How many times when we are planning our plot layout do we group our shed and greenhouse in close proximity to each other, usually at one end of the plot? Then we start to lay out the beds and growing area. Great, we're going to need water so what better than to catch it off the shed and greenhouse roofs. Of course, there's the pond available with plenty of supply but for some of us it's either trundling uphill or to the far reaches of the allotment site. Back breaking and time consuming. So it makes sense to have our own water supply and stocks. Now we're getting somewhere.
At first all is well until we hit a dry spell and, even then, it's back to carrying the water up and down the plot. A full watering-can goes nowhere, so off we go again, back to the shed and greenhouse for a refill and back again and again.
Well, I love recycling and creating something out of nothing to give it a new lease of life, so I came up with this idea. When we're out and it rains out comes the umbrella to keep us dry, so I thought why not reverse the concept and turn the brolly upside down and use it as a water catchment device.
Brill. All I need is a damaged brolly and lo-and-behold in the waste bin, at the golf course, is a discarded golfing umbrella. Perfect.
So I bagged it, took it down to my allotment, got a 240 litre barrel, positioned it at the far end of my plot, upturned the brolly, plonked it on top and hey presto, I've got a water collector at the furthest point from my greenhouse and shed. Waited for it to rain and magic, before I knew it the barrel was full. The beauty is you can have catchment containers of any size and in the most convenient place on your plot. Empty one and relocate it where it's best needed next.
As the saying goes, water, water everywhere and not a drop to spare....
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