We are looking to buy a home with 3 rural acres and I have been told it has a 6 gpm well. I like to garden and wonder if I will be able to have garden and flowers trees etc...? Can we just buy a holding tank for water? Coming from the city any help or advice will be appreciated
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I am rural with a well and septic, and did not know the gpm for my well. I just googled it, and a government website said anything 5 gpm and up should meet normal household peak use. In addition, you will have a 20 or 40 gallon pressure tank that holds water, so your well pump will be able to cycle on and off less. The well pump fills the pressure tank, and the faucets draw from the pressure tank until it gets too empty, then the well pump fills the tank again. this is done because well pumps are pricey and you don't want them to run every time you turn on the faucet to wash your hands or rinse a dish. I have a 60' by 60' garden, and have no problems watering it with my regular household well. I live in MN and have a lot of clay in my soil, so I only have to water when I first put transplants in the garden, and maybe 3 times in July-August during dry spells. If you are in a dryer climate, or it's a drought, or you have sandy soil, you will have to water more often than I do. Don't make your garden too big at first, or you will break your back. It is hard work, and you will make mistakes, and you have to learn to preserve the veggies and fruit that you grow. Plant trees right away, since they take years to size up. get more than one variety of apple or other fruit tree that needs cross-pollination, and don't plant trees too close together.
