For the last few years “going green” has been a popular trend and a heavy buzzword. Now that more and more products are showing up in the marketplace that promote green living and environmentally friendly, gifting these kind of products is growing.
For the gardner, there are few eco friendly gifts better than rain barrels or composters. Both products allow for the re-use of natural resources to help better sustain a yard or garden. For those that are not familiar with what rain barrels do, rain barrels are used to capture rain water for re-use in other areas. Rain barrels come in all shapes and sizes from small units that are placed below a drain or gutter pipe to large units that are installed underground that come equipped with a pump that make for easy access to the captured water. Many rain barrels themselves are made of recycled plastic, further adding to their environmental benefit. Also, as many gardners can attest to, rain water is far superior to tap water when it comes to water flowers and plants. So with a rain barrel you get free water that is better for your plants..cant beat that.
Compost bins, in a way, are somewhat similar to a rain barrel, but for solid waste. Yard waste, kitchen scraps and other organic material is collected and stored in a conmpost bin where it can naturally break down into a nutrient rich earthy material called humus. This material is then added to gardens, flower beds and even lawns to enhance the quality of the soil and provide vital nutrients. Depending on the materials collected, the composting process can take a month or two to complete. But once you get it going, what you end up with is a continuing process of recycled food and yard waste that can be used all year long thus reducing the dependency on fertilizer and even reducing water usage.
So if you have a gardner or landscape enthusiast on your xmas list, a rain barrel or composter might be a good idea.
