It's done!

Jaun

Community house

Why were here!

We have water!

Dedication of the system

Tim with GeniEye

GeniEye provides clean water

Today began with a mix of excitement and sadness. We’ll see water flow but it’s also our last day at the school. Martha and Jose held a dedication ceremony for system and told us what it meant to them and the families of the school. It was a very emotional ceremony and there was barely a dry eye amongst our team.

After the service, we finished the last of the sand, the final adjustments to the GeniEye Ionization System, the  plumbing was finished and the last of the water arrived. The electric went out but they got a generator and we were able to get the system running while the solar power system charged.

In the afternoon once we were done, Martha requested that those of us who hadn’t been down to the “community” go to visit the families and see first hand how things were and what we had done for the children. Until then, we had a percieved picture of those we were serving. We knew it would be bad, we were afraid it would look like they were a side show. We were assured that they wanted us there. To them it was a sign of hope for their families, to know that people cared. All I can say is there isn’t any possible way I could describe the conditions that many of these families live. You have to experience it to comprehend it fully. Yet in all the adverse conditions, I saw a people who were kind and generous despite their adverse conditions. It was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. May I never forget what I learned on this trip.

Fiesta!

Some of the students

Traditional Columbian dance

Aquascape team

Kids loved pictures

New friends

Kids ran circles around the adults

Barrenquilla Junior football match

Today we had to stop on the way at the local home store for some fittings…due to this we were a bit late getting to school. It was the kids first day back and little did we know they had a fiesta planned for us. It was like suprise party when we arrived. The school yard was packed with kids and they had a show all planned for us. A few of us even joined in with a bit of encouragement. At the end they presented us with traditional Colombian sun hats to remember them by.

We spent the next few hours celebrating with the kids and having tons of pictures taken. Alex commented that he felt like a Disney World mascot. The kids loved taking pictures and seeing themselves on the cameras.

When the festivities were finally done and the kids made their way home, we were back at it. The team was finishing up the solar panels and ionization as well as filling in with the never ending sand. In between the sand deliveries team members took time out to play some soccer or take a well earned rest. 

Many of you know Chris’s passion for soccer, we were fortunate enough to get tickets to a game that night and half the team headed to the stadium along with our hosts (I expect it was for added protection). Two of the ladies decided stay behind as they were a bit worn out and we took Douglass and Julio along. Not only was the game a great cultural experience but watching the fun these kids were having made it all the more special. It was wonderful to see them be kids! The next day Julio’s sister told us that it was the best day of his life. I imagine it was pretty overwhelming for him over all….first day of school, a party and football. It was probably one of the best days as well for us!

Til tomorrow…

Leaving our mark

Ready for the rest of the sand

Covering the basin

Roof view

Kind neighbors

Today started with the same determination as the previous days with one difference. We would have water.  The school and community still did not have water and there wasn’t any rain in sight as it’s the dry season. Inquiries were made into how much it would cost to truck the water in. $400 was the magic number. Carla Whittstock, the founder of the Aqauscape Foundation, put the call out on her blog to the Aquascape family of contractors, distributors and friends. Over $1000 was raised and we were able to start them off with a full system! The difference went to other things the school needed, including two mattresses and a rain barrel for the neighbor we mentioned in Monday’s blog. We had been borrowing  the few pavers she had that were essential to us and had also created a bit of a mess in her yard due to our work. We mentioned to her that we wanted to do something for her. She thought about it for a day and requested a rain barrel (she only had a few 5 gal buckets) and a mattress. It turns out that her and her husband, who is blind, slept on cardboard on a wooden bed frame (she is 70 and he is 81). They were so happy when they came and we in return felt grateful that we could help. Al and Chris also hooked them up with better clothes lines (when the wall came down, so did her lines).

The first 2500 gallons of water arrived that afternoon and the final 7500 would arrive Thursday. We continued to move the sand and hoped to have the sytem completed Thursday afternoon.

Til tomorrow….

Aquablocks Almost Installed

The start of the sand for backfill

April will hate this picture!

The "shop"

Julio, Alex & Douglass

Diana, her sister's and brother

Sorry for the delay in posting, after Monday internet access was basically non-existent for me. So now I’ll get you all up to date.

The day dawned bright and hot. Thank goodness for the strong breezes! Only problem we had was that they constantly filled all our eyes with sand. Everyone by now knew what to expect and set to their assigned tasks. We had some challenges and improvised when possible. We felt like MacGuyver at times. We focused on installing the aquablocks, running the plumbing and packing the system with sand.

Some of the school kids started floating in and out and keeping us entertained throughout the day. One of the things that most impressed me, were two of the teenage boys who came by, Julio and Douglass. Without being asked they stepped in and begain carrying heavy buckets of sand (we had 24 tons to move). It was back breaking and hot! We all did this for three days along with a few very shakey wheel barrows. Everyday they can back and worked alongside the crew.

