In 2020, Burlingame residents Don Donoughe and Beth Concoby were ready to make a change. They were not only well aware of California’s need to conserve water, but also tired of their browning lawn and the routine mowing it required. Thus, what started off as an idea to install a single rain barrel blossomed into a full-fledged landscaping “redo,” complete with 5 large rain barrels and a rain garden!
Two years later, Don and Beth have noticed how their rain garden has influenced not only their own enjoyment of the yard, but also their neighbors’. “We’re noticing more people in our neighborhood… I think you somewhat become a catalyst that people see you [making the change] and then others follow.” Plus, they’ve even noticed neighborhood kids enjoying their yard. “They seem kind of fascinated,” noted Beth. One time a little boy passed by and said “Oh, now THAT’S landscaping.”
Early Beginnings
Driven by Beth’s weariness of the grass lawn and Don’s interest in capturing water on-site, the two began researching rain catchment systems. Don reached out to contractors they had heard about from a webinar and was quickly introduced to the idea of a rain garden. Beth found the idea particularly appealing, as they could keep rain water on-site from their rain barrels for use around the garden, while the new landscaping would absorb any excess water into the ground instead of heading straight for the Bay. Plus, Beth noted that “if we were going to do it, installing just one rain barrel made no sense… you might as well capture as much rain as you can.” So, Beth and Don decided on five big rain cisterns, each with a capacity of 530 gallons, and a whole new landscape for their yard. A drip irrigation system connected to their cisterns would help water their reimagined landscape into a self-sufficient system.
Two Years Later
Today, Beth and Don are noticing a plethora of benefits from their rain catchment setup!
- Water Capture: Don and Beth’s entire setup now captures around “80 to 90% of the water off the roof… either into the rain barrels or the soil.”
- Water Bill Savings: While the new plants required an initial increased water usage to become established, Don mentioned that they “are starting to realize more savings now”
- Maintenance & Aesthetics: Their new rain garden is not only practical, but also beautiful! Don said, “It’s nice to not be out there cutting grass…trying to make the yard look nice because it’s so much more interesting now. And it’s low maintenance. So, there’s more than just the water savings. It just looks really good.”
- Reduced Herbicides & Pesticides: By having a rain garden filled with native plants, “you’re not using any herbicides or insecticides. So that is reducing the pollution going to the bay from runoff” said Beth.
- Pollinators: Beth has noticed that their yard now attracts quite a few pollinator friends like bees and hummingbirds.
Lastly, the two now enjoy the fun and satisfaction of their landscaping switchup! For example, Don told a tale of how heavy storms from last December filled up their rain barrel tanks, causing overflow into the swale. “We basically had a little creek out there that was full of water. And it was very, very exciting… It was fun to see!”
Key Lesson Learned from Don & Beth
Feeling inspired to start on your own rain garden or rain barrel journey? Here’s some advice from our water capturing champs!
Don and Beth both agreed that it’s crucial to decide on your project’s scope early on. Whether you’re working with a professional contractor or planning to DIY your rain catchment setup, having a defined scope can help you plan, remain within your budget, and get an idea of how much work will be required.
When asked if they would recommend it to anyone else, Beth responded with “Oh, absolutely… I think it’s pretty important to do what you can to get drought tolerance and to remove thirsty plants.” Plus, Beth noted, “We get more joy out of our yard without the grass. It’s more interesting. We enjoy spending time in it more.”
So, whether you want to capture and conserve water with growing concern for the drought or simply want to do away with a browning lawn, consider implementing your very own rain catchment system! Everything from a single rain barrel to a complete landscaping switch up makes a difference.
Additional Resources
- Rain Barrel Resources: Learn more about rain barrel benefits and the opportunity to receive a rebate up to $200 by checking out this page.
- Rain Garden Rebates: Learn about the Lawn Be Gone! and Rain Garden Rebate Program here.
- Rain Garden Blog: Check out this past blog post on rain gardens, what they are, and how to get started.
