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Saving water
+4
polgara
Dandelion
Compostwoman
Jaded Green
8 posters
Page 1 of 1
Saving water
I'm not complaining about this lovely hot weather, but with the water butt empty we are starting to save water for the garden and I wondered what all of you do?
In the past we have siphoned the bath water and could do it again, although on the whole we tend to have showers now.
So the JGs are currently:
We are NOT cutting down on flushing the loo and I think I may have to talk to Miss JG about this. The Junior Jadeds have aways been rather "I'm SO not doing that" in a teenage sort of way, but now they are both older, reason may prevail
Does anyone have any suggestions to share? I've been wondering about the washing up water?
In the past we have siphoned the bath water and could do it again, although on the whole we tend to have showers now.
So the JGs are currently:
- running the shower into a bucket while it warms up
- washing fruit and veg over the washing up bowl and transferring the water to a bucket outside the back door
- running cold tap for a drink of COLD water into a receptacle and then same transfer to outside bucket
We are NOT cutting down on flushing the loo and I think I may have to talk to Miss JG about this. The Junior Jadeds have aways been rather "I'm SO not doing that" in a teenage sort of way, but now they are both older, reason may prevail
Does anyone have any suggestions to share? I've been wondering about the washing up water?
Jaded Green- Homemade Moderator
- Posts : 2321
Join date : 2009-11-09
Location : London
Re: Saving water
Showering while standing in a bowl, so the shower water gets caught as well.
Keeping a jug of water in the fridge, so you don't need to run the cold tap
Wee into a bucket and tip onto the compost
Keeping a jug of water in the fridge, so you don't need to run the cold tap
Wee into a bucket and tip onto the compost
Compostwoman- Posts : 5688
Join date : 2009-11-08
Re: Saving water
Your households sounds similar to our! Our shower is in the bath, so I can put the plug in and save the water. If I don't want a shower I wash my feet at night in a bowl and save the water; I also wash my hair over a bowl and catch the water. I've also been amazed by how much water I use in the kitchen for washing hands, rinsing fruit etc, as I have put an old washing up bowl in the sink to catch it all (though I'm very fussy about no cleaning products in it, or salty water from cooking veg).
We're metered, so I've always been a bit vigilant over water use (especially as we use drinking grade water to flush the loo in the UK, which I feel bad about as many others in the world have appalling water to drink). I did try running upstairs with water in a bucket from the butt in the winter to flush the loo, but i didn't see any appreciable drop in our water use from this (we don't flush the loo every time anyway) and I couldn't interest anyone else in the family in doing this!!
We're metered, so I've always been a bit vigilant over water use (especially as we use drinking grade water to flush the loo in the UK, which I feel bad about as many others in the world have appalling water to drink). I did try running upstairs with water in a bucket from the butt in the winter to flush the loo, but i didn't see any appreciable drop in our water use from this (we don't flush the loo every time anyway) and I couldn't interest anyone else in the family in doing this!!
Dandelion- Admin
- Posts : 5416
Join date : 2010-01-17
Age : 67
Location : Ledbury, Herefordshire
Re: Saving water
Using a 3 tiered steamer, not a lot of cut down, but a bit. Short wash on the washing machine & make sure it is full up. Hit OH over the head with watering can to persuade him NOT to use the hose. We don`t have a bath, so showers are quicker & we don`t use a power shower head.
polgara- Posts : 3028
Join date : 2009-11-16
Age : 77
Location : Sunshine Isle
Re: Saving water
polgara wrote: Hit OH over the head with watering can to persuade him NOT to use the hose.
Sparhawk- Posts : 1787
Join date : 2009-11-15
Age : 56
Location : Isle of Wight
Re: Saving water
If watering , soak the soil at the base of the plants (rather than a general light spraying) and then cover the soil with a mulch to keep in the precious water.
Compostwoman- Posts : 5688
Join date : 2009-11-08
Re: Saving water
Which mulches would you suggest?
Dandelion- Admin
- Posts : 5416
Join date : 2010-01-17
Age : 67
Location : Ledbury, Herefordshire
Re: Saving water
If all else fails, I think newspaper or cardboard work well.
polgara- Posts : 3028
Join date : 2009-11-16
Age : 77
Location : Sunshine Isle
Re: Saving water
I'm doing the short wash on the washing machine too - saves a lot of time as well as water!
Got stuck when I went to put a jug of water in the fridge. Discovered it was too tall and I couldn't face moving the shelves. I must have used a smaller jug last time!
Have just watered the garden with water from the kitchen tap
Got stuck when I went to put a jug of water in the fridge. Discovered it was too tall and I couldn't face moving the shelves. I must have used a smaller jug last time!
Have just watered the garden with water from the kitchen tap
Jaded Green- Homemade Moderator
- Posts : 2321
Join date : 2009-11-09
Location : London
Re: Saving water
Dandelion wrote:Which mulches would you suggest?
As Pol says newspaper or cardboard...I use lawn mowings, but then I have a lot!
leave them to dry out a bit first as they are a bit "hot" when fresh.....
Compostwoman- Posts : 5688
Join date : 2009-11-08
Re: Saving water
Mulching is good.
Also good is hoeing. Not just to stop the weeds using water from the soil, but to create a "dust mulch". Loosening the top couple of centimetres of soil breaks the hydraulic coupling between the soil beneath and the surface, slowing down water loss by evaporation. I've seen this technique used by commercial growers, coordinating so that irrigation is done a day or so before hoeing.
Also good is hoeing. Not just to stop the weeds using water from the soil, but to create a "dust mulch". Loosening the top couple of centimetres of soil breaks the hydraulic coupling between the soil beneath and the surface, slowing down water loss by evaporation. I've seen this technique used by commercial growers, coordinating so that irrigation is done a day or so before hoeing.
