Do you own a rain barrel?

[Pryderi]

I posted this in the Energy/Environment group, and someone suggested that I post it in here as well.

I'm looking at buying 1 or 2 for my home and was looking for some feedback and possible advice. I have a couple of raised bed gardens.

[Po_d Mainiac]

1. Yup

run the drain spout directly into the barrel, after passing through some screens. Don't allow an opening for mosquito's to get in. Put elbows in both the inlet and the overflow.

We have about 700sq/ft of garden and can go through as much as 50 gallons in mid summer

[Phentex]

6. That's how we did ours...

and then we've had record rainfall!

[davidinalameda]

9. sounds like what my mom has

she has the barrel set up by the garage/patio

[FedUpWithIt All]

2. We built ours using recycled plastic garbage cans.

There are three cans on and overflow system and they hold about 90 gallons. We added little spouts on the bottom of the cans to attach hose to. Occasionally, when we knew rain was coming we would drain the cans and wipe them out. The cost was about $50 for all three cans and the supplies to create the system.

We found that it was easier to fill a watering can right from the tap than it was to run the hose over to the garden.

We also used old soda bottles as water reserves by poking small pin holes into the bottles and placing them in the garden among the veggies. This allowed us to water less frequently.

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. I use old bathtubs

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set them under an eave, and they will collect you lots of water.

cover them with a screen to keep leaves and critters out

and if the weather is right

just jump in and have a bath!

:silly:

[pengillian101]

4. Good idea.

The bath made me giggle.

[hippywife]

5. We have two.

We picked them up from a local guy selling them. They are food grade white plastic that each hold about 50 gallons, I think. Hubs put guttering along the back of the hen house and funnels it all in to the single small opening in the top of each barrel, and then siphons it out as needed.

[MrMickeysMom]

7. Just got one...everything included on it for 85 bucks...

It's a 55 gallon blue plastic drum that has the adapted inlet with a screen, which we connect to the downspout. We've had enough rain where I've not used it for the garden that will go in tomorrow and next day. So far the advice I've read in the thread seems right on.

[noamnety]

8. No, the husband vetoed that.

He's more green than me in general (voted for nader), but he's worried that the downspout will freeze here, back up with ice and cause damage.