May 2024
Backyard Conversation
Connecting Community + Conservation
Welcome to the Backyard Conversation! Each month we'll be sharing a conservation topic from a more personal viewpoint for our readers and residents.
Rain Barrels
How You Can Be the Change for Clean Water
May is here! And for the Star Wars fans, May the Fourth Be with you.

Those April showers have hopefully brought you some lovely May flowers. Bonus points if they're NATIVE flowers. But wow, wouldn't it be nice if you could capture and reuse some of that rainwater? Well, here's how.


Rain Barrels

Rain barrels are designed to capture rainwater from your roof and store it for later reuse. And they are NOT illegal in Ohio - this is a common misconception. Rainwater catchment is regulated in some states where drought is common, but rain barrels are currently permitted, and often encouraged, in all 50 states! We have so much rain here that they are a great way to capture and reuse the rainwater, keeping rainwater on our property and out of stormwater supply while reducing your tap water consumption. If you use one 50-gallon rain barrel barrel, use the full amount once per week for six months out of the year, you would save 1,300 gallons of tap water per year! Plus, you're reducing the amount of stormwater runoff from your roof and your property - which is excellent for the health and qualify of our local waterways.

You can use the collected rainwater to water your gardens, flowers, or lawn. Rainwater is very soft compared to tap water, and your plants will love it. However, you SHOULD NOT use the collected rainwater for drinking, bathing, or cooking. This is because rainwater from your roof can pick up debris from your roof like leaves, mosquitoes, shingle materialor even bird poop. Rainwater is great for using it outdoors, but you wouldn't want to use it to ingest it by bathing, drinking or cooking with it just in case. For just watering your garden or lawn, it's perfectly safe.


Can I use rainwater to water vegetables and edible plants?

There's some conflicting information online about whether you can or should use collected rainwater on your vegetables and edible plants, but it's really at your personal discretion and comfort level. It is true that rainwater from your roof could have bird poop or other not-so-tasty things in it. Some people prefer to avoid using it on edible plants altogether to be extra safe, but it's really your personal discretion and what you feel comfortable with. Regardless of what you choose, WASH your harvested crops before consuming or cooking with them, which you should be doing regardless.

If you want to use rainwater to water your edible plants, the most important thing to remember is water the soil - not the edible parts of the plant, and wash your harvested food before consuming! This may be harder to do with certain leafy vegetables like lettuce or kale though, but it's a good general rule of thumb and easy to remember.

With that said, it's truly a personal preference and what you feel comfortable with. Some people feel comfortable eating leftover pizza that is left out overnight, but some people just won't ever do that! What kind of person are you? Actually, please don't tell me. I don't want to know.
So Many Models... What Model Should I Buy?

There are a LOT of models out there. They are all different. We have done our research, asked some experts, and out of all of them, we recommend the EarthMinded RainStation Rain Barrel. It is the best, most functional design, and it comes with all the parts you need in one kit. Plus, it meets the requirements for our rebate program (check out the next section for more info on our rebate program!). Installation instructions and videos are easy to find, and parts are easy to replace when they eventually wear down after several years.
rain barrel earthminded rain station
COMMUNITY BACKYARDS
Save Money, Protect Clean Water

Our annual Community Backyards rebate program is OPEN! Fun fact, the program originally started as a rain barrel program over a decade ago, but it has steadily grown into a large program and grassroots (pun, sorry not sorry) movement to help implement backyard conservation in Franklin County. We have had over 20,000 participants since the program started. WOW!

This year's program is open now. Anyone can take the course (online or in-person) to learn about rain barrels, rain gardens, native plants, and composting. Plus, residents of Franklin County and/or participating municipalities can receive a voucher for a rebate. Rebate eligibility depends on where you live and their available funding. Rebates and vouchers are limited to one per household per year, but luckily, you can participate once each year! Attend a workshop or take the online course to participate. Find the info on the program website CommunityBackyards.org
Rain Barrel Rebates
EarthMinded RainStation
Compost Bin Rebates
SWACO Compost Bin
Native Plant Rebates
Purple Coneflower
downspout direction rain garden
Rain Garden Rebates
Available in select participating communities. Extremely limited availability!
Upcoming Events

It will be one busy spring! Check out these events from the District and our partners happening in the next month.

MAY

(Early) JUNE

Our workshops are open to everyone! You are welcome to attend a workshop in another community than where you live. Find more dates and sign ups here. If registration is closed, you're still welcome to just SHOW UP. See the presenters to fill out a voucher request, and we will send it in a couple business days following the workshop.
You're Invited!
Join Franklin SWCD's staff and partners on the Wednesday May 22, 1:30-3:30pm, to celebrate the completion of our H2Ohio wetland grant at our Hellbranch Meadows property. This site also contains a 319 Stream Restoration Project that visitors can view. These two restoration projects help reduce excess stormwater and stormwater pollution from reaching Big Darby Creek through the Hellbranch Run tributary. We hope to see you there!
lonnie get grassy lawn care
Yardening Tips from Lonnie the Garden Gnome

Consider these May "yardening" tips.

  • If you haven't, set up your rain barrel for this year! Need a refresher? Check out our Rain Barrel Resources.
  • If you're considering "No Mow May," you should know that the movement started in England which has a different climate than Ohio. "No Mow April" would be more appropriate in Ohio due to our climate and growing season. We LOVE the sentiment of gardening for pollinators, but not mowing your lawn for a month could cause problems for your grass or with your neighbors and zoning department. Plus, mowing MORE frequently is actually BETTER for your lawn! Letting it go, and chopping off a LOT of grass at one time can stress out the grass, making it more suspectible to disease or pests. If you want to provide food and habitat for pollinators, consider planting native plants instead! Plus, make a further environmental impact by using an electric mower instead of gas to lower your carbon footprint.
Question of the Month
Do you have a rain barrel at home?
Yes
No
N/A
Get the Scoop from Nature Scoop

Want to learn more about backyard conservation, pollinators, and more? Read the latest edition of the monthly newsletter Nature Scoop by Toni Stahl, National Wildlife Federation Habitat Ambassador.

Nature Scoop May 2024 - How to cut our lawns to save pollinators; Plant native plants; Yard and Garden tips & More!

Learn more at www.nwf.org/certify and on Twitter/X @NatureScoopOhio.
Mikaela Mohr
Outreach Program Specialist
Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District
1404 Goodale Blvd. Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43212 
p: 614-486-9613 | e: mmohr@franklinswcd.org
Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District | (614) 486-9613 | www.franklinswcd.org