Water if You are Growing Food

The water bans are growing, as Georgia faces its worst drought in decades. Government agencies are cracking down.

Water has been shut off to about 50 homes in one east Georgia county because they are violating watering restrictions. But there are those who can break out the hose whenever they want.

Drought conditions have plants across the state craving water, but you have to make sure of the restrictions before you break out the hose. Exemptions are for businesses that require water to operate -- and gardens that grow food.

At Eastside Detail in Clarkston, water is a precious resource. If they did not have it, they would not be in business, so the state takes that into account when mandating restrictions.

It is business as usual there.

Across town at the Clarkston Community Garden, they can water when they want also, but they make sure they conserve.

"We can technically water when we like, but what we try to do is be conscientious about it, water during the coolest parts of the day so there's less evaporation," said John Beck.

Beck pulled more than 300 pounds of produce out of his 97 square foot plot last year.

"It's fun to see a seed become a plant that produces food for you," Beck said.

If your garden produces food, you are exempt from watering restrictions -- but still, everything here is designed to conserve.

"I want to grow as many things as I can in as small a space as possible," Beck said. "That way, cut down on watering; cut down on a lot of things."

The payoff is veggies you can't get any other way.

"You can't buy a decent tomato, so I like to grow them," said Beck.

For most of Georgia folks can only water in the early mornings, every other day. But in the city of Atlanta it is only one day a week -- and the forecast does not show relief any time soon.