Rain Barrels – Page 3

On December 2nd we hosted a rain barrel workshop at the San Mateo Library. We are happy to say the workshop was a great success and gave new meaning to the phrase – “every drop counts,” when it comes to rainwater harvesting. We had a full audience and it was a real treat for us to meet so many community members who are passionate about the health of our Bay. Chris and Brad, our local rain barrel specialists, gave great information about how to get started with installing a rain barrel or cistern at home, and we want to share with everyone some of our favorite takeaways.

Rain Barrels are good for the community and your wallet!
Rain barrels help to keep local waters clean by decreasing runoff when it rains, this means rainwater isn’t running down the street, picking up pollutants and debris and taking it down storm drains and into the Ocean and Bay. Besides community health benefits, rain barrels also reap financial benefits as well! On many properties, rainwater travels through the roof gutter, down the rain spout and collects around the sides of the house. The soil around the foundation of the building can expand as it absorbs water then contract as the puddles and soil dry. Over time, this expansion and contraction can weaken the foundation of a home which can result in expensive repairs and many headaches. However, installing a rain barrel diverts the flow of water and captures it for later use instead of potentially causing property damage!! An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The collected rainwater can then be used to water your garden and lawn saving even more money in the process.

Rain barrels are beautiful!
One of our favorite parts of Chris and Brad’s presentation were the pictures of the beautifully decorated rain barrels they have installed. It really opened our eyes to the fact that rain barrels can be a beautiful and unique decorative item for the backyard!

Our favorite is the furtive rain barrel disguised as a rock. We wanted to thank everyone that came to the workshop the past weekend. It was wonderful to meet and speak with like-minded people who care about the environment and the Bay Area community. And for those of you who were unable to make it this time around, we would love to see you at one of our upcoming workshops. You can check out Flows To Bay Challenge calendar to learn more about future workshops and events. And if you’re thinking about getting a rain barrel of your own, be sure to take advantage of our rebate, where most San Mateo County residents can oftentimes be reimbursed for the full cost! For those who were not able to attend, we are planning on hosting another rain barrel workshop in the spring– so stay tuned! Questions? Comments? Please feel free to reach us at anytime at info@flowstobay.org.

Hummingbirds are welcome visitors to many gardens, but can be challenging to attract. Hummingbirds prefer native species for nesting, so it is a good idea to use native plants in your garden if you want attract these beautiful creatures in your backyard. Besides their good looks, Hummingbirds also serve an important purpose by pollinating the plants in your garden. While some plants are pollinated by the wind or are self-pollinating, the vast majority rely on species like hummingbirds to carry pollen from one individual plant to another. When a hummingbird inserts its beak into a flower to drink the nectar, sticky pollen grains cling to the side of its beak.They then move from flower to flower, pollinating the other plants in the garden transferring the pollen grains on their beak as they fly about, allowing plants to reproduce and bloom. Hummingbirds also have great memories and will remember food sources from previous years!

San Mateo County has several Hummingbird species native to the area, including:

Black-chinned Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Costa’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Allen’s Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Broad-billed Hummingbird

Here are our plant recommendations and tips for attracting these beautifully vibrant visitors into your garden:

Plants: Birds have naturally fast metabolisms so plants that produce many flowers are especially attractive to hummingbirds since the food supply will be large enough to feed them. Plants with long tubular flowers and within the red color range are especially prized by hummingbirds. Our top plant choices include California Fuschia and Hummingbird Sage. Other plants that are favored by hummingbirds include:

Coral Bells
Monkeyflower
Coyote Mint
Bush Snapdragon
Penstemon
Cleveland, Autumn and Summer Sage
Baja Fairy Duster
Wooly Blue Curls
Native honeysuckle vine

You can find these plants at our, Our Water Our World partner nurseries, listed here.

If you want the perfect hummingbird sanctuary, be sure to also include a rain garden, bird bath or source of trickling water! Rain gardens can soak up as much as 30 percent more water than conventional lawns, and if planned right, they also provide a natural habitat for hummingbirds. Another water-wise way to maintain your hummingbird sanctuary is with a rain barrel. You can even get a rain barrel rebate on our website here!

Follow these recommendations and expect to see some hummingbirds visiting your garden soon!

Even with recent record rainfalls, Californians suffering through the drought have come to understand that water is a precious resource. There are many small ways to make your home more water friendly here in the San Mateo area. You can also save money by cutting back your monthly water bill.

