Hi folks, I just uploaded my Activity 1.2 - I chose rainwater collection as my topic. I have a well, so if I try to water the garden from the house spigot, the water pump runs the entire time. I'm pretty sure the pump is original to the house, so it's at least 60 years old. I've had a rudimentary rain collection "system" (if you can call it that) of 5 gallon buckets and Rubbermaid tubs under the eaves of the shed for the last two years. It does work for hand watering, but the water splashes up onto the shed siding and creates mildew.


In any event, while writing my little piece, I was a bit perplexed by the 'Strategies' part that asked about outside or parallel systems that could provide ideas. There's been some flood mitigation work in my area consisting of restoring (as much as possible in these highly developed suburban areas) stream flows and incorporating planted overflow "benches". I find the idea of these benches kind of intriguing as I'm not sure if actual swales are appropriate on my property with its seasonal high water table. 

I also cited some of my favorite YouTube videos, one on Brad Lancaster and the other (can't remember the guy' name, he's not really a permie) called 'Homesteadonomics' with a very interesting playlist on water catchment. But both guys live in the desert, quite a different environment to often soggy central NY State so I'm not sure if what they do would apply here or not.

Comments welcome.