Let it rain

Our water comes from a well, tapped into the Housatonic watershed, and is wonderfully crisp and cool. However, it is hard, so we have to run it through a water softener to keep it from eventually clogging our pipes with calcium build-up. The key ingredient in the process of softening water is salt, and while the process strips the minerals from the water it does add some amount of salt. As such, we are a little wary of putting the water on our plants so we have decided to rely on Mother Nature to provide.

Last week we went to the Tractor Supply Company and picked up a rain barrel. The plastic jug is formed into a barrel shape, complete with faux straps (which somehow remind me of those McRib sandwiches where they press processed meat into the shape of ribs). The barrel fits under our downspout and catches up to 40 gallons of water. The bottom is fitted with a standard hose spigot, so we can easily hook and up water the garden.

We’ll tell you how it goes.