by Erin Eddins, Source Publications
Recently it seems all you hear when you turn on the news or stand next to the coffee machine at work is about the rising cost of, well, just about everything. Most agree it stems from the rising fuel prices and then trickles down to basically all other goods and services.
Now we add to that the fact that energy costs are expected to skyrocket. What does that actually mean? Well, I asked Dan Rather that very question. The trouble is he cannot hear me through my television set. So I am left in the same boat you are. I sit and wait. I appreciate when something isn’t rising in price and cringe when it does, yet I do little to either prevent it or to modify my behavior when it does.
To further complicate the increasing demands on my pocketbook, I am really trying to “be green.” And let me tell you, Kermit was right; it’s not easy being green. My poor daughter is forever standing with some small piece of trash in her hand, looking at the three trash bins in the pantry wondering which bin should receive her wrapper. It’s not a can, does it burn, could it be compost?
Don’t get me wrong, it is certainly worth it. We have cut our actual trash levels so low that we no longer have trash service. In the course of a week or two our family of three creates about half a bag of non-recyclable garbage. So it is working.
But enough of the trash talk. I know you are still glancing back at the title wondering when I’m going to tell you about the money. Oh, you’re going to love this idea. It’s great. It’s not new; in fact it is really really old. But as time passes and the cost of everything goes up, this idea gets better and better. Rain barrels.
Here in the
I have been shopping around for rain barrels and have been shocked with what I have found. They are no longer the oversized garbage can replica they used to be. You can pick darn near any style your yard would desire. There are faux terracotta, subtle greens and even metallic finishes. They hold anywhere for 40 to 150 gallons of rain water. And not to worry they have overflow valves…heaven forbid we have a rainy season like last spring.
Some have closed tops to prevent stagnant water and mosquitoes. Others have flower pots on top. But all have a standard spigot near the bottom for you to hook up your garden hose to. No more paying the water company for your outdoor water needs.
Really it’s that simple. But what does something so convenient cost. Certainly you would have to look at the long term value over the course of 10 maybe 15 years to justify purchasing such a wonderful little invention. Well, sit down, the prices are as low as $100 and even the terracotta-style contemporary urn is only $200. So, splurge if you want the fancy one. But at least spring for the $100 baseline. You’ll spend that alone just hosing everything down this summer.