Rain Water Capture & Irrigation
And
Urban Farming Project
Rain BarrelsRain Barrels
Rain barrels can be Rain barrels can be recycled ’food grade’ recycled ’food grade’ barrelsbarrels
Cost between $25-50Cost between $25-50 Can be found on-lineCan be found on-line Should have threaded Should have threaded
bunghole on coversbunghole on covers Usually hold about 55 Usually hold about 55
gallons eachgallons each
Elevate the barrelsElevate the barrels
Find a place where the gutter Find a place where the gutter meets a downspoutmeets a downspout
Measure enough room to Measure enough room to place barrel at gutter endplace barrel at gutter end
Build a treated platform so Build a treated platform so barrels fit as high as possiblebarrels fit as high as possible
Leave space for plumbingLeave space for plumbing
Add as many barrels as you Add as many barrels as you wantwant for maximum for maximum storagestorage
We used concrete We used concrete footers under 4”x4”postsfooters under 4”x4”posts
Platform 2”X6” ledger Platform 2”X6” ledger was attached to the was attached to the exterior wall with lag exterior wall with lag bolts bolts
4-5 inches were 4-5 inches were measured between 2”x6” measured between 2”x6” treated floor boards to treated floor boards to accommodate pipesaccommodate pipes
Use galvanized screwsUse galvanized screws
One inch of water on a One inch of water on a 1000 s.f. roof = 600+ gal.1000 s.f. roof = 600+ gal.
Place barrels top downPlace barrels top down
Align bung holes to Align bung holes to spaces between floor spaces between floor slatsslats
Makes sure to leave Makes sure to leave space for 3” PVCspace for 3” PVC
We made vertical We made vertical posts to attach a posts to attach a ‘surround’ to hide the ‘surround’ to hide the barrels barrels
Plumbing for IrrigationPlumbing for Irrigation
We created an irrigation system and a drinking water system in We created an irrigation system and a drinking water system in oneone
First we plumbed the first barrel to gravity feed across the yard to First we plumbed the first barrel to gravity feed across the yard to the planter areathe planter area
Plumb the barrels Plumb the barrels togethertogether
Barrels are plumbed Barrels are plumbed in series with trap for in series with trap for sediment filtration sediment filtration between each barrel. between each barrel. Specialized filters Specialized filters can be added-up to 2 can be added-up to 2 per barrel to create per barrel to create potable or bottled potable or bottled quality water.quality water.
Plumbing features Plumbing features
Irrigation lines are plumbed to first intake barrel Irrigation lines are plumbed to first intake barrel so that irrigation cycle back-flushes filters for so that irrigation cycle back-flushes filters for the rest of the system.the rest of the system.
An automatic timer with a moisture sensor can An automatic timer with a moisture sensor can be added to automate drip irrigation watering of be added to automate drip irrigation watering of garden boxes or plantings.garden boxes or plantings.
Filtered and drinking water are accessed from Filtered and drinking water are accessed from the last barrel in the series allowing it maximum the last barrel in the series allowing it maximum settling and sediment removal through the settling and sediment removal through the filtration system.filtration system.
Sediment FiltrationSediment Filtration GE Profile SmartWater Ultra Plus GE Profile SmartWater Ultra Plus
FQROMFFQROMFReverse Osmosis MembraneReverse Osmosis Membrane
This is a Genuine GE Reverse Osmosis This is a Genuine GE Reverse Osmosis MembraneMembrane
The FQROMF is used on the "Twist The FQROMF is used on the "Twist and Lock" Reverse Osmosis Filter and Lock" Reverse Osmosis Filter System and measures 8.5 inches x 2 System and measures 8.5 inches x 2 inches.inches.The FQROMF Reverse Osmosis The FQROMF Reverse Osmosis Membrane is used on the following Membrane is used on the following GE SmartWater reverse osmosis GE SmartWater reverse osmosis water filter systems including:water filter systems including:
PXRQ15PXRQ15PXRQ15FPXRQ15FPNRQ15PNRQ15PNRQ15FPNRQ15FPNRQ20PNRQ20PNRQ20FPNRQ20FPNRQ20FWWPNRQ20FWWPNRQ15FBLPNRQ15FBL
The GE UltraPlus FQROMF Reverse The GE UltraPlus FQROMF Reverse Osmosis System Membrane uses Osmosis System Membrane uses "Twist & Lock" technology. No tools "Twist & Lock" technology. No tools are required to change this are required to change this membrane.membrane.
