Water, the source of life

Happy world water day! Water is such an essential part of life, something we should not take for granted! When we first managed to pump water from a stream on our property through a filter an into a tank it was a crazy revolution for us. It made life so much easier than having to drive away and pick up water in smaller tanks and carry, carry, carry and carry some more. We got a little spoiled with what seemed to be a never-ending fresh water supply. Summer came with the absence of rain for months and our stream dried out! No more possibility for our rainwater harvest, and no water in close proximity gave us a reminder of the value of this extremely essential resource that we should always be mindful about and cherish. We watched the slow death of many of our vegetables as we had to prioritize water for our guests.

 

Such an important reminder for us to be more mindful about our water usage, not to mention cherish the rain. I know right, the rain sometimes bums us out, especially when living outside and having to work in the rain, but next time you feel annoyed with the weather, remind yourself about how essential water is, the source of life. Did you know?

• Nearly 97 percent of the world’s water is salty or otherwise undrinkable. Another 2 percent is locked in ice caps and glaciers. That leaves just 1 percent for all of humanity’s needs – all its agricultural, residential, manufacturing, community, and personal needs.
• Water regulates the Earth’s temperature. It also regulates the temperature of the human body, carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, cushions joints, protects organs and tissues, and removes waste.
• A living tree is about 75 percent water.
• A person can live about a month without food, but only about a week without water.
• The average total home water use for each person in US is about 380 liters a day. During medieval times, a person used only 38 liters per day.

In Norway there is a saying; ‘Det finns ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlig klær’, which translates to: ‘There is no bad weather, only bad clothes’. I guess it only logical, you have to embrace the fact that the weather is unpredictable in Norway; lots of rain, snow, cold, warm, you never know, sometimes it feels like you have all four seasons in one day, so there is nothing else to do then embrace it. As a Norwegian I have to admit, sometimes the weather seems to be too bad for any clothes to deal with, but 99% of the time, if you have proper clothes, a hike in the rain can be the most beautiful thing.

Next time it is raining I challenge you to go outside, feel the touch of the raindrops, do a little rain dance, and give your gratitude to every drop that is falling.