Snow

[Mt Toaker]

I realize that rain water is the best water to use with organics or any growing for that matter, but what about when that rain is frozen into snow? We just got dumped on in Michigan and I am considering gathering up a bunch of snow and melting it(not boiling to keep the little goodies that I'm after alive) and using it for my 4 ladies.

 

[bongasaurus]

been doing that for a while in the wintery north

only problem is when it melts, you only get like 1/5 the volume of H2O

 

[Mt Toaker]

So the cold doesn't kill off all the good stuff then! Awsome, I'm going to gather a bunch today!

 

[bongasaurus]

not 100% sure on that.

but i figure its better than tap water...

 

[freeradical]

If your rain is good, your snow is good. They both get to the ground the same way.

 

[rckymtnthuglife]

Yep...I do it myself.

 

[Mt Toaker]

so I melted a bunch of snow and its cloudy. . . is this normal?

 

[rckymtnthuglife]

Probably a little cold too....just chill man. If you're really that worried check the pH and ppms yourself. Oh shit you're in MI lots of nasty manufacturing going upwind from you...I'd check my shit if I were you. But as far as the bb's dying because of the cold...they just go dormant man. Just like me in winter.

Peace
Rocky

 

[Mt Toaker]

can you give me a good suggestion of some meters I should buy for ppm, I've never used them before, just ph strips. Its easy to get them from labs

 

[freeradical]

Unless the container is dirty, there isn't going to be anything dissolved in it but gasses.

 

[rckymtnthuglife]

if you don't have problems using the rainwater then your fine

 

[blynx]

You guys are kidding right? Snow and rain are two different things.

Snow holds contaminants and pollution and soot and other particles.

Yea it's free and abundant in areas, but you might be surprised at what's actually 'in' the snow once you collect and melt some.

 

[rckymtnthuglife]

The snow I use typically is 6.5 - 6.7pH and has anywhere from 10-20ppm. It could contaminated with lead at those levels and I wouldn't give a shit.

Obviously, this will be different depending on where you live. And I beg to differ, rain "holds" on to particles, this is how snow and hail are formed, not to mention acid rain.

So I'd guess I'd have to say no I'm not kidding.

 

[Mt Toaker]

So maybe I won't worry about a meter then. . . There are a lot of farms around me so I'm going to say the rain and snow are both good enough. . . After the first watering they seem to like it just fine

 

[Suby]

Snow is fine, make sure you use fresh snow, not a week old snow covered with who know's what shit carried from the wind.
Rain is frozen water so I'm failing to grasp why some peeps are wondering if the good stuff is frozen off, it's not Koolaid or compost tea water it's just water...