I’ve just launched a weekly podcast about water harvesting. And what is water harvesting? It’s actually three things:
- Redirecting rainwater away from where it isn’t wanted to where it is
- Storing rainwater for later use, for example, during a drought
- Recycling “used” water. At my place, I don’t let laundry water go down the drain. Instead, it’s for the fruit trees.
This episode introduces the first of the three main activities of water harvesting, redirecting rainwater away from where it isn’t wanted to where it is.
Let’s talk about where you don’t want rainwater. First and most obvious place is inside your house. And, if your yard is improperly graded, you might be at risk of rainwater flowing into your house and causing a flood.
Shortly after I moved into my house, the ever-efficient neighborhood grapevine informed me that previous owners dealt with this very problem. And, while I was remodeling, I found evidence of in-house flooding.
Redirecting the rainwater via regrading was part of the solution to this problem, and I’ll cover the entire solution in future episodes of the Water Harvesting 101 Podcast.
The second place where you don’t want rainwater pooling? Right next to your house! That can undermine your foundation. And, if you live in an area where houses have basements, you’ll be dealing with chronic moisture problems that can lead to mold and mildew.
So, where do you redirect that water? How about out into your yard, where it can nourish plants and replenish the water table!
Another Learning Opportunity!
Check out Martha’s new audiobook and eBook, Water Harvesting 101. It will help you get your water harvesting journey off to a strong start.