Homemade Rain Barrels

[kickchk]

Originally Posted by lucille

Where did the food coop get them or what did they have that came in them? I have been trying to find food grade ones forever. The coke plant refuses to sell them any more. I have one with a removable lid that someone gave me a few years ago that is partially done in a similar fashion to yours. I would like to set up a few more. Our water costs are sky high here and we are planning a big garden.

I got mine from the farmers co-op. I'm not sure where they got the, but one was labeled 'raisin concentrate - kosher' and the other was marked 'grape concentrate'. I still haven't figured it out. :-)

[Finally_Frugal]

You can also search on Craigslist for food-grade barrels. In my city they run about $25 and there are several people selling. Then you just have to buy the accessories to convert them into rain barrels.

[kav122]

we put our rain barrels out this weekend! Can't wait for them to fill up so I can start watering

[kickchk]

Originally Posted by kav122

we put our rain barrels out this weekend! Can't wait for them to fill up so I can start watering

Congrats!! I look forward to hearing more!

[starshard0]

What difference do food-grade barrels make?

[Lisa23]

Nice idea. We're going to be adding a much needed gutter this year, and have taqlked about incorporating a rain barrel into the mix. When we started to look at them, we couldn't believe the prices!

[rhino]

What the benfits of a Rain barrel? Just free water for gardens? I don't think I spend $20 worth of water for my garden per year.

[kav122]

We got a pretty good rain and the rain barrels are 75% full!!!!

Originally Posted by rhino

What the benfits of a Rain barrel? Just free water for gardens? I don't think I spend $20 worth of water for my garden per year.

The benefits are that you are reusing water instead of using tap, so you know, it is good for the Earth and all.

A side benefit is that maybe you only spend $20 per year on water, but you keep using your rainbarrel over and over, so it will eventually pay for itself.

Also, we had a problem with the water that was coming down the downspout. It was pooling and sitting around the foundation causing the foundation to leak. A gutter extension wasn't working because the deck entrance and the stairs to the front door were there, so it just didn't work logistically. A rain barrel captures that water, so we don't have to worry about the pooling problem anymore.

Finally, your plants/veggies actually like rain water a lot more than tap. Mine do, anyway...they always seem to grow better with it. I use it for my houseplants year round--in the winter I just scoop snow then bring it inside I don't have proof of this--just my personal experience.

[kickchk]

I agree. Our plants love the rain water a whole lot more than tap. My indoor plants have actually perked up too!

[kav122]

Originally Posted by starshard0

What difference do food-grade barrels make?

yeah, I wondered that too but Milehimamma said something about chemicals leeching into the water. To me it makes sense that it wasn't holding some sort of toxic waste, but I still don't really understand why the plastic from a trashcan is so much worse than the plastic from a barrel. But whatev, I got a barrel because I'm a sheep Just kidding! but I did get a "food grade barrel" mostly because I have a container veggie garden that I will be watering and I don't want to take any chances.