Rain!

Rain, yesterday it rained for hours, a beautiful, gentle, life-giving, life-sustaining and life-saving rain. If we take water for granted, many of us aren't even that kind to rain, we simply hate it. A foolish feeling when you stop to think about how important it is to our survival, for rain is water, seems simple enough, and water feeds the plants which either feed us directly or feed the beings which feed us. Either way, no water, no plants, no food that is how it works.

I went out to a meeting last night and as I stood waiting for my ride, I watched the rain roll down the street. If there is any more obvious sign that shows our disdain for rain, it is how we waste it when it falls. I live on a hill, about half way up. It is a favourite spot for skateboarders because it is steep enough for them to get a good ride. The rain which rolls off our rooftops, sidewalks, and roads runs like a small river down it whenever we have a decent storm. It runs until it reaches a drain which takes it into the sewer system and away from us forever. If the rain is heavy enough the sewers can back up and flood adjacent basements. Good design that a build in human made flood system. Good work for people who clean and repair basements.

There are some homes with rain barrels which catch and store this precious liquid for a time when it will be needed and that time always comes. Our community garden has two rain barrels. These barrels save the garden last year. The Regent Street Community Garden is located in a great site because it has an excellent view of the Lake and is relatively private. This site receives full sun and winds blow across it all day. Needless to say it dries up fast. The rain barrels make the garden plots possible.

Greenroofs, which we will look at in more detail next week, help control the runoff and green the area as well.

On another note, the peas in my balcony garden are peeking their heads up. I may get two crops this year. Last year's pea plants produced all summer long. I will be planting the pumpkin and squash this coming weekend and most of the other gardens plants as well. This is one of my favourite times, I work the soil for a living but planting my own garden always brings me a feeling of joy and security.

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