Heavy rainfall and downpours
You’ve probably noticed that in recent years, rain can suddenly come down much harder and in much larger quantities. Back gardens covered with paving quickly become flooded, and densely built-up cities with lots of basement homes can end up underwater. Everyone gets caught up in the chaos. Personally, I don’t find it that surprising. When you see and read how people sometimes treat our planet, I can understand why nature is reacting this way.
If you’ve spent years trying to understand nature, for example by growing your own vegetables, you quickly realise that you can’t control it. Nature simply does what it wants. It’s messy, unplanned and unpredictable. If you’re not used to that or haven’t noticed it, I understand why it might make you frustrated. But if you do understand it, perhaps you can make small changes in your daily life that help create a difference over time.
This certainly isn’t a call for attention or an attempt to push anyone towards an ultra-green lifestyle. I’m simply looking at it as a down-to-earth Dutch person. I write what I think, how I see things, and I hope it inspires people to look at things differently too.
At the moment, we’re very busy transforming our new garden. It used to be completely covered with paving, as you may have seen in earlier photos, but we’ve already made great progress. From paving stones to paving stones, but just a little differently.
A simple first step
What’s an easy step everyone could take to help with the issue above, namely flooding?
Don’t use too many paving stones
Make sure your front or back garden isn’t completely paved. Leave out a paving stone here and there and plant something instead. This allows rainwater to soak into the ground rather than running into the sewer system, which would be a waste.
Rain barrel
Why not collect all that rainwater, which still falls in large amounts during autumn, spring and sometimes even in summer, in a rain barrel? You can then reuse it to water your plants when they need a little extra care. You can easily connect a rain barrel to a downpipe. Just make sure you choose one with an overflow, so excess water can drain away properly.
I have an elho rain barrel myself, with space on top for plants. The flower box also has drainage holes, so any excess water that doesn’t flow through the downpipe still ends up in the barrel.
If you notice your rain barrel regularly overflowing, simply place another one next to it 😊. Make sure it stands on a stable surface so it doesn’t sink under the weight. You can leave the area around it open, allowing excess water to soak straight into the ground. You’ll also notice plenty of insects gathering around the barrel, as they enjoy a refreshing drink or shower too.
The benefits of rainwater
Did you know that rainwater is one of the best things you can give your plants, both indoors and outdoors? It contains much less limescale than tap water. Rainwater helps dissolve the nutrients you added to your garden at the start of the year, such as compost or organic fertilisers, making them easier for plants to absorb. That makes it a win-win situation.
Who is Floor?
Floor Korte, better known as Floors moestuin, is a leading expert in vegetable gardening. Over the past few years, she has fully embraced her passion for growing her own vegetables, herbs and fruit at home. Through her blog Floors moestuin and her Instagram page, she inspires others to start growing their own produce. She has also written two books about sustainable vegetable gardening.
Photo: Hanke Arkenbout Photo
