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Re: Collecting rain off of the roof

Square Foot Gardening List - http://myweb.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

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Hi all!
While you were discussing rain off a roof, I went out and collected rain water
directly.  I planted beets, onions, brocolli, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, and peas
while a soft rain fell.  Second hand rain is probably like second hand smoke and
I did not want any.  Have any of you considered filtering your run-off as it
enters whatever you catch in?  Just a thought.
Is anyone else out there combining sqft gardening with raised beds?
Happy squares,
Carol P.

Ronald E Menold II wrote:

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> > Friends had a solar water heat unit installed, heating water on their roof,
> > and even with a healthy mix of cold water, it was far too hot for a
> > shower.  I think a barrel of it would take a long time to cool to
> > plant-tolerable temperatures.  If you're lucky, rain will be at
> > night.  Then go for it.  Margaret L
> >
>
> Well no one will know for certain unless someone tests the water.
> But here is my two cents, knowing that it is only opinion just like
> everyone else.
>
> As mentioned before, normal rain water only touches the roof for a
> short period of time.  (try throwing a tennis ball to the top of the roof
> and time how long it takes to come down.)  Unlike a solar water
> heater where the water is circulated through the pipes repeatedly
> thus spending far more time in the sun and on the roof than regular
> run off, regular runoff will not be so hot.  And if the water did take
> the heat of the roof into itself, the roof would be cool after the first
> few minutes of rain and any subsequent water would be ambient
> temperature.  So I would expect that rain water from the roof would
> be pretty much ambient temperature.  Also the short time on the roof
> would also not allow it to leach (significant) chemicals out of the
> roof.  Anyway oil (petroleum products) and water don't mix (just
> look at Italian salad dressing in a bottle, you have to shake it and
> then it still separates) Also if the roof material dissolved in water
> you wouldn't have much of a roof left after the first rain.  Now
> mechanical dislodging is another story, yeah you will get chunks or
> pebbles of asphalt in you water but they will just sink to the bottom
> of the barrel.
>
> Also as mentioned this water goes into the ground anyway and soil
> is an excellent filter, this is what all of the fuss about wetlands is
> over, they are nature's natural water treatment plants.  Also the
> plants themselves are filters to some extent purifing the water that
> reaches the fruit/veggie/leaf/stuff you eat.
>
> -Ron (who jumps in every now and again to post a long message)
>
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