Creating a system that catches run-off rainwater from the roof and then using it to water the garden is both efficient and more environmentally useful than using shower water. Rain runs off roofs, cascades over the streets and washes filth into the water systems.

I haven't yet posted anything about this on my blog, but I went to reception for a community garden in Crown Heights that installed rain barrels. So I will post those pictures soon.

Also, you can create a rain garden that absorbs run off and these plants transform boggy backyards from being damp and attracting mosquitoes to reasonably dry.

Finally, we're all flushing the chemicals from our systems into the water system. Baby steps have been taken to separate water from nitrates in urine. Two NYC artists have been studying this and created DIY kits.
visit: www.citydirt.net/city_dirt/drinkpeedrinkpeedrinkpee.html

Posted by: CityDirt at March 26, 2008 6:07 PM in response to Grey water use

Bats are good. In fact you'd be lucky to get them to nest in your yard--and they look for nesting sites in the spring. Keep in mind, the boxes need to be exposed to 6 hours of direct light a day and in NYC bat boxes need to be painted dark colors to retain heat.

You can read more about bat boxes here: http://www.citydirt.net/city_dirt/post_11.html

Posted by: CityDirt at March 3, 2008 9:59 PM in response to Mosquitos in brownstone gardens

Have a Liberty Mosquito Magnet and it catches thousands of mosquitos...but what's a thousand when you have 10s or 100s of thousands, at least that's what it feels like. I bought it last summer late and never had a chance to catch up on the population, and this summer got an early start and it was really good until a part in the Magnet broke and we were without it for 3 weeks. That gave the mosquito population time to build up again. I'll report again in another 2 weeks as it's been back up and operating for about 2-3 weeks.

Posted by: altaholic at August 7, 2008 12:05 AM in response to Mosquitos in brownstone gardens

I've been gardening in Bed-Stuy since 1992. Mosquitos were always a minor nuisance. This year was terrible! I use a eucalyptus based spray to keep them at bay but I have only had limited success. Here it is September and I am still getting bitten.

Posted by: Lynne at September 22, 2008 6:48 PM in response to Mosquitos in brownstone gardens

Hi everyone...I just joined this forum! Although I'm not exactly in the boroughs, I'm on the south shore in Nassau county, close in to Bklyn and Queens...I have lived a good part of my life in Bklyn (born there) and in Queens before ending up on the *Island*!
This mosquito thread is really pulling me in due to my severe mosquito problem that I'm experiencing this summer for the FIRST time in the 28 years I'm living in this house..
these little bastards are out in daylight hours and are making it almost impossible for me to garden or enjoy the birds that I feed and water...(6 different bird feeders and 4 birdbaths). I keep the feeders clean and change the water daily or close to it. I don't think this is the cause of these millions of daylight biters....but...what could be going on here???
sharadacats

Posted by: sharadacats at September 30, 2008 7:20 PM in response to Mosquitos in brownstone gardens