Image by Kaitong Yepoon from Shutterstock
Rain in its due time is every gardener's dream. Saving and reusing rainwater is a great way to save resources for the garden. One way to collect rainwater and store it for future use is to install a rain chain.
A decorative rain chain can be used in place of a downspout to collect water from the roof. It can be made from a typical chain or series of objects that lead from the roofline into a water storage container. As the rain falls, the chain guides water into the storage container so that it does not immediately soak into the ground. The water can then be used around the garden when the weather is fair.
The rain chain is not just a functional addition to your garden, it can be built from decorative elements that add detail to your outdoor space.
Chains can be built from a single metal chain or several containers that are strung together. Some rain chains are comprised of metal elements, small watering cans, china pieces or bells. For something more unique, you may consider a chain that is built from recycled glass bottles. Constructing rain chains using shapes that hold water, may also attract more birds into your garden.
Rain chains attach to the gutters of your home to collect water during rainfall. A rain chain is smaller than a downpipe so it cannot handle the same volume of water. If you experience heavy rain in your area, keep downspouts in place and use a rain chain as a decorative addition to your space.
I'm John Mahan, Sales Associate with William Raveis Real Estate, Harwich Port Office.
Throughout his childhood, John Mahan spent summers on Cape Cod at his parents’ home in Dennis Port. His intro to the Cape was, as he puts it, when his parents “carried me down the stairs at Sea Street Beach when I was a week old.” With a lifelong connection to Cape Cod, it seemed only natural for John and his wife, Mary, to move to Harwich – where they still reside – with their two young children in 1996.
Prior to moving to Cape Cod, John lived in the Worcester-Auburn area where he worked for Mass Electric for 10 years and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Utility Workers. When John and his family moved to the Cape, he worked at NSTAR for six years.
John began his career in real estate in 2002 when he joined Team Waystack Realty in Harwich Port. He has been a consistent top producing realtor in the Harwich area for the past 20 years. John’s approachable demeanor, combined with an integral understanding of the Cape Cod residential real estate market, have allowed him to build trusting, long-term relationships with his clients – both sellers and buyers.
