• Home
  • About
  • Projects
  • Resources
  • Blog

What is 'Tap the Sky'?

7/22/2015

1 Comment

 
Let the rain kiss you
Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops
Let the rain sing you a lullaby
The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk
The rain makes running pools in the gutter
The rain plays a little sleep song on our roof at night
And I love the rain.


April Rain Song by Langston Hughes

Picture

People have collected the rain for ages, so harvesting rainwater connects us to human experiences worldwide throughout time. Like many sustainable endeavors it is an ancient custom that remains relevant in today’s world. The “old fashioned” practice of collecting the rain makes us think about our own water use as we capture it, measure it and re-use it. In the modern world much of our water use is invisible to us. Establishing a connection with how water flows in and out of our lives is the first step in raising awareness and changing our behavior. 

As more people move to cities, pressure on urban water infrastructure increases. Buildings and pavement reduce the amount of water that percolates into the ground and increases the runoff that our aging pipes have to handle. Green infrastructure (natural rain retention techniques) can provide relief to gray infrastructure (pipes) while also adding natural beauty to our cities. Tap the Sky encourages direct action to strengthen urban water infrastructure, not only as a response to water scarcity but also as a best practice. Water is a precious resource and it should be treated as such!

In places like the bay area where the economy is booming, people are working at the top of their game. They are ambitious, creative and driven; but that energy needs to be tempered with experiences and activities that bring a sense of community and connectedness to others and to the environment. Tap the Sky strives to provide opportunities that do just that. It is the reason that Tap the Sky’s approach to rainwater catchment is centered within the commons, like schools and community gardens. 

In a time when our resources are being stretched thin, it feels good to be proactive in supporting the solutions that are within reach. Harvesting the rain alone will not solve California’s water woes but it is a positive action that we can take to create more resilient urban infrastructure. 

~Kat
1 Comment

    Author

    Kat Sawyer
    Director, Tap the Sky

    Archives

    July 2015

    Categories

    All

Home
About
Projects

Resources
Blog
Get Involved!

To sponsor a rain harvesting project at a school or community garden, contact us!   
Email:  info(at)tapthesky(dot)org  
Picture