As I was washing the dishes the other day, I realized how much water I was using and dumping down the drain. I thought about how I could be using all of that water to water my garden, and, in an effort to conserve water, I decided to do something about it. The water that comes from washing dishes is called "greywater". Greywater is water that isn't clean enough to drink but can be used to water plants or, in some cases, wash clothes. I decided to put a bucket in my sink to collect any water I use when washing my hands or doing dishes. Once the bucket was full I took it outside to water my garden with. It's surprising how much water we use just from the sink in a day, or even a few hours! Ideally I would like to live by a waterfall and stream where I could wash my hands, dishes, and clothes, but until then this is a great way to save water and is definitely worth doing!
Another way to collect greywater is by putting a bucket in your shower, especially if you’re waiting for the water to get hot. Just make sure any soap or shampoo your using is natural if you choose to keep the bucket in the whole time.