The GE UltraPlus FQROMF Reverse Osmosis The GE UltraPlus FQROMF Reverse Osmosis System Membrane removes:System Membrane removes:99.9% of Asbestos99.9% of Asbestos96.0% of Arsenic96.0% of Arsenic99.2% of Barium99.2% of Barium98.4% of Cadmium98.4% of Cadmium96.8% of Chromium (VI)96.8% of Chromium (VI)99.3% of Chromium (III)99.3% of Chromium (III)98.8% of Copper98.8% of Copper99.99% of Cysts99.99% of Cysts98.5% of Lead98.5% of Lead99.37% of Particulates (Class I)99.37% of Particulates (Class I)96.98% of Chlorine96.98% of Chlorine94.1% of Selenium94.1% of Selenium92.0% of TDS92.0% of TDS99.8% of Turbidity99.8% of Turbidity88.7% of Bicarbonate88.7% of Bicarbonate72.0% of Chloride72.0% of Chloride99.3% of Magnesium99.3% of Magnesium80.9% of Nitrate80.9% of Nitrate80.9% of Nitrite80.9% of Nitrite75.0% of Sodium75.0% of Sodium98.2% of Sulfate98.2% of Sulfate92.1% of Tannin92.1% of Tannin96.0% of Zinc96.0% of Zinc
Using FiltersUsing Filters
You can filter:You can filter: Sediment onlySediment only -- IrrigationIrrigation Heavy metalsHeavy metals -- FlushFlush Reverse osmosisReverse osmosis -- Drink Drink Flush systems save drinking waterFlush systems save drinking water Drinking water purification means you Drinking water purification means you
always have water in an emergencyalways have water in an emergency
Run Irrigation Run Irrigation from barrels to planter from barrels to planter
boxesboxes
Run Drip Irrigation Run Drip Irrigation in Boxesin Boxes
Urban Box FarmingUrban Box Farming
The Square Foot MethodThe Square Foot Method
In a 4’x4’ area you can grow enough food In a 4’x4’ area you can grow enough food for one person for one yearfor one person for one year
By dividing your box into square feet you By dividing your box into square feet you can maximize productivitycan maximize productivity
Your crops will rotate in the box depleting Your crops will rotate in the box depleting your soil lessyour soil less
You maximize the variety of food you You maximize the variety of food you growgrow
Planting in BoxesPlanting in Boxes
Planting in boxes Planting in boxes allows you to:allows you to:
Control pestsControl pests Create the optimum Create the optimum
soil and drainage soil and drainage conditionsconditions
Control weedsControl weeds Makes it easier on Makes it easier on
your backyour back
Materials can vary …Materials can vary …
Compost Compost
Turn your Turn your lawn and leaf debrislawn and leaf debris and and food wastefood waste into soil into soil
Go to the Go to the dumpdump and get and get FREE compostFREE compost Organic farms and people with horses Organic farms and people with horses
give away give away organic wasteorganic waste Seaweed and fish gutsSeaweed and fish guts add nutrients add nutrients
and can be found on the fishing pier or at and can be found on the fishing pier or at the beachthe beach
Attach Plastic Liner to Attach Plastic Liner to Inside of BoxInside of Box
Layer yard waste and Layer yard waste and compost to fill boxescompost to fill boxes
Organic Waste, Compost, Organic Waste, Compost, Ashes Ashes
What is Easy to Grow?What is Easy to Grow?
TomatoesTomatoes Two beefsteak plants will Two beefsteak plants will
provide a lot of tomatoes for provide a lot of tomatoes for sandwiches, salads, and sandwiches, salads, and spaghetti sauces. One cherry spaghetti sauces. One cherry tomato plant will provide tomato plant will provide hundreds of little tomatoes for hundreds of little tomatoes for snacking and for salads. They snacking and for salads. They can be purchased at garden can be purchased at garden centers, nurseries, home centers, nurseries, home stores, and even some stores, and even some supermarkets.supermarkets.
Summer SquashSummer Squash A multitude of varieties exist, A multitude of varieties exist,
and all are easy to grow. and all are easy to grow. Options range from buttery Options range from buttery yellow varieties of squash and yellow varieties of squash and zucchini to the traditional zucchini to the traditional green zucchini. Remember, green zucchini. Remember, just plant a few – they’re very just plant a few – they’re very prolific. And, pick ‘em when prolific. And, pick ‘em when they’re small. Some zucchini they’re small. Some zucchini can grow to the size of can grow to the size of baseball bats, but they’re not baseball bats, but they’re not very tasty when they’re that very tasty when they’re that big.big.
..
More Easy-to-Grow FoodMore Easy-to-Grow Food
LettuceLettuce Leaf lettuce is easy to grow, Leaf lettuce is easy to grow,
especially early and late in especially early and late in the season. Some leaf lettuce the season. Some leaf lettuce will quickly bolt (get big and will quickly bolt (get big and produce seed) and get a little produce seed) and get a little bitter in the hot summer.bitter in the hot summer.
