Country Lore: Harvest Rainwater

June/July 2007
By Doug Ittner 
Goldfish
Image Gallery
Goldfish are useful for mosquito control in water barrels or backyard ponds.
ISTOCKPHOTO/TAMARA MURRAY
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

Collecting rainwater in a barrel is an excellent way to obtain free water for household or patio plants. But if you leave the barrel uncovered, you'll have to do something to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in it.

RELATED CONTENT

One effective and safe means for limiting mosquito populations is by using products containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which is harmless to humans and most other animals. However, there is another inexpensive solution that will turn your rain barrel into a mini ecosystem — add a couple of goldfish. Feeder goldfish are inexpensive (25 cents or less at pet and aquarium stores). I use the American-bred Comet goldfish, which are better adapted to a variety of environments. The Comet eats mosquito larvae and will also feed on algea growth. If they get too big for your barrel, they can be tranferred to a fish tank, backyard pond or even traded for smaller fish.

Your rainwater barrel will be a small habitat for living organisms, as well as provide chemical-free water for your house and patio plants. Maybe a frog will even move in.

— Doug Ittner
Wichita, Kansas
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

  • Joe 6/4/2009 8:35:34 AM

    Most affordable rain barrels I could find (55 gallons) Garden Pal http://www.raintankdepot.com/product.aspx?id=1231
    Bought two - pretty happy. Need one or two more for the garage.

Add Your Comment

Please note that there is currently a problem with the comments function and your comment may or may not post successfully. We are working to correct the problem and thank you for your patience. 

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Mother Earth News readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Mother Earth News?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 66% Off the Cover Price

First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Lighten the Strain on the Earth and Your Budget

Mother Earth News is the guide to living — as one reader stated — “with little money and abundant happiness.” Every issue is an invaluable guide to leading a more sustainable life, covering ideas from fighting rising energy costs and protecting the environment to avoiding unnecessary spending on processed food. You’ll find tips for slashing heating bills; growing fresh, natural produce at home; and more. Mother Earth News helps you cut costs without sacrificing modern luxuries.

At Mother Earth News, we are dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our Earth-Friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $4.95 and get 6 issues of Mother Earth News for only $10.00 (USA only).

You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $14.95 for 6 issues.