Day 271
With the water issues we have experienced (flooded barn, water in the basement, leaky gutters), we have made changes to help prevent future flooding fiascos. We updated our house’s downspouts, did grading work around the barn, installed new barn gutters, and added rain barrels. Of course, as soon as we made all these improvements to help with potential water issues, Wisconsin had back-to-back seasons of extremely lower than normal rainfall.
Over the last few days, that has changed. It seems like Mother Nature is trying to play catch up as she hasn’t shut her faucet off for the last two days. Even though we made improvements, we can’t help but be concerned about what all this water could do.
Whenever there is a large amount of rainfall, there is a moment of trepidation as I walk my steps down into the basement, hoping to avoid any squishy steps of the sound of trickling water. That same anxiety can take over when I open the barn door and hope to avoid seeing growing puddles from the corners slowly advancing inward. Fortunately, these worries have been unfounded over the last year or so.
In the backyard, we have worked on seeing how we might use water to change the land. We may have options to fill ditches which would alter the watery landscape. If we choose to go another route, adding a pond or wetland scrape might be in our future.
Until we make that decision, we can enjoy one feature that has shown itself these last few days.
A chicken lake.
The chicken yard has become a chain of lakes with newly formed puddles scattered around the yard. Our rain barrels filled up quickly and poured into the connected kiddie pool which also quickly filled up before sending water down the gravel slope and into what used to be grass. The speed of the water didn't allow it to be soaked into the ground in a timely manner so puddles grew incredibly fast. The chickens tend to stay inside during rain. Maybe our new waterway will attract some ducks. These lakes are sure to be temporary but hopefully the birds will enjoy it while they last.