Chilli-head- Admin and Boss man
- Posts : 3305
Join date : 2010-02-23
Location : Bedfordshire
Re: Saving water
Yep
"tickling up Mother Earth" is how I have seen it described
A dust mulch is a good thing, especially if nothing else is available as a top mulch
Good suggestion , there!
"tickling up Mother Earth" is how I have seen it described
A dust mulch is a good thing, especially if nothing else is available as a top mulch
Good suggestion , there!
Compostwoman- Posts : 5688
Join date : 2009-11-08
Re: Saving water
Chilli-head wrote:Mulching is good.
Also good is hoeing. Not just to stop the weeds using water from the soil, but to create a "dust mulch". Loosening the top couple of centimetres of soil breaks the hydraulic coupling between the soil beneath and the surface, slowing down water loss by evaporation. I've seen this technique used by commercial growers, coordinating so that irrigation is done a day or so before hoeing.
CH could you give us an idea of what your knowledge base is? as you obviously know lots about lots...so perhaps a bit of background would be helpful to some?
Only if you want to, of course!
Compostwoman- Posts : 5688
Join date : 2009-11-08
Re: Saving water
Ok, I've stuck a bit of info about myself in the Member profiles bit, if anyone wants to know...
On the subject of dust mulches, I've refined my technique for planting out plants raised in modules, paper pots, loo roll cores etc. Inspired by the idea of watering the bottom of a seed drill before sowing, and the method of planting leeks in holes. I dig the planting holes, set the plant module/block in there, and then carefully water round the block to wash some soil around the roots and settle them in (try not to hit the block/rootball itself lest it collapse). Then I fill in the soil. This seems to me better than what I used to do - put the plant in, put the soil back and then water - because it has the "dust mulch" effect to trap the water in, and avoids creating a damp patch as a slug and snail haven right by the nice tender seedling ..
On the subject of dust mulches, I've refined my technique for planting out plants raised in modules, paper pots, loo roll cores etc. Inspired by the idea of watering the bottom of a seed drill before sowing, and the method of planting leeks in holes. I dig the planting holes, set the plant module/block in there, and then carefully water round the block to wash some soil around the roots and settle them in (try not to hit the block/rootball itself lest it collapse). Then I fill in the soil. This seems to me better than what I used to do - put the plant in, put the soil back and then water - because it has the "dust mulch" effect to trap the water in, and avoids creating a damp patch as a slug and snail haven right by the nice tender seedling ..
Chilli-head- Admin and Boss man
- Posts : 3305
Join date : 2010-02-23
Location : Bedfordshire
Re: Saving water
That is exactly how I do leeks as well, and it works for us!
Ditto the "anything in tubes /rootrainers" as well
Ditto the "anything in tubes /rootrainers" as well
Compostwoman- Posts : 5688
Join date : 2009-11-08
Re: Saving water
Think this may be a good time to BUMP this thread for any new ideas.
polgara- Posts : 3028
Join date : 2009-11-16
Age : 77
Location : Sunshine Isle
Re: Saving water
Jaded Green wrote:......
We are NOT cutting down on flushing the loo and I think I may have to talk to Miss JG about this. The Junior Jadeds have aways been rather "I'm SO not doing that" in a teenage sort of way, but now they are both older, reason may prevail
Does anyone have any suggestions to share? .......
Or humor .........
Post the classic sign
"If it's yellow, let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down."
Mike- Posts : 484
Join date : 2009-11-08
Age : 79
Location : Step by Step Farm, Berkshire Mtns, Massachusetts, USA
Re: Saving water
....and be prepared to sprint upstairs for an emergency flush if a visitor arrives and wants to use the loo!!!!
Dandelion- Admin
- Posts : 5416
Join date : 2010-01-17
Age : 67
Location : Ledbury, Herefordshire
Re: Saving water
You can get little sand timers that stick on the wall to put in the shower for teenagers.
Kristy lee- Posts : 144
Join date : 2011-01-20
Location : The Sunshine State of Oz
Re: Saving water
Now that is a good idea Kirsty.
polgara- Posts : 3028
Join date : 2009-11-16
Age : 77
Location : Sunshine Isle
Re: Saving water
For indoor plants, use the leftovers from the tea pot, again not a lot but every bit helps.
Water the garden in the evenings so less evaporates
When defrosting fridge or freezer, save the ice in a bucket & use to water plants.
Water the garden in the evenings so less evaporates
When defrosting fridge or freezer, save the ice in a bucket & use to water plants.
polgara- Posts : 3028
Join date : 2009-11-16
Age : 77
Location : Sunshine Isle
Re: Saving water
I slop the waste aquarium water when I do a water change onto the compost heap. I figure that the reason I'm doing the water changes is to remove nitrates from the aquarium, so thay may as well make themselves useful as a compost accelerator !
Edited to add: Coming back to the issue of mulches, I've had great results this year planting cabbages and broccoli through a layer of brown paper - I have lots of it from work because it seems to have replaced polystyreen chips as packaging material. As well as conserving moisture, it keeps down the weeds and hopefully helps deter root fly. Really clean healthy crop this year
Edited to add: Coming back to the issue of mulches, I've had great results this year planting cabbages and broccoli through a layer of brown paper - I have lots of it from work because it seems to have replaced polystyreen chips as packaging material. As well as conserving moisture, it keeps down the weeds and hopefully helps deter root fly. Really clean healthy crop this year
Chilli-head- Admin and Boss man
- Posts : 3305
Join date : 2010-02-23
Location : Bedfordshire
Re: Saving water
Water you have boiled an egg in is higher in disolved calcium from the shells so I use it on houseplants - they seem to love it.
Compostwoman- Posts : 5688
Join date : 2009-11-08
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