Drought conditions no problem for those with rain barrels

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Laura Sanagorski works for the Palm Beach County Cooperative Agriculture Extension teaching Floridans about conservation.

Now that South Florida is in the grip of the "worst drought on record," her job just got harder.

"It means we have to think a lot more about things we normally take for granted. Our landscaping practices are definitely affected by the drought," said Sanagorski.

The landscape we're used to seeing here isn't really Florida friendly. "Florida friendly landscaping is using as little water as possible in the landscape, conserving water and watering efficiently. During the rainy season, which should be right now, we get a lot of extra water and you can collect it," said Sanagorski.

Susan Lerner runs the Center for Inspired Living, teaching people how capitalize on Florida's indigenous plants. "The drought wouldn't be such a drought for our plants...they would survive. There are things that are surviving without rain," said Lerner.

Multiple rain barrels holding nearly one-thousand gallons of water, prevent Lerner from draining her well to water her lawn.

"Watering your lawn is one of the most wasteful uses of water on planet Earth," said Lerner. She hopes residents will see this drought not as a burden, but rather an opportunity for Florida to return to a more natural landscape.