you a lot of money.

However, many of you had questions about rain harvesting. Today, I am going to answer some of these questions such as; is the rain water that washes off my regular roof contaminated? Where can I buy a rain harvester? How do I set it up? How do I use it, once it is installed? And how to keep mosquitoes from breeding inside the rain harvester?

Hopefully, this will answer some more of your rain harvesting questions and give you more information as to what you will need to start harvesting your share of the rain.

Question: Is rain water that washes off a roof contaminated, will it hurt my gardens?

Answer: The water that washes off of your roof may be contaminated with chemicals, moss or even bird droppings. You can filter the rain water that comes off of your roof with a "floating extractor". A floating extractor floats in the water in the rain harvester, it intakes water from the middle of the tank where the water is at it's purest. The floating extractor is attached to the spigot, so when using the water, you will always be using the cleanest part of the water. You can also purchase a downspout filter that will capture any larger debris that finds its way into your downspout. Many rain harvesters that purchase from your local garden center will come with a built in filtering system. Just make sure to clean the filters on a regular basis.

Question: Where can I buy a rain harvester?

Answer: You can purchase a rain harvester from many local gardening stores. Garden stores typically sell 55 to 75 gallon rain barrels with leaf screens and built in spouts for $50-$250 dollars. It depends on how large and what type of a system you are looking for. You can also make your own rain harvesting system for a fraction of the price. This DIY Rain Harvesting Video shows you exactly how to make one.

Question: How do I set up the rain harvester?

Answer: Setting up a rain harvester is simple. First, decide which rain gutter you want to use for rain harvesting. Position the rain harvester directly below the downspout on level ground, I suggest using concrete blocks to raise and level it. Set the rain harvester on top of the concrete blocks with the spigot facing the garden. Cut the downspout to fit directly above the rain harvester and wait for a good rain storm. Here is a great video on How to Install a Rain Harvester.

Question: How to I get the water out of the rain harvester?

Answer: Gravity is the simplest and most budget friendly way to remove the water from your rain harvester and into your yard. All you need is a spigot at the bottom of the tank. Unless you need the water to move up to a higher level than where the tank is situated, if so, you will need a pump. You can purchase a pump from your local gardening store as well.

Question: How do I keep mosquitoes from breeding in the barrel?

Answer: To prevent mosquitoes from breeding in the barrel, make sure that the barrel is always covered or has a screened top.

I hope this helped to answer some of your rain harvesting questions.

If you have other questions, please leave them below and I will answer them for you!

Photo Via wwarby.