santa  fe  rain  barrels

For any readers that were planning to go to the Oshara Village Flea Market tomorrow, the 30th of May, to purchase our rain barrels, we apologize for any inconvenience but the fundraiser we had planned for will not be taking place.  There is still a possibility that the fundraiser will be held on a later date.  Despite there being no fundraiser tomorrow, we are still available with a large supply of barrels and other water harvesting systems, and can arrange for a delivery or pickup.

Water harvesting systems have grown tremendously in popularity in Santa Fe and other areas in Northern New Mexico.  Driving around Santa Fe during the day, one can see the tremendous amount of water harvesting systems in the homes of many of the city's residents.  Terra cotta rain barrels compliment the stucco colored houses throughout the city, and large tanks can be hard to miss standing firmly in the yard of some homes, many having a capacity of up to 4000 gallons!  Both rain barrels and tanks/cisterns are good ways to harvest water in the high desert that we live in.  However, for those that are wanting to have even less dependence on city water water, harvesting systems using tanks and cisterns are recommended.  These large water harvesting systems can be incredibly efficient and sustainable.  Some of them collect only rain water, which is directed into the tank or cistern with tubes coming from the canales.  Other water harvesting systems collect gray water from the household, which gets recycled back into the earth when plants are watered. 

The number of ways to design an effective water harvesting system is very large, and more creative ways are coming to be as sustainable living is more recognized for its importance in our lives.  However, no matter what particular method a person employs to collect water, it will always contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle.  Rather than using the limited supply of water that comes shooting out of our faucets, water harvesting systems allow us to consciously harvest the water that comes as rain.  By collecting the rain, we can replenish it back into the earth, and in so doing allow for less of a dependence on outside resources for survival.  As we continue to live more sustainable lifestyles we will have a more positive effect on the earth that we live on, and be able to replenish some of the resources that we have used up out of ignorance.

May we all live more sustainable lives!

After ten years selling rain barrels, we have come a very long way in the water catchment business. Our methods have improved extensively since my dad first began the endeavor, and we have steadily developed from our days vending "food storage" barrels behind our house. We now have a storage yard where we keep the barrels as well as the large cisterns and square, 275 gallon totes that have been growing in popularity. We also sell a number of different fittings and connections which make water harvesting in NM a much easier and more practical investment. Our storage yard in Santa Fe is stocked with barrels of two sizes (50 and 60 gallons), and all available colors; terra cotta, gray, black, and blue, and brown.

Although it may not hit you with the water that comes out of the sink at the turn of a nob and the many green parks and lush yards that scatter our cities, the American Southwest is a dry, arid desert. If you live anywhere between Southern California and New Mexico, don't be fooled by the illusion of our seemingly water-sufficient climate.

Although it may not seem like too big of a threat from the safety of our water-laden homes, this issue will not be going away any time soon. Water doesn't fall from the sky(at least very often) in the Southwest. In a recent article online, writer Alex Steffen describes the situation as being dry and getting dryer with almost no way out of it. The rivers have less water, the sky is not dropping enough water, and hotter years are predicted to be on the way.

So, is there anything we can do to help prevent the landscape of tumbleweeds and cactus from taking over our homes and communities? Can we continue to survive in this relatively harsh living environment?

Although we cannot be certain as to what will come to pass, there are things that we can all do to conserve water that go beyond the basics of quicker showers and more drought resistant plants, even though these things play an important role as well. The concept is simple: when the water comes, catch it! I've seen people use anything from buckets to trash cans to, water troughs. As rain barrel distributors, we are catering to you. Together, we can insure that our homes have reliable Santa Fe Rain Barrels or other water harvesting systems, so that we can continue to maintain our oasis in the middle of the desert.

For more information, feel free to contact us

In the Amazon forest, there grows a giant tree called Samaúma, referred to by the indigenous people as the "mother of trees". The Samaúma is a very tall tree in the forest, and is very easy to notice high above the surrounding greenery, it´s branches reaching out over the plant life underneath like a mother caring for her children. One of the largest living trees known to the human race, the Samaúma has a special purpose in the natural world. The trunk of the Samaúma is hollow, and generally has a bulge in its center as if it were a full belly. Within the trunk is stored a large quantity of water, which in times of drought is released into the ground through its roots, giving life to the surrounding area. In this way the forest is able to survive until the next rainfall.

The story of this tree is a great example for everyone. Just knowing that this kind of consciousness exists in the natural world can be a great hope.

Conserving water with rain barrels and cisterns has a similar effect to the Samaúma tree within our society. By having these containers ready for rain, we can store water in them until it is needed in dry periods. Like this, we can preserve the lives of our plants as well as cut down on our usage of the water that grows more precious every day.

 

Please visit our website for any information on rain barrels in NM, or any other water harvesting systems. Let the great Samaúma be an example for all of us in conserving water and the environment in which we live.

