Our two rain barrels are indispensable features of our permaculture landscape.

They capture water when it’s plentiful and provide it when it’s scarce, reduce waste from run-off, and turn peripheral spaces of our landscape into vital resource banks.

Pennsylvania is considered a ‘water rich’ state and averages 40+ inches of precipitation each year. In natural landscapes, more than a quarter of that precipitation can permeate the soil and bedrock to recharge aquifers that provide household water to more than 3.5 million state residents from 1+ million private wells (including ours at Satoyama!). Water is filtered naturally as it passes through layers of soil and communities of roots and other organisms. Half of all precipitation is able to evaporate from watersheds (or transpirate from plants) into local weather systems, while under a quarter of water is lost to run-off.

Water cycle model for undeveloped land in Pennsylvania, excerpted from Rizzo, D. Homeowners guide to stormwater management [PowerPoint PDF]. Penn State Extension.



In areas with more development, these values reverse in earnest - less than a quarter of precipitation permeates paved and other developed surfaces to replenish aquifers, approximately a quarter evaporates into local weather systems, and more than half of precipitation is lost to run-off. (Ironically, land development typically means increased population density, at the same time that it reduces the carrying capacity of the land to support more people with the water they need to live.) High population density areas rely on municipal or private water sources, such as reservoirs, which are replenished by run-off but require filtration and chemical treatment to mitigate pollution.

Water cycle model for developed land in Pennsylvania, excerpted from Rizzo, D. Homeowners guide to stormwater management [PowerPoint PDF]. Penn State Extension.



While rain barrel water is not potable and should not be used for drinking, cooking, or personal hygiene, we find a number of other uses for it on the homestead - from watering plants* to rinsing our garden tools! In periods of extreme drought, harvested rainwater can be used to conserve household water use for purposes like laundering clothes and flushing toilets (incidentally, the two top uses of domestic water!).

We look forward to sharing our passion for rainwater harvesting at the Satoyama Presents! Make-It-Rain Barrel Assembly Workshop on Saturday, November 7th!

*Pending further study of rain barrel water safety, watering edible plants with harvested rainwater is not recommended.



American Forests. (2015). Clean air & water.

Beki-Rebekah. (2012). Safety of rooftop/rain barrel collected water.



Camel’s Hump Rain Barrels. [A local company who upcycles food storage barrels into rain harvesting systems.] http://www.camels-hump.com/

Day, M. (2015). Want clean water? Filter with soil. Michigan State University Extension.



Penn State Extension. Private water system FAQs.

—. Rain barrels.



Rizzo, D. Homeowners guide to stormwater management [PowerPoint PDF]. Penn State Extension.



Swistock, B. Household water conservation. UH164. Penn State Extension.



Timber Press. (2013). The twelve principles of permaculture. [Excerpted from: Shein, C. (2013). The Vegetable Gardener’s Guide to Permaculture: Creating An Edible Ecosystem. Portland, OR: Timber Press.]