I made my own Rain Barrels

**kickchk** · 03-28-2008, 07:32 AM

I made a homemade rain barrel to catch rain water for my garden. Hopefully this year we'll have plenty of rain and not go through a drought like last year.

I bought three 55 gallon food grade barrels from our local co-op for $10 each.

I have only prepared one as of yet, but the plan is to link all three together. I drilled a hole close to the bottom to attach a water faucet, then painted them with plastic paint. Then I attached a flexible down spout to our existing gutter. I also cut a hole in the top of the barrel to catch the rain water. Covered the hole with a piece of window screen to keep out leaves and critters. Inserted down spout into the hole. Now we wait for rain!

My veggie garden is only about 10 - 15 feet from my barrel. If all goes well I'll have 165 gallons of water for free!

Here's a link to pictures of it finished.

**Buc-O-Mama** · 03-28-2008, 10:26 AM

You did an awesome job! I'm taking a rain barrell class with our county extension in May. For taking the class they give us a free 55 gal, but looking at your post and pics, you've inspired me to try to make a couple more. Thanks for sharing!

**Missy** · 03-28-2008, 10:32 AM

hmmmmmm, sounds like something to look up at our extension office!!

**fizzie** · 03-28-2008, 09:26 PM

Fantastic! We really need to do this at our house...

**FrugalMomof3** · 03-28-2008, 09:57 PM

WOW you did an awesome job, very talented, I am super impressed.

**Marie78** · 03-29-2008, 09:07 AM

You did a great job! I should help my mom make one for her veggie garden this year. The garage is not too far from where she plants her garden and she could have on there to save on water use in the summer.

**BetterLateThanNever** · 03-29-2008, 01:03 PM

IMPRESSIVE. I"m going to check my county offices and see if there is any information on making rain barrells.

**flowergirl** · 03-30-2008, 09:41 PM

Great Job our garage is near where we put our garden so this would come in handy I will get my dh to help .

**itlw8** · 03-31-2008, 12:16 PM

Thanks we were just talking about that I saw aour farm supply had them for 35 and I said that was so much cheaper than the gardening supply catalogs. Dh said he can make it so he is looking for the food grade barrels

**kickchk** · 04-01-2008, 04:38 PM

We had our first rain (only .17 inch) today. I have two barrels next to each other now, and connected via their spigots (just connected with a short piece of water hose with 2 female connectors) leaving the spigots in the 'on' position. Each barrel is now half full! We're supposed to have rain the rest of the week, so maybe this will be all worth it! hehe

I can't imagine how much water we could catch if I was catching from each down spout instead of just one short run.

**pkellyc** · 04-02-2008, 11:51 AM

I can't wait to show this to my brother who has massive gardens. I love the idea and it looks like you did a great job. Thank you for posting it.

**englishcottage1** · 04-13-2008, 02:14 PM

Great Job! I've been wanting to make my own also and as soon as the snow melts I'll get out there working on it. Did you have to use special paint or just exterior paint? Thanks!

**Darlene** · 04-13-2008, 02:18 PM

WTG!

**Dancing Lotus** · 04-13-2008, 03:27 PM

awesome, thanks for the frugal tip. I have to make me some now.

**SAHM I Am** · 04-13-2008, 06:19 PM

Very well done! We're planning on making a couple at least, but don't know where to find the barrels. Have to look into that.

Yours blend very well with your home, and are not at all unattractive. Wonderful job!