Three rain barrels, some different sizes and color shown Samauma tree in the rainforest

Natural resources in today's world are becoming more and more precious. The amount of plants and animals on the planet slowly decreases as the number of humans increases, throwing the equilibrium of the whole planet off balance. As the human population continues to increase, our consciousness must also increase in order to maintain the balance of the planet. One good way to prevent anything serious from happening is to start taking 100% responsibility for our actions right now, and act consciously in everything we do, keeping in mind the possible negative, and hopefully positive affects that may be a result of everything we do. The human race has been too careless with this earth that we have been given, and the more of us that realize this, the more we can act in a way that supports the natural world around us. By setting this example, those around us will be more encouraged to work towards consciously resolving the problems that have come about through generations of acting unconsciously.

The first thing that we need to do in order to start moving in the right direction is to set our intention in the right place. If we want the world to be a better place, and are constantly thinking about it, we will naturally be more drawn to things that move us in that direction. The more our thoughts are aimed towards conservation, the more we will begin to live more sustainably. This isn't like a math problem which has a logical problem and solution. It is a matter of wanting to feel better, and for the people and world around us to do so as well. The happier and more at peace we are, the more our planet will also feel this vibration and continue to heal itself.

In this way, we should not conserve until it is natural for us to do so. We must first focus on our own well being, and as the quality of our lives increases we will naturally want to take better care of the earth that we live on. We welcome all  to look into our water harvesting systems in New Mexico. We hope to play a part in establishing a world where mother nature is no longer threatened by our presence, and well being is the natural state.

The rain barrel business, although many of you may know it as Santa Fe Rain Barrels, does not sell exclusively to the city of Santa Fe. As demand rises and people have more and more of a need for barrels and water harvesting systems, our range of sale grows further away from our home town. For some time now we have been wholesaling barrels to different locations in Albuquerque, as well as taking orders for tanks and cisterns.

Right now, all barrels being sold in Albuquerque offer a 25 dollar rebate on your water bill, no matter how many you buy. That means you can buy a few barrels, not pay almost anything on your water bill for some time, and not be using as much water after that. I know that it´s easy to think that the water will never stop flowing out of your faucet, but don´t get too attached to that notion! New Mexico is a very dry place, and the groundwater will not last forever, especially at the rate that we are using it up. The more we conserve, the less we will need to later, securing a future with a reliable source of water. There are many places in Albuquerque that are currently carrying our barrels. Osuna Nursery, Purple Sage Garden Center, Hacienda Home Supply, Plantworld, Plants of the Southwest, and CSA (Community Sponsored Agriculture) all buy wholesale orders of barrels, making it easier for us to sell and people in Albuquerque to buy our product.

Rain barrels for Albuquerque and Santa Fe are available to everyone living in one of these cities as well as those who don´t! We also make various trips to Taos, Pecos, Los Alamos, and other nearby areas, as well as ship orders of barrels to Atlanta, Georgia. If you are interested in getting barrels, no matter where you´re from, all you need to do is contact us. The more people that need water catchment in other places, the more likely we will be to deliver barrels to that place.

I hope we can be of help in making the places around us more sustainable and water secure.

Many people view the current situation in the world as one with many problems and obstacles to overcome. For those that choose this viewpoint, that is the reality. However, if we focus on the good things around us, the problems will fall away in order to make more room for what we know to be of value in this world. On that note, why concentrate on not having enough clean water, when we clearly do, and can continue to have enough as long as that is what we truly want.

Santa Fe water harvesting systems create less reliance on water coming from the city, which gives people in our dry city and state the option of watering plants whether or not it is a designated "watering day" during periods of drought. With a water supply that doesn't come from an outside source, locals can be reassured that they are saving money on their water bill, conserving water, and supporting a local economy in which less gas is used to ship in materials. Then they have the freedom grow food sustainably using their rain barrels and other water harvesting systems, which in turn creates a household with less reliance on transported food. The more sustainable you get, the more sustainable you can get!

The water catchment season is in full swing. As soon as the rain stops, we're bound to go back into another dry period. With the water regulations that were taking place before the monsoons, barrels, tanks, and cisterns are the best way to save yourself from either a fine for watering too much, or a high water bill.

Until about a month ago, the city of Santa Fe offered a $30 rebate to people who bought rain barrels. This topic is currently under reconsideration and could be re-initiated in Santa Fe. Anyone buying barrels gets thirty dollars off their water bill with the rebate. So rain barrels and water harvesting systems are a great opportunity to save both water and money!

We are currently fully stocked at our yard off of Agua Fria St. in Santa Fe. We have tanks and cisterns of all different sizes, as well as 50 and 60 gallon barrels. We offer our services to Northern New Mexico (mainly Santa Fe and Albuquerque) both wholesale and individually. We also send shipments to both Atlanta, Georgia, and North Carolina. Our prices can't be beat in Santa Fe and the surrounding area.

We encourage you to contact us regarding any questions or if you would like to take advantage of any of our services.