The #depaving groups reclaiming #UrbanGreenSpace

by Jennifer Cole, Mar 21, 2026

"It took two years, but finally, in 2025, Jean Norwood’s dream of turning the parking lot at #MorningstarMissionary Baptist Church in #PortlandOR, into a play area for children and a #FoodGarden with #FruitTrees came true. Working with Norwood to bring her vision to reality was #DepavePortland. Since 2008, the Portland-based nonprofit has been digging up paved surfaces, freeing the trapped soil underneath and #regreening the newly reclaimed space.

"There are an estimated 2 billion parking places in the United States, an area comparable in size to the entire state of Vermont. That figure does not include #sidewalks, schoolyards or other paved surfaces, which, along with #CarParks, trap heat, intensifying the urban #HeatIsland effect in some cases by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit compared with surrounding areas. '#Asphalt makes your space hotter in the summertime, and colder in the wintertime,' Norwood says.

"When asphalt is removed and the soil beneath is exposed, those dynamics begin to reverse. The ground can absorb and store #carbon, and #rainwater is able to filter into the soil rather than running off into sewers. #Trees and #gardens can be planted that provide shade and a #habitat is created for #birds, #insects and other #wildlife.

"This was Norwood’s dream for the parking lot at Morningstar. Going from concrete to fruit trees, though, takes patience. 'First,' she says, 'there was about six months of planning and submitting requests for permitting.'

"Depave guided Norwood and the church through all of it, even seeking out grants to help cover costs. When it came time to depave the parking lot, volunteers recruited by Depave used crowbars, shovels, bare hands and wheelbarrows to lift out the pavement and daylight the soil beneath. Depave also worked with Morningstar on finding contractors to build the play area and raised #GardenBeds, and on choosing the plants for each newly #regreened space. It’s a process Depave has perfected at more than 82 sites across Portland."

https://www.rewildingmag.com/the-depaving-groups-reclaiming-urban-green-space/

#SolarPunkSunday #MoreGreenCities #GreenerCities #RewildingCities #MoreParksLessParkingLots #WildlifeHabitat

How moss could help roads cope with heavy rain, reduce pollution

Som countries are experimenting with #moss in built-up areas to absorb air #pollution. As countries search for #nature-based solutions to #climate and #environmental challenges, #roadside moss is starting to attract attention

Moss could offer environmental benefits over grass, from trapping air pollution to slowing #rainwater runoff during heavy storms.

https://theconversation.com/how-moss-could-help-roads-cope-with-heavy-rain-and-reduce-air-pollution-277686?utm_medium=mastodon_fediverse

#natural #ClimateChange #GlobalWarming

#Rainwater Collecting Laws for Each State

A full list of the laws for rainwater harvesting by each state supported by links to current state legislation, government websites, and Senate, House, and Assembly Bills.

Jeremiah Zac, Updated: February 18, 2026

https://worldwaterreserve.com/is-it-illegal-to-collect-rainwater/

#US #SolarPunkSunday #RainwaterCollection #Rainbarrels #HarvestingRainwater #WaterIsLife

100-Year-Old Way to Filter #Rainwater in a Barrel

by Linda Holliday
February 25, 2015

"During our boiling, broiling, blistering summer of 2012 here in the Missouri Ozarks, water was a topic of conversation wherever we went. Creeks and ponds dried up (some never recovered) and the water table dropped, forcing a few neighbors to have their well pumps lowered or to even have deeper wells drilled.

"Many folks shared memories of rain barrels, cisterns, hand pumps and drawing water with a well bucket as a child, usually on grandpa and grandma’s farm. Some said they’d never want to rely again on those old-time methods of getting water. But, at least they knew how it was done.

"It seems we have lost much practical knowledge in the last 50 or so years because we thought we’d never need it again. Now we are scrambling to relearn those simple know-hows.

"A tattered, 4-inch thick, 1909 book I happily secured for $8 in a thrift store reveals, among umpteen-thousand other every-day skills, how to make homemade water filters. The instructions in 'Household Discoveries and Mrs. Curtis’s Cookbook' are quite basic as everyone had a rain barrel back then and presumably knew how to clean the water. Now, 104 years later, I am thankful the authors had the foresight to preserve their knowledge for us, and pointed out that rainwater collected in barrels from a roof is a necessity in some locations, but also is best for laundry and 'often more wholesome for drinking purposes than hard water.' "

Learn more:
https://www.askaprepper.com/way-filter-rainwater-barrel/

#SolarPunkSunday #WaterFiltration #Rainwater #RainwaterCollection #WaterIsLife #WaterSystems #OldSchoolTechnology #NeoLuddite #OldWays

#Cistern #WaterSystems: How They Work and Why They’re Useful

By Robert Maxwell
Updated on Sep. 26, 2025

"Has your interest in alternative water systems made you ask, what is a cistern? Read on to learn about this ancient way to store and supply water.

