Watering gardens "living" water

[rawpriestess]

Because of the size of our gardens, we used to use regular water and several airator sprinklers to water them, then Dragggon got a brilliant idea.

So, we wouldn't have to drain the well that we are on, and we could water any time as much as we wanted, and so that we could give the plants the best possible water, we bought a huge sump pump, Dragggon tosses it into the lake (he has several screens around it, so no fishies will get caught up in it) and has a huge 2" hose on it, and waters our gardens with it, takes only a few minutes each day, and our plants grew like crazy anyone else try this?

[sweetgoddess]

no, but that is brilliant!

[Jo-anne]

RP your guy is not only a hunk but very smart!!!

[astrup]

I have had and used grey-water systems and rainwater containers for more than two decades.

When I bought a new house in 1997 it had an abandoned well from 1887. I immediately repaired the old pump and also installed a sump pump and dug 2" hoses through-out the gardens so I could water as needed. Not only for the vegatable gardens, but also for the lawn, flower garden and the free range ducks and chickens - wild deer, owls, foxes and other animals enjoy the crystal clear water. I have had the water analyzed and it's cleared for drinking water without any treatment. But as snails might get access to the water and contaminate it I have another well that supplies the household.

Reuse of grey-water after mechanical cleaning is a no-brainer as is re-purposing and the use of rainwater containers.

injoy
astrup

[astrup]

The goats, as the goats were too remote, so it would not be cost effective to run pipes down there I used a water powered pump - so I did not have to have to run wires or use any fossil fuel based energy (NOT good for the environment) to do the pumping. I just put the pump in the stream that crosses thru my property on its way to the sea. Run a hose up to a bucket and installed another hose at the top of the bucket to let any excess water run back into the stream - so I do not have to turn on or off the pump - and NO water is wasted.
If you are interested in sustainable living see www.realgoods.com - they also carry the submersible waterpowered pump

injoy
astrup

[sweetgoddess]

astrup, your place is breathtakingly gorgeous. wow. I am coveting my neighbours property!

[RawTruth]

Hmmm ... well, if any one else has a lake, the question might apply. But, odds are, most members here don't.

Good re-use and management of resources, Astrup.

[rawpriestess]

You don't have to have a lake or river to use a sump pump, you can use a rain barrel, or severl small buckets, you can use a large container of any kind, you can use greay water, you can use shower water.

When we first started watering our gardens, we were on an every other day rationing, and a very limited amount of water we could use, as the well we were on was very old and in need of repair, so we started puttin buckets in our shower, and using our dish wash water, etc to water our gardens.

Once, we started catching rain water with not only a huge barrell, but also a rain catch system, then we found that we could indeed water our gardens without every touching our well.

We also have used the old water in our hot tub (we don't use chlorine) to water our gardens, when we clean it every 6 months, so that works well with our pump too.

So, even if you dont have a lake or river nearby, you can use a sump pump hand worked, or electric, to water gardens, and it is much better for your plants than chlorine.

The most important thing is to not find fault with a system that is conserving, but to find a way that it will work for YOU and your situation.

So, anyone with rain barrels and a sump pump out there.

OH, AND I LOVE THE RIVER PROPERTY, HOW BEAUTIFUL THAT IS. WOW. WISH WE HAD MORE LAND.

[Halo Aglow]

I am currently taking a "People, Science, and the Environment" course and believe it or not I never knew what a Gray Water system was before this course! For shame eh?!

We need to find smart ways to use and re-use water for conservation and Dragggon's idea is great!!! :) I am also loving reading about astrup's conservation activities. I love those photos... *drool* ;)