More About Using Free Water For Plants

Straying from my blog subject:

In this Thanksgiving season, I’m grateful for God, family and friends. Especially for my husband, who often solves my problems such as: “Where did I put my keys?” (When they were in the wrong part of my purse.)

Last week I wrote about using air conditioner condensate to water my plants. This water drips from the part of my air conditioner which is up in the attic. Until recently I’ve been watering my edible plants–like tomatoes and onions–with this water I accumulate in a 5 gallon bucket.

As I made plans to start this blog, I researched information about using this normally wasted water. After reading a number of articles, I stopped using this water on my edible plants. The more scientific articles mentioned it wasn’t potable or the stuff we should drink. One source to look into this on your computer or hand-held-device is ‘Alliance for Water Efficiency’.

As I thought about this decision, I thought of the bird droppings that fall on my car. They also fall on my garden.  And, I usually eat produce purchased from the local grocery store without even rinsing it. I wondered how this is better for me than the health hazards found in the water from my air conditioner. People have been eating unwashed produce from gardens and farms since the time of Adam and Eve. I don’t remember anything about God saying, “Be sure to wash the fruit you can have before eating it.” I decided that it is not dangerous for me to eat unwashed fruit unless it has garden soil on it. And, it’s probably not unhealthy to use condensate water on plants I end up eating.

My decision to not water edible plants from my bucket wasn’t a wasteful decision. I can easily use all of the collected drippings on my trees and flowering plants. I always need some faucet water in the dry climate I call home. Xeriscaping–planting only desert-type vegetation around my home–would eliminate this need for any extra watering. I’m not giving up my roses. I love greenery but do try to pick plants that aren’t water hogs.