In between the deliveries, we contractors jumped back in the hole and set about our work and a few of the wonderful ladies who had joined us set about sorting through the all the clothes and shoes that were so generously donated by family and friends. They set about setting up a small “shop” so that when the kids returned to school, they and their families could get some things that they so desperately need.

Up until now, we had all been doing what we had to do for any project. Get in and get it done on schedule. It didn’t really hit me,as we were relatively sheltered so far, until late morning. I looked down and noticed Douglass’s shoes. At first, having a teenage son, I thought “oh look at that fad” instantly realizing they were all he had. They were old black Converse. They were only attached around the toes and tied up like regular sneaks. He was sent to the “shop” were the ladies immediately fitted him out with a new pair and some shirts. Same went for Julio (he’s a shy 14 year old and has never been to school, this will be a first for him).Later we were told how proud he was of his new things and that back in the community he would look like a king.

In the afternoon, some of team went down to the community to meet a few if the families who this system would benefit. When they returned we saw just how horrific, by our standards things really were.From here on out our purpose for being here was magnified. Yes it was hot, we were dirty, we had minor issues but we were happy to be there! To have an opportunity to help ease some of the hardships they face made it all worth while.

Our Team

Basin before we started

Aqua block assembly

300 Aqua blocks

Collapsed wall

Fixed wall

End of day1

Hello everyone and a special hello to two little girls, Isobel and Isla. Well, were do I start, we arrived safely and settled in over the weekend. On Sunday we visited La Rosa de Sharon School to check out the place and see what progress had been made. They were going to have the hole we needed dug and we had hoped to be able to tidy up and get right to the nitty gritty of the project.

We  arrived at the school this morning with high hopes and a determination to get to a certain point for the day. It was a hot 92 degrees with humidity. Rough after coming from our weather!

We hit a few snags along the way such as a wall, that we were really concerned about collapsing, it did, and make shift braces not holding so well, it’s all sand… No worries though everyone was safe. Martha and Jose (wonderful people who run the school) did have the foresight to pull most of  the wall down, thank goodness, before we got there and it was just the last bit which came down. You can see it in the photos. Everyone just took a deep breath and started clean up. By the end of the day we had assembled 300 aqua bocks, shaped the basin,lined it with underlayment and liner. We started to get the blocks in place and the day was over.

I can’t begin to tell you how rewarding it is to be here. The people are so gracious in the face of such adversity. When we arrived at the school, we found that the water had been off for the last three days and know one knew when it would be back on. I was suprised to find out, that it just wasn’t the school without water,it’s the entire community! Just and example of what some people are up against, if  you look at the photo of the hole….check out the house next door, it’s 10 x 10 and what looks like a lean too in the back, that’s their bathroom. Their kitchen is the two buckets by the back door. To put it in perspective, the kids we’re helping here would be thrilled to have such a home. 

After a long and tiring day, were all looking forward to a good night sleep and a early start tomorrow. The goal for that will be to get the holding basin done and start on getting the gutters up which is fraught with it’s own challenges. We’ll also pitch in and get some painting and clean up done of the school during the times when there are “too many cooks in the kitchen” 

I forgot to mention, that the kids aren’t there at the moment. Schools closed for a few days so that we could get in and do what needed to be done without any of them getting hurt. We’ll get to meet all of them on Thursday when school re-opens and we can finish up.

Til tomorrow….

Capturing and reusing rainwater makes dollars and “sense”

• Reduce water bills including city storm sewer charges
• Alleviate demand on municipal systems
• Avoid strict watering schedules

Better for your landscape than municipally treated water

• Rainwater is extremely rich in nutrients
• Using rainwater to irrigate will reduce fertilizer use
• No chemicals have been added to rainwater

How Can You Reuse Rainwater Using Aquascape’s RainXchange™?

• Landscape irrigation for your lawn and flowerbeds
• Washing your car, patio or deck
• Topping off water features, swimming pools, & hot tubs
• Toilet and laundry
• Water supply

• 1 inch of rainfall on a 2,000 sq. ft. residential roof generates 1,250 gallons of water that can be reused.
• That same roof in a region receiving 45 inches of annual rainfall, which is the average for Southeastern Pennsylvania, generates over 55,000 gallons of reusable water.
• The average US household with a 10,000 square foot lot uses 5,000 gallons of water weekly for landscape irrigation.
• Running a sprinkler for 2 hours can use up to 500 gallons of water.

What are the benefits of your new Rainwater Harvesting System?

The Aquascape RainXchange™ System is a revolutionary design that combines a recirculating decorative water feature with a sub-surface rainwater harvest storage system.

