Since acquiring IronFox Farm, Megan and I have had brainstorming sessions on how to adequately and cost-effectively water the plants we grow. Three potential options have emerged; each have their own challenges.
1) City Water – Houses once stood on the acre, but municipal water connections have since been buried. Utilizing this resource would require locating underground connections (possibly under the paved street), trenching the Earth, installation of new pipe and spigots, protecting the water meter, annually prepping equipment for winter, and continuous cost for use.
2) Drilling a Well – IronFox Farm is located very close to the Big Sioux River. The South Dakota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) shows our land on top of the Skunk Creek drainage basin. The DNR also warns that drilling a well could yield water anywhere between 75-400ft depending on the presence of Sioux quartzite (a risky option considering well drilling is often priced per foot)! Once the initial cost has been overcome, water would be plentiful and “free.”
3) Collecting Rainwater – We are fortunate to own a home. Our garage is oversized and reminiscent of a barn. The large surface offered by the garage’s roof encouraged Megan and I to pursue rainwater collection. Roughly 0.62 gallons of water can be collected from 1 square foot of surface area per inch of rain. Since the barrels have been installed, we have collected over 600 gallons from 3 precipitation events. While this water source is free, the cost of installation was significant. Even with donated barrels and tanks, the price tag of gutters, downspouts, barrel stands, plumbing pipe, and fittings approached $600. Fortunately, labor from Megan and my dad was free!
For this growing season, IronFox Farm has committed to collecting and using what the Earth provides. With 600+ gallons in reserve and nearly 250 gallons to be filled, so far so good. However, continued drought conditions in South Dakota is not encouraging. What if June, July, and August are mostly dry? Megan and I will supplement what we can with city water if necessary, but at what cost? Is that a responsible choice? It definitely is not a long-term solution.
We plan to install another system at IronFox Farm once the tool shed has been set. This will be an open event for community members to learn about and help install a rainwater collection system. More details will be shared soon! If you have any questions about rainwater collection systems or would like to get involved with IronFox Farm, please contact us!
Dan EisenVos