1. Rain barrels

When the rain comes, collect it. Just one inch of rain on an average roof can equate to 625 gallons of water that will take its course through a vast network of pipes and channels, eventually draining untreated to the Bay. But did you know you can actually save that rainwater and use it for watering your garden before it goes down the drain? Rain barrels can help put rainwater to good use, lighten your water footprint and even reduce flooding. San Mateo residents who buy and install qualifying rain barrels can collect rebates of up to $100 per barrel. Learn more about installation, upkeep and rebate information here: rain barrels.

2. Faucet fixes

A leaky faucet that drips just five times within a minute may be wasting more than 200 gallons of water a year. A quick repair to stop the dripping can help conserve that water. It is also possible to save as much as 70 gallons per month by adding water-saving faucet aerators.

3. Update the washer

Older top-loading machines use 40 gallons of water for a full load of laundry. A high-efficiency washer may use half the water and energy of traditional washers. Update to a high-efficiency model and a rebate may be available through Cal Water. Check for rebates here.

4. Rip up the lawn

Shut off the sprinkler and remove the grass on your property. Replace it with a drought-tolerant landscape. Not sure how to do that? It’s easier than you might think. Attend a free water-efficient landscape class offered by the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency.

5. Permeable Pavements

One of the best ways to reduce runoff is to direct it into the ground. There, it can be filtered by plants or soil instead of running onto sidewalks, streets and into storm drains. Water is absorbed by the plants and trees. Learn more about permeable landscaping here.

Conserving water can save money and the environment. Take one action this week to make your home more water-friendly!

The rainy season is officially upon us. Conscious water use, however, is as important as ever. To reduce your water use this winter, consider installing a rain barrel.

Rain barrels are used to collect rainwater from rooftops and store it for later use in watering your garden. They allow you to supplement your water supply with a sustainable source and help preserve local watersheds by detaining rainfall.

Rain barrels can be purchased from many local hardware stores and online retailers, with prices generally starting around $80 for a 50-gallon unit. Rebates of up to $100 per rain barrel are currently available in San Mateo County, so you can install a rain barrel at your home or business for little or no net cost to you.

When you install a rain barrel, you are helping to maintain a healthy urban watershed by reducing the amount of drinking water used to irrigate your garden, and by reducing the amount of wet weather runoff that would otherwise drain to the public storm water system and ultimately go untreated into our creeks, bay, or the Pacific Ocean

If you have a roof area that drains to a downspout, a level surface on which to locate a rain barrel, and a landscaped area where you can use the captured water, a rain barrel may be a good option for you.

Visit www.BayAreaConservation.org to apply for a rain barrel rebate and get more information on other water conservation rebates available in your community.

With California still facing the effects of a record-breaking drought, Earth Day is the perfect time to teach your kids to take care of our water. Get going now with these family-friendly water-protectors:

1. Build a rain barrel. Capturing rain in a barrel keeps it from flowing through the streets and dirtying the bay and ocean with pollutants picked up along the way. By working with your kids to harvest rainwater—and then using that water to irrigate your lawn and garden—you can also lower your utility bill. For a quick video on installing your rain barrel, check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1i4zMlMSd0&list=PL4FACE8960D56BFF5

2. Go native. Talk to your children about how native plants require very little water to thrive (and therefore go a long way in helping California deal with the drought). Then, head to the nursery and have the kids pick out a native plant (such as California redbuds or California lilacs) for you to bring home and plant together. Check out this resource from UC Davis for a great list of everything from plants to great planting techniques: http://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/arboretum_all_stars.aspx

3. Green your pet care. When it’s time to give your dog a bath, head outdoors with your kids and hose him down in a patch of lawn that needs watering. And instead of dumping leftover water from your cat or dog’s dish, encourage your children to use that water to feed thirsty houseplants.

4. Head to the farm. Visit a local farm to teach kids about efficient irrigation — and to boost their appreciation for locally grown fruits and veggies.

5. Buddy up with bugs. Since pesticides are major water pollutants, pair up with your kids to ward off pests by planting some plants that will lure “good bugs” like ladybugs into your garden. Here’s our look at the top ten bugs you actually WANT in your yard: https://www.flowstobay.org/files/publications/10mostwanted.pdf

6. Plant an organic pest-fighter. Another way to fend off pesky insects without resorting to pesticides: help your kids plant garlic near your tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, or kale. Garlic naturally repels aphids, plus it’s rich in fungus-zapping sulfur.

7. Sign on for a beach cleanup. Taking part in a cleanup with your kids not only keeps the shore in good shape for your next family beach trip: it’s also essential for getting rid of cigarettes, plastic bags, and other trash before they end up in the water and hurt marine life. Feel like helping? Find an event near you.