Traditional ways of rainwater harvesting do not add beauty or value to your home or office setting. RainXchange™ by Aquascape Inc. adds the beauty of a water feature to a revolutionary system for capturing and reusing our most precious resource, water.

• Clean, Filtered Water Storage: While you enjoy the benefits of a decorative water feature, the RainXchange™ System filters the stored water to prevent stagnation and growth of unhealthy bacteria.
• The RainXchange™ System reveals only a beautiful water feature that integrates easily into existing landscape.
• Locating and storing the water underground maintains the integrity and beauty of your home and landscape.

Additional Benefits

• Creates a Wildlife Habitat because the water stored in the RainXchange™ System is constantly moving and being aerated, it becomes a sanctuary for wildlife.
• Water Feature Lifestyle: enhanced landscaping improves property value and water features provide soothing sights and sounds that help you relax and de-stress in today’s busy world.
• Environmental Conservation: capturing rainwater to operate the water feature creates true self-sustainability, drastically reducing the need for chemically-treated traditional water sources.
• By retaining rainwater on your property you are helping to reduce the amount of storm water runoff and the attendant problems and pollution that can arise after a heavy rainfall.

How Does It Work?

The illustration below describes each of the components of the Aquascape™ RainXchange™ rainwater harvesting system with a Pondless® Waterfall.

Click the image to view the full size in a PDF.

RainXchange™ Products & Solutions

Need more information? Download a PDF of the full Rainwater Harvesting products and solutions guide below:

Rainwater Solutions Guide »

Ready for a Rainwater Harvesting System?

Please contact us to get started with a rainwater harvesting solution today!

Fannie's Family

Students at La Rosa de Sharon School

La Rosa de Sharon School

As many of you know, on January 23, 2010 we will be traveling to Barranquilla, Columbia along with other water garden professionals representing the Aquascape Foundation. The foundation enlisted the help of the International Needs Network to logistically get us where we need to be.

To give you a bit of background on this, we will be installing a rain water collection system with a IonGen to ensure drinkable water. This project will take place at La Rosa de Sharon (The Rose of Sharon) community school.

The school is where poor community children come to receive a quality education along with medical attention, nutritious meals, footwear and cloths. The school has a very unreliable source of water, which they are charged exorbinate rates for when it comes. If there isn’t water the school doesn’t open as they can’t cook or provide sanitation. Many of these children go hungry that day.

The children and teens (450 at the moment) are part of a large community of people that have been displaced and are squatting on government land because it is safe from armed conflict. Many were from farming communities and do not have the skills needed to support their families in an urban environment. These families live in make shift homes, many with dirt floors, no electric or water. unemployment is at 80% and 75% of the families are led by single mothers due to the death of their spouses in the conflicts, drug abuse or simply being left to bare the burden on their own.

There is hope for them. The school is providing medical attention, food and clothes along with the education they need. It’s also teaching many mothers a trade such as that of a seamstress. They are given machines once they achieve their goals along with the hope of a better future for their children.

Our livelihood revolves around water as a luxury. I admit taking it for granted. We are thrilled to be able to be a part of something that will make so many peoples life a bit more bearable and at the same time creating sustainability on our planet.

Thank you to everyone who’s generous donations helped us with this project.We raised $2900.  Please make sure to check for updates and pictures next week. It is our intention to find a way to update as often as possible. You are part of this and for that we are extremely grateful. (If we can’t find access we will update everyone Feb 2nd upon our return)

On a side note, I have had a few people contact us wondering if it was to late to support this project and my answer was “it’s never too late”. As many of you know both IN Network and The Aquascape Foundation are  501 (c) (3) organization’s and 100% tax deductible.

For the Columbia project, just send it to:

IN Network
Margit DeJong
10432 Chicago Drive
Suite 2
Zeeland, MI 49464

Note the team members name as “James Ponds”  Christian Baker. That way it will go directly to the materials for the Columbia project.

Thank you again to everyone and we look forward to updating you.

Diane & Chris Baker

Even though they help to balance the ecosystem, many customers don’t want fish. In fact, some don’t even want a pond! But, they do enjoy the soothing sounds and appearance of a beautiful waterfall. This system makes the installation of water features possible in high liability areas such as shopping centers, office buildings or public facility entrances.

Aside from occasionally adding water due to evaporation loss, these systems are almost entirely maintenance free and, because their is no ecological need to run the system continuously, you can save energy by putting the pump on a timer so it’s only running when you’re at home.

Adding a pondless waterfall in the front yard is a great way to increase property value by enhancing your curb appeal. We plant marginal aquatic plants at the bottom of the gravel bed and the water simply disappears! In most cases it can be designed so that it may be converted to a pond at a later date should you so desire and it’s also very easy to incorporate our rainwater harvesting system into these designs.