Bush BeansBush Beans Beans are easy to grow and Beans are easy to grow and
very nutritional. The large very nutritional. The large seeds are easy to handle.seeds are easy to handle.
SpinachSpinach Spinach is easy to grow, very Spinach is easy to grow, very
nutritious, and is somewhat nutritious, and is somewhat more heat tolerant than more heat tolerant than lettucelettuce
BeetsBeets This root crop is also easy to This root crop is also easy to
grow and good for you. grow and good for you. Beginners need to be Beginners need to be reminded that it is essential to reminded that it is essential to thin the young seedlings so thin the young seedlings so that the remaining plants that the remaining plants have enough room to have enough room to develop.develop.
Square Foot Planting Square Foot Planting MethodMethod
What can grow in a 4’x4’boxWhat can grow in a 4’x4’box
Lettuce Lettuce
6 carrots6 carrotsBeefsteak Beefsteak TomatoesTomatoes
Peas Peas
MarigoldsMarigolds
PeppersPeppers
Cherry Cherry tomatoestomatoes
LettuceLettuce
6 carrots6 carrotssweet sweet
pepperspeppersCarrots Carrots
RadishesRadishesGarlic Garlic
rosemary rosemary
LettuceLettuce
6 carrots6 carrots
3 Broccoli3 Broccoli
HerbsHerbs
SpinachSpinach
KaleKale
Onions Onions garlic garlic
cilantrocilantro
Lettuce Lettuce
6 carrots6 carrots3 Broccoli3 Broccoli
MarigoldsMarigolds
SpinachSpinach
GreensGreensMarigolds Marigolds
peaspeas
Supply Your Own FoodSupply Your Own Food
FertilizerFertilizer If your soil is very healthy, If your soil is very healthy,
it already contains most of it already contains most of the food that your plants the food that your plants will need. A well-balanced will need. A well-balanced organic fertilizer can be organic fertilizer can be added when you plant, and added when you plant, and throughout the season. throughout the season. Organic fertilizers break Organic fertilizers break down slowly, providing down slowly, providing your plants with a steady your plants with a steady nutrient source. Be very nutrient source. Be very careful if you use careful if you use commercial or chemical commercial or chemical fertilizers; it’s easy to fertilizers; it’s easy to overdo it. Too much overdo it. Too much chemical fertilizer will chemical fertilizer will actually kill your plants. actually kill your plants. This “overfeeding” is often This “overfeeding” is often called “burning” the called “burning” the plants*. plants*.
Of course, the best long-Of course, the best long-term solution for creating term solution for creating healthy, vital soil is to healthy, vital soil is to continuously add compost. continuously add compost. If you find that you really If you find that you really like the gardening hobby, like the gardening hobby, you’ll probably want to start you’ll probably want to start your own compost pile, if your own compost pile, if you haven’t already. you haven’t already.
*Many chemical weed killers *Many chemical weed killers work by over-stimulating work by over-stimulating plants so that they “grow plants so that they “grow themselves to death.”themselves to death.”
Weeds and BugsWeeds and Bugs If you garden, you’re going to encounter weeds If you garden, you’re going to encounter weeds
and bugs. The best treatment for weeds is and bugs. The best treatment for weeds is prevention, lots of mulch will significantly reduce prevention, lots of mulch will significantly reduce weed growth. Just be sure that your mulch doesn’t weed growth. Just be sure that your mulch doesn’t prevent water from penetrating into the soil.prevent water from penetrating into the soil.
The issue of bugs is more complex. Some bugs are The issue of bugs is more complex. Some bugs are good, some are bad. The best overall solution is to good, some are bad. The best overall solution is to spray a natural pesticide that will attack the bad spray a natural pesticide that will attack the bad bugs without killing the good bugs. My favorites bugs without killing the good bugs. My favorites are Pyola® and Bulls-Eye™; both are are Pyola® and Bulls-Eye™; both are environmentally responsible.environmentally responsible.
Olive oil, baking soda and chili powder are natural Olive oil, baking soda and chili powder are natural pest deterrents and can be sprayed on to prevent pest deterrents and can be sprayed on to prevent bugs and critters from being attracted to your bugs and critters from being attracted to your plants.plants.
Happy planting! Happy planting!
Need some more questions answered?Need some more questions answered? Need help with planning or building your Need help with planning or building your
system?system?
PLEASE CONTACT US:PLEASE CONTACT US:(561) 244-5365(561) 244-5365
www.huntermarks.orgwww.huntermarks.orgInfo.huntermarks@[email protected]