The basic idea of a cistern water system, which collects and stores water in or near a home, goes back centuries. In some parts of #WesternAsia, archeologists discovered lime plaster cisterns in the floors of houses that were at least 5,000 years old. Ancient #Romans also used cisterns beneath their houses to catch, filter and store #rainwater.

A cistern is a closed tank, somewhat like a septic tank, but the similarities end there. Instead of sewage, it collects rainwater for household use or irrigation. A home with a well might have a large tank to store water to prevent the well pump from having to work all the time. In some cases, you could consider that tank a cistern, but according to longtime plumber Danny Pen, most cisterns are buried."

Read more:
https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/what-is-a-cistern-water-system/

#SolarPunkSunday #AncientTechnology #ModernAdaptations #Cistern #WaterIsLife #RainwaterCollection #RainwaterCisterns

Or one could #DIY... I keep one of my rainbarrels on a platform, and it helps with water flow!

Best Stands for #RainBarrels to Maximize #WaterHarvesting

Post published:February 13, 2026

"Raising a rain barrel off the ground improves access to the spigot, enhances drainage, and protects the barrel from damp ground. This guide highlights reliable stands designed for 45, 50, and 55-gallon barrels, focusing on durability, load capacity, and weather resistance. The selections below draw from top-rated options that balance robustness with practical design, helping you choose a stand that fits your weather, terrain, and watering needs."

Learn more (Contains affiliate links):
https://theyogicgarden.com/best-stand-for-rain-barrel/

#SolarPunkSunday #WaterHarvesters #RainwaterCollection #RainwaterHarvesting #WaterCollection #Gardening #Rainwater #WaterIsLife

Some good tips here...

How to Set Up a #RainwaterCollection System & 8 #DIY Ideas

Written by Author Lindsay Sheehan Published on March 26, 2021

"This technology can be traced back some 12,000 years in human history, and it makes just as much sense today to take advantage of a precious resource that freely falls from above.

The simplest #RainwaterHarvesting system involves a basic #RainBarrel situated next to your home.

[...]

Gutters made from coated aluminum and vinyl are the best choice for rainwater collection. Galvanized steel gutters are suitable for non-potable systems.

Avoid using gutters made with copper or lead materials."

Learn more:
https://www.ruralsprout.com/rainwater-collection/

#SolarPunkSunday #Rainwater #WaterIsLife #WaterHarvesters #RainHarvest #ClimateChangeGardening

So, before I start posting about #RainwaterCollection and #RainwaterHarvesting, I wanted to point out that while collecting rainwater is legal in most countries (though there can be local restrictions/regulations), there are some states in the #UnitedStates that restrict or prohibit #Rainwater collection.

Can You Go To Jail for Collecting Rainwater?

By Kiersten Hickman
Updated on Nov. 24, 2023

It's fine in most states, but some have stricter rules!

"While most states permit rainwater harvesting and some even encourage it, other states have specific rules and regulations around the topic. These states specify the uses of the water. For example, if the water can be collected for “non-potable” purposes, it means the water is not suitable for drinking but can be used for other things. Potable means it’s safe for drinking, cooking and bathing.

Here are a few with specific rules governing rainwater harvesting.

- #Alaska (rainwater okay, but groundwater is regulated)
- #Arkansas (legal with some regulation)
- #California (legal unless using it for landscaping)
- #Colorado (limited to 110 gallons per day)
- #Illinois (legal with some regulation)
- #Kansas (#WaterRights required, except for domestic use)
- #Louisiana (#cisterns must have covers)
- #Nevada (used to be illegal, but is legal with some restrictions
- #NorthCarolina (regulated)
- #Ohio (regulated for drinking)
- #Oregon (no longer illegal)
- #Texas (regulated)
- #Utah (rules about amounts)
- #WashingtonState (strict rules)

Learn more:
https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/collecting-rain-water-in-these-states-could-be-illegal/

More about the status of individual states:
https://4perfectwater.com/blog/rainwater-harvesting-laws

#SolarPunkSunday #WaterIsLife #WaterCollection #UnitedStates