Archive of posts filed under the Water Conservation category.
Native Gardens Save Water and Offer Many Benefits
California just got some relieve from four year of drought with an almost normal rainy season. However we are not out of the woods yet. Water conservation is still on every body’s mind. Many people have told me that they use a bucket to catch the cold water from the shower instead of letting it […]
Planning A Landscape With Drought Tolerant Plants
I have always wanted to redo my own landscape using California native plants and to reduce water usage. The recent 4-year drought here made me look harder into what type of plants to use. Very low watering need is most critical. I also want to avoid using chemical fertilizer, pesticide and herbicide. For an aesthetic […]
New Eco-Friendly Products For Green Homes
I went to several conferences and seminars in the last couple of months. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are more and more eco-friendly, health and efficiency oriented products on display for green homes. Many of the products are already available on the market, and some are still under development. I like to […]
Fighting Drought With Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting means capturing and storing rainwater for later use. It should be a consideration of every homeowner, as clean water resources are becoming more and more precious. Many areas have already been drought stricken for several years with continued expectation of rain scarcity. In the western states where the rainy season is approaching, this […]
Laundry to Landscape Greywater Dos and Don’ts
Greywater is a great way to reuse laundary water for landscapes and garden. Here are some tips to do it right and maximize the benefits. Do Make sure greywater is discharged at least 2” below mulch or rocks and is kept underground. Discharge greywater between mulch layers to let mulch filter the greywater and to […]
How To Install A Greywater System
Here is a good video showing you how to install a laundry to landscape greywater system. If you are interested in saving more water on your landscape, consider sheet mulching. Other water saving tips can be found here. Tell us how you are reusing greywater. This forum provides you with resources about home renovation, improvement, […]
Make Your Garden Grow With A Greywater System
The severe drought in the west and mid-west is causing restriction on watering lawn. Drought and water are now on every body’s mind. As many water agencies require mandatory water usage reduction by 10-20%, some homeowners converting their thirsty lawns to drought tolerant gardens. Lawn conversion is clearly the best way to save water as […]
Saving Water by Sheet Mulching
With the severe drought we have this year, water conservation is in everybody’s mind. Outdoor water accounts for 60% of residential usage. Reducing landscape watering can make significant impact. A couple of weeks ago I volunteered at a Lawn to Garden Party in Livermore, organized by StopWaste of Alameda County. The activities were led by […]