Rain Barrel Bliss

The most recent and exciting news in our home is that we have a new way to water our garden! I know it may not sound exciting but for Aaron and I, it is. For the past year and a half, Aaron and I have been eyeing rain barrels at the Proctor Farmer’s market and have commented on how nice (and green) it would be to collect our own rainwater. Now we can do just that! What I was not aware of are all the other benefits of collecting rain, beyond cost savings.

After reading information on Dan Borba’s website (the master of rain barrels in Tacoma), I now know there are also lots of other benefits to having a rain barrel. Dan shared that he uses his rainwater to wash off his hands and tools, mix cement, clean his car or just to splash on his face. A surprising statistic is that a 1,200 square foot roof in Tacoma has roughly 27,000 gallons/year falling on it! With 4 downspouts that’s about 7,000 gallons/year! This gets me thinking that maybe we should get a few more barrels…

Another green benefit to collecting rainwater is that it helps protect fish and birds! Quoting Kirk Kirkland from Dan’s website, “September river flows are crucial for salmon. With a portion of our city water coming from the Green River and local wells, saving water at home leaves water in the river when the fish are ready to swim up stream. Moreover, this eventually helps the birds that feed on salmon remaining after spawning.” Interesting!

To see Dan’s rain barrels, visit the Proctor Farmer’s market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more info on rain barrels, check out Dan Borba’s website.