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Make the most of April showers
Let’s break down Virginia’s code to rainwater harvesting. | Photo via City of Richmond
Richmond gets its fair share of rain — an average of 3-4 inches per month, according to the Virginia Climate Center at GMU. Harvested rainwater could come in handy, like in the event of anunexpected water crisis or a suddenly increased energy bill.
We’re here to help you decode Virginia’s guidelines so you can make the most of your natural resources.
Do you need a permit?
You only need to acquire a permit if you plan to harvest rainwater for human consumption (Tier 4). Non-potable reuse, such as watering plants, flushing toilets, and car washing, requires free online registration.
Attend a workshop + get a starter kit
If you’d like a little help getting started, consider joining a local workshop to cover the basics:
Starting in mid-April, the James River Association will host four Rain Barrel Workshops at various Richmond library locations.
Registration is $50, which includes a 55-gallon drum and DIY rain barrel installation kit for you to take home.
Click on this photo of the link below to take a closer look at this West End estate.
Photo by Priceless Productions, via The Davenport Team
Mansion Monday
Meet Crestmere, a 1916 landmark in West End real estate, listed for the first time in 60+ years. The home was originally built for famed local landscape architect Charles Gillette. With one glance at the Tudor Revival facade, you begin to see homages to Gillette’s affinity for nature-inspired architecture. Take a virtual tour.
Civic
Street cleaning season is underway, now through the end of June. If you haven’t been jump-scared by dozens of no-parking signs on your street yet, see the schedule for the neighborhood lineup.
Trending
Soft-serve margaritas are the latest TikTok trend, and we found a few spots in Richmondserving them:La Playa near the Museum District and Juan’s Rooftop + Cantina in the downtown Arts District. Anyone else miss the soft-serve margs from Barrio?
Learn
How can raised garden beds help boost backyard greenery? Local gardening expert Melinda Myers weighs in on the conversation with Henrico Citizen. If you don’t have the yard space at the moment, raised beds lay the groundwork at dozens of local community gardens.
Outdoors
Researchers at the University of Oxford in England have discovered a new planet — approx. 60% larger than Earth, 35 lightyears from our solar system, and boasting a “magma ocean” with “large amounts of sulfur.” A bit closer to home, we recommend consulting this list for stargazing spots. (LEX 18 + Discover Richmond)
Drink
More Richmonders might be grabbing a bar stool (and maybe a mocktail) instead of stocking the home bar. Liquor store sales in the US dipped roughly 5% last year while spending at bars rose 4%, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (NBC News)
Real Estate
Looking to get more eyes on your listing? Feature a property with a strategically-placed blurb right here in this section that guides readers straight to your listing. Try it out.
The Buy
Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. These five products offer easy + effective ways to level up your sleep hygiene for more restful nights.
🧴 Lather sore muscles with this magnesium lavender lotion to help ease tension + wind down before bed.
💤 Don’t let the sun or other bright lights interrupt your sleep thanks to these top-rated blackout curtains.
👁️ For even more light-blocking, try this breathable cotton eyemask that’s designed with cooling fabric.
🍬 Try these science-backed meltaway sleep mints that are crafted with melatonin and calming herbs.
🌜 Get this best-selling white noise machine to block out unwanted noises thanks to 20+ sound settings.
Next up on the docket to help break down the city’s code: chickens. Can you keep ‘em? How many? Are there fees? Can they roam free? These are the pressing questions. Stay tuned.
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