Seed exchange this fall would be great fun!

What I’ve heard in terms of rainwater is that you’re allowed to redirect it, but you’re not allowed to store it. Soooo… when I had all of the gutters (and roof) replaced after the last hail storm, I had the guy who hung the gutters change where a few of the downspouts were so that the water would flow out into the yard instead of just down the alley. Unfortunately, he neglected to re-level the gutters, so the end that points to the alley is still lower than the other end, so now all the water just pools there with no place to go. OY! I don’t think it should be too hard to fix, but we’ll see… guess I have another project on my hands!

I think that technically greywater re-use of any kind is illegal but I doubt you’ll get caught with just a stockpot. I remember a fellow on the news a few years back who had rigged a hose to his washing machine so he could use the greywater to irrigate his lawn. They slapped a pretty hefty fine on him! I think the deal is that they process the water that goes down the drains and return it to the rivers and streams, which contributes to the amount that we’re legally required to make available to the states downstream. That’s the “logic” behind it anyhow.

Mr Simple

RZG123, you and EcoCatLady have inspired me to write a whole post on bindweed. I’ve learned some surprising facts! Thanks for inspiring me, and I’ll post the article soon.

Also, I addressed the rain harvesting question in my reply to Cat above.

Happy digging!

xo

Lois, I LOVE <3 this idea! Thanks for sharing. You inspire me to try and do something similar in our neighborhood.
xo

Dear Cat,

Thanks so much for sharing all of your tips. Your tale about planting seeds from store-bought tomatoes was the best! I love that they are producing good fruit for you. Thank you for your kind offer, and I would love some seeds this fall. Maybe I can return the favor if something grows spectacularly well here.

Regarding rain barrels, I had heard last year that the city was “looking the other way” if you had one, but that attitude may have changed now that we’re in a drought year. I haven’t invested in rain barrels yet because I want to make sure they’re legal here, as they are in many other states.

As far as gray water, my method is very passive. During the summer months I put a large stockpot in the kitchen sink, fill it with water and use it to rinse dishes. Then I use the water to water our garden plants. I can’t imagine that it would be illegal since the alternative would be to let the water go down the drain, but I can’t say for sure.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy gardening!
xo,
Eliza