Water Harvesting and Landscaping

In New Mexico, the land is very arid and dry. The sun blazes in the sky during the warm summer months, evaporating the majority of the water that is not connected to a larger body. Flying into the Albuquerque airport after spending time in more humid environments, I am normally astounded by the colors that I see out of the window of the plane. There is red, orange, dots of green, and underlying almost all of these colors, different shades of brown. The majority of the landscape in New Mexico is comprised of dirt, and there is a limited amount of biodiversity outside of our life-giving mountain ranges. Despite much of our art and culture is based on the hidden beauty of New Mexico's brown landscape, the people of Santa Fe and the surrounding areas seem to be cultivating more of a love for plants and greenery, and as this takes place, the art of landscaping comes into play.

Green plants and brightly colored flowers are greatly welcomed in contrast to the brown color of the stucco, and while this gift of nature does grace the appearance outside of our homes, it comes with a cost, one that is generally a good deal higher in New Mexico than other states. Water is scarce in our dry environment and therefore less abundant and more costly. It is therefore of great importance not only for the sake of our savings, but the environment in which we live, to conserve more water.

Although it may seem contradictory to have gardens and save water at the same time, there are many ways in which we can enjoy the beauty of nature without depleting its resources. Santa Fe Rain Barrels not only offers a way in which we can store and preserve the water that falls from the sky, but also strategies in landscaping that allow us to use less water in the first place. We understand the need for more plants in our fellow New Mexicans' backyards, and offer our services of landscaping and water harvesting in New Mexico those in need. Please come to us with any questions and requests regarding any of our services.

Thanks!

Reasons to Invest in a Water Harvesting System

Water harvesting systems are essential for the preservation of a clean and reliable water supply in places that are very dry like New Mexico.  For anyone with outdoor plants and gardens that need watering, rain barrels and cisterns are a practical investment that will not only save you water, but also save our water supply from being depleted.  Here are a few reasons to invest in a water harvesting system in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and surrounding areas:

• Rain barrels and other water harvesting systems prevent erosion of the soil underneath canales
• A well thought out water harvesting system can allow for you to never have to use the tap to water outdoor plants again
• By having your own supply of water, limitations to outdoor watering during periods of drought will not affect how much you can water
• Having a water harvesting system at your home can save you a good percentage of the money you spend on your water bill each month
• A sustainable water harvesting system can be low in cost and easy to instal

I hope that you were able to see the logic in investing in a water harvesting system.  Please contact us for more information.

Water Barrels and the Samaúma Tree

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 one of the largest trees 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 rain.

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 which grows more precious every day.

Please visit our website for any information on Water Harvesting Systems in NM. Let the great Samaúma be an example for all of us in conserving water and the environment in which we live.

Three rainbarrels of varying size and color

Samaúma tree
in the Amazon