Water holds immense value. People use water in different ways daily, including drinking, agriculture, industry, recreation, hygiene, sanitation, and health care. World Water Day is observed each year on March 22 to promote the responsible use of water and access to safe water for everyone.

In short, it is critical and something we need to sustain life on the planet.

With the increase in drought, especially extreme drought and the accessibility of water sources. Our friend and sustainability leader David Bainbridge says, “ Farmers and gardeners urgently need to produce more with less water while minimizing the time required to irrigate and weed their gardens or fields.”

So here are our top 5 ways to conserve water in our gardens this year so we can start feeling good about doing something vs nothing.

1. Oyas/ollas are an ancient method of localized plant irrigation that is still one of the most efficient forms of watering. It saves up to 70% compared to a sprinkler system.
2. Mulching can save up to 50% water and protects the garden's topsoil from harsh temperatures. There are several different ways and sources of mulch, so find one that works for you.
3. Keep a consistent watering schedule. There’s no extra cost, but watering early in the morning vs the middle of the day is a huge way to save water and effectively hydrate your plants. Watering in the morning allows the plants to drink what they need, and the water on the surrounding plants can evaporate.
4. Lawns can be highly water and chemical dependent. So, this year I encourage you to let it grow! You’ll use less water, have happy pollinators, or even better than letting your lawn grow. Install raised beds instead!
5. Rain barrels and home water catchment systems are a great way to capture and store excess water. They are relatively affordable and easy to install, with many design options to fit most homes and garden layouts.

Water is such a precious resource we literally can’t do without. We all need to do our part and try and conserve water in our gardens!

Happy gardening, 

Josh