See the Dairy Mistress field coming up lovely and green! That smoke in the distance is the farmers burning their ditches. This is how they clear out the ditches around here. 
As you know, in preparation for a drought or at least a dry summer we have rain water barrels under every water spout.
Also we will use grey-water to water the young trees and the flower beds. John has connected an ordinary garden hose to the outlet from the washing machine. The hose runs up the laundry wall and out a little basement window and along under the verandah then out into the garden. The pump in the washing machine pumps the wasted water out to the trees. I just move this hose to the base of a new tree every day. I only ever use half of the laundry powder they recommend anyway. 
Do you see that tiny lambs-quarter weed? So sweet. I tried the grey-water for a week on a patch of grass and weeds to see what my laundry powder would do and that patch grew faster than everything else. This is so simple and so effective. And gets more than 100 gallons of water out onto my garden a week. Every now and then I shall put the hose on the drive and do an extra hot wash with lots of vinegar to clean the hose.
The bath-water is next on the list, that might be a little more difficult but Our John has a plan. I said put the whole bath outside, but he is not ready for that yet! The grey-water project is only for flowers and trees, not vegetables.
This is the most dangerous field on the property and the most nutritious. This is alfalfa. 
I use this legume for fattening beef. Grass fed beef will not put on enough weight eating only grass, (grass fed is actually a misnomer) so we need to provide a mixture of good legumes and forbes (forbes is just a fancy word for weeds.. e.g. lambs quarters are forbes and they are very high in iron. I even put them in our salads with the dandelion leaves). Alfalfa is very high in protein. So it is easy for an animal to bloat or get a runny bottom on alfalfa. But they grow beautifully and the dairy cows give rich creamy milk if it is properly managed. So I ration it to one hour in the late morning and one hour in the late afternoon, and padlock the gate so there are no break ins. Do not let them eat alfalfa when it is wet with dew or after a frost.
No looking. 
TonTon and I had a bit of a play yesterday. I still have not finished giving the barn its spring clean but we thought we could do with a break anyway. 
Look Ma no hands, I mean no paws.. ! He looks like he is hovering above the ground! 
Good news about the asparagus sales. The Matriarch read your comments yesterday and took some of your ideas and put the word out around her village that we had fresh organically grown asparagus, and I got an order for 20 pounds almost immediately.
And she is going to set up a table under the tree at the front of her house and we will sell the rest from there. She has an asparagus plant in her garden for the rules. The Matriarch was a school teacher for almost all her teaching life in this village. She grew up here, so it is safe to say she knows just about everyone and will be an excellent vendor. Plus it is garage sale season.
So thank you again wise blog friends. And as a bonus we had a lovely shower of rain yesterday evening. So we are in good shape. It is cool and clear this morning. A great day ahead.
Good morning I bet you find something lovely today, it is that kind of day! It is all about the looking!
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
73 responses to “How to use grey-water to water the garden”
Some of the fields have been burned around here too. You can usually smell it before you even see the smoke. Looks like TonTon had a good time with his frisbee!
I was so impressed when I visited New Zealand – many houses have water containment tanks either on the roof or near by! It’s just silly that everyone of us doesn’t do that – even those of us here in the rain forest. Besides, rainbarrels are endless fun for a kid – full or empty.
Lamb’s quarters are so very nutritious – even healthier than spinach. I was raised on it – such a delicious treat. In Western Canada, for some reason, we call it Pig’s Weed. Perhaps because it grew prolifically around pig pens though now it’s wherever there’s rich soil.
Yah for your neighbour! I bought a bundle of asparagus today and thought of you, Celi!
I’m sure all your asparagus will get bought up C… I’d buy it!
[…] but it really is a huge concern for all farmers at the moment and it made me really enjoy How to use grey water to water the garden article from the Kitchens garden blog. It has really made me think of how we use water, do not […]
Can you believe we have a washer dryer combo here in HK? I only holds about 2 kg of wet clothes, or maybe 3 pairs of underwear and socks in one load. Can’t use it to dry as it is worthless. So every day have to hang out my clothes to dry. I am not even trying to be ego minded it is just out of necessity. I am scared and I don’t really even want to know where our laundry water goes to here in HK from these high rise apartments. Hey what is the update on Daisy and the birthing? did I miss this? Take Care, BAM
Mercy Bam, you are living in another world! No, you have missed nothing. Mama is holding on to her lambs and Daisy is due in late May so everything is about the same! Waiting. not looking! (laughter) c
Ohh Good. I would have felt awful if I missed the big events. Yes it is a different world here. I am so overdue to go home as I severely need a break. Too much Culture…!!! LOL Do you ever feel that way.. we all miss home wherever that may be. Take care, BAM
awesome new about the asparagus! and do you use an organic product in your washing machine? –
I should but i have never seen anything like that in the local stores, so I just use a lot less! c
I would post you some – but the carbon footprint would be awful for the pleasure of using an organic product.
Wow, everything looks so green now! Great news about your asparagus too 😉
Speaking of gray water, here’s a short (2 min) piece on Vimeo that everyone should see… 😉
I’m actually liking the outdoor bath idea….placed under a tree and surrounded by flowers and nature…just watch out tho cuz I could see TonTon jumping in right with you!!
That’s the way to get the grey water idea to work, plumb up the washing machine! Wouldn’t work in a flat unfortunately though and it doesn’t like being stored. I’m glad that you’ve got round your asparagus issues. 🙂
No it would not like to be stored.. icky! c
I had never heard of gray water until moving to the country a few years ago – you are so smart to use it that way – and to wash the hose out…never would have thought of that. The things I learn from you!
[…] are only 1/3 full because of three very dry winters. I read on your blog about collecting and using grey water for the garden. Have you any other suggestions on how a family might respect resources — tips […]