Re: The value of water

Chas asks
----->+++++--------------
>Do you have the concept of gray water (that's not meant to be insulting, I
>just don't know how widespread the term is!). Water from your kitchen sink,
>shower and bath could probably be put on your plants. You shold re-use all
>non-sewer type water! ---Chas---

I think the kitchen sink water is too greasy to use but all our bath water
is drained onto a bog garden I made up.
I excavated a hole 1m deep x 5m x 1.5m, lined it with plastic with small
holes about every .5m apart a refilled it. Water percolates through slowly &
doesn't go bad but still retains enough moisture to grow streamside & soak
area plants OK. Its been going about 3 years now & been a great success. My
only main loss has been a Gunnera manicata which never resprouted after its
winter dormancy in this last season. We only use natural soap products &
watch for any hard detergents or the like being used as I understand you can
then run into phosphate buildup problems.
It handles my waste water marvellously - lets face it , every time you pull
the plug its money down the drain - and extends the range of what I can grow
during the summer dry. Winter sogginess & flooding seems to cause no
problems.

Regards

Glenn Breayley. Ragnarok & Valhalla Research.
POBox 26158, Hout Bay, 7872, Capetown, South Africa
Ph/Fax SA 021 7904253 E-mail valhalla@iafrica.com
Wholesale nurseryman & Tillandsia specialist wholesale & retail grower.
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index