Reuse What Mother Nature Provides Living in south Florida, it is the norm to have a downpour at some point during the day in the summer months.  I leave my watering cans out so they can catch the raindrops, giving me ample water to quench the thirst of my plants.  This, then, allows me to reduce my consumption of water and saves money!   Collecting rainwater  in a small bucket and/or watering can is a great example of a how a small change can make a big difference.  On a larger scale, you can attach a rain barrel and position it under a downspout.  According to Harvest H20.com, “Lawn and garden watering make up nearly 40% of total household water use during the summer. A rain barrel collects water and stores it for when you need to water plants or wash car. Rain barrels provide an ample supply of free “soft water” containing no chlorine, lime or calcium making it ideal for gardens, flower or the potted plants.” There are many varieties of rain barrels to choose from.  Listed below are some sites that I thought were worthy of sharing: • Bargain Outfitters  has a rain barrel that  hold 50 gallons of water • Green Culture sells an Eco-rain barrel that holds 55 gallons and is made from recycled food and liquid containers • Northern Tool and Equipment  offers a large variety of water collecting systems, ranging from 50 to 104 gallons Rain Barrels are realtively simple and inexpensive to construct.  If you are the home-project type, then these links are for you: • EcoGrrl Network • Southwest Florida Water Management District • DIY Life   Whether you purchase a rain barrel or make one yourself, these rain harvestors are a fantastic way to recycle what Mother Nature provides. Tags: carbon footprint, change, changes, climate change, earth, earth promise, earthpromise, eco-friendly, energy, environment, environmental, environmental footprint, environmental issues, global warming, green, green changes, green future, green hour, green living, green practice, green practices, green revolution, green tips, nature, organic, outdoor, rain, rain barrel, rain recycling, rainwater recycling, reuse, summer, summer ideas

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