Gutter Mouth

Jon invoked alarming new swear words this week, all due to hanging gutters for the first time along our rooflines to capture the torrential rainwater we're expecting from New Mexico's annual monsoon season (usually July-Sept). This is a project we've been talking about since we first moved in more than 1-1/2 years ago, and I must say, he did a *stellar* job (see photo at left. Impressive, no?). It's not easy, and it's not cheap.

But it's worth every new swear word Jon has uttered.













The gutters will run along the rooflines of our home, our detached garage/workout room/tack room/barn (kind of a large structure), and the lean-to shed.

I don't have the exact calculations handy, but with even just one of these roof surfaces, one can catch a shitload of rainwater from even a very light sprinkle in the middle of a desert (Albuquerque only averages about 7 inches of rain a year). Forgive the swearing--it's contagious....

Anyway, the cubic feet of water we can collect from that small amount of rain will enable us to water our ever growing garden area all summer long and then some. If you don't believe us, well--we experienced it last year, albeit by collecting rain water from the roof in 5-gallon buckets and running them off to dump into our gargantuan water tank; however, if you need further proof: http://www.harvestingrainwater.com/.

Hey, we're not complete nut-jobs. Just practical. Viva el agua!

P.S. Credit goes to our friend Ethan for coining Jon's new moniker, "Gutter Mouth".