Monday, June 5, 2006 - - Country Living

It hasn't rained in over a week.
While I am really enjoying the bright, sunny, warm weather I have started worrying about water. This being the first time I've lived on catchment I don't have a feel for how long it takes the tank to empty.

This is our primary catchment tank. It holds 5,000 gallons.
We have a back up that holds 2,500 gallons.
Its a basic concept: It rains, water flows off the roof into the gutters, the gutters flow into the tank.

I wasn't entirely sure how to check the water level. I decided to go with the most straightforward, easy way first. It worked.
I climbed up, opened the hatch at the top, and peaked in. DARK.
Hmm.
Okay, now with flashlight. I see water, but can't tell how much. Its crystal clear so the light just shows the bottom of the tank. A good sign, I suppose, but I still can't see the water level.
Hmm.
Okay, now with heavy artilary..........wooden kitchen spoon. I dip in it and it comes out wet. Good. The water line is only about two feet from the top of the tank.
Showers can continue.


One chore related to catchment is keeping the gutters clean.
Since I figured that some of you would get a kick out of me doing this, I captured a moment digitally.
This is me cleaning the gutter along the back of the house.



I had two really good finds this week: a gutter scoop (the red thing) and a machete.
The gutter scoop made the gutter cleaning easier.
The machete will be essential for making Bandit's fence.
Some of you may be wondering why I need a machete to build a fence. Here's a look at the forest the fence needs to go through.

I harvested our asparagus patch today. Some of the spears had grown five inches from yesterday! Here's the harvest.



Another weird pet moment yesterday. I heard Bandit munching on something. Concerned it was cat food, I went in to check. He was noshing on a bar of soap. He had made his way through about a 1/3 of the bar of Ivory before I caught him. No ill effects thus far.