5 Ways to Add Water Conservation to Your Home

 Cindy Thiede photo

Designing a log home that focuses on saving natural resources can lower your long-term costs and make you a conservation rock star. But why stop at the house?

You can easily bring the idea of low-maintenance/high-efficiency design into play when it comes to your landscaping, too. Not only will you boost curb appeal, you’ll also create a lower-maintenance property, allowing you to spend more time enjoying the great outdoors and less time taking care of it. Consider these water-conservation strategies:

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Get curvy.

Nature doesn’t have many straight lines. Putting in paths and garden-bed edging that’s curved or undulating can give your property a better look, and it also prevents soil compaction. That, in turn, lets water soak into the ground more easily and provides better soil stability, reducing potential erosion.

Put trees along water sources.

If your log cabin is on a lake, it’s likely that part of that sweeping lawn down to the water has been cleared of trees for better access. While some shoreline space is helpful, too much can increase the impact of runoff water, making for a less-healthy lake and potential algae bloom. Trees make fantastic filters and stabilize shoreline soil at the same time.

Capture rainwater.

Rain days can be a bummer if you want to be outside, but you can make the most of them by implementing some water-collection tactics. That might mean collecting water in rain barrels that sit under gutters, or putting a larger open tank near your garden areas. Then you can use the water for filling bird baths and hydrating your plants when the sky turns dry.

Check your septic.

This is likely already on your to-do list, but if not, make sure you schedule a yearly checkup. Septic systems that aren’t functioning properly can cause contaminants to leach into the groundwater or nearby lakes and streams.

Get native.

Whenever you can, choose native plants, such as grasses, bushes, trees, and wildflowers. Plants that are native to your region are well-suited for a wide range of conditions, including drought. Also, native wildflowers will attract pollinators like butterflies and honeybees.

Fortunately, increasing the amount of conservation efforts on your land doesn’t require expensive overhauls. Simple and inexpensive strategies that work with your natural environment will go a long way toward smart landscaping and exceptional scenery.

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