Rainbarrels

[Shantyel]

We have been in the midst of a drought for two years now Since I also have a garden this year, along with beginning prepper fever, I have become somewhat fanatic about preserving water. I've been looking into getting rain barrels set up around my one acre place but want it to look attractive too, while they may be very functional, those big bright blue drums are just not easy on the eye. The ones on the internet or in stores are so pretty but freaking expensive so hubby and I are trying to make some ourselves. I just found two 55 gallon drums at a local truckbed lining business for 10.00 each. We will dump plenty of soap and water and let them soak a few days before a good hard pressure wash then spray paint them a hunter green (on the outside) and set em up! Debating whether or not to use a liner. I am really excited and hope they turn out ok.

What are your experiences/knowledge/feedback about rainbarrels?

[jas]

We have a rain barrel that we just got. We live on a suburban lot so we just went for the store bought one from Home Depot I think it cost just under 100.00. It is made heavier than a trash can. We would like to get another one. That one however dh would fashion out of something else.

Ours is set up with the downspout that is right next to the garden so it works out really well. When it is full, there is the hose hooked up to it and you just turn the spigot on. It was getting low the other day and we just had rain so it is full again. I think ours holds 67 gallons.

[Russ]

Given what those barrels had in them.. chemicals... I would consider that liner. You would sure hate to kill your plants with any residual thats left.

[itlw8]

I have had everything to make 2 of them for 2 years, Guess I need to stop waiting for the men to make them and do it myself. Mine had soy sauce in them 55 gallons of soy sauce can you imagine?

[Contrary Housewife]

You can paint them. Get the spray paint that is made for plastic patio furniture and kids toys.

Otherwise I would just get some sheets of lattice and build a corral for them, and maybe grow something pretty (or edible) on the lattice.

[mndtrp]

If the barrels contained chemicals, soap and a power wash may not be enough. I would either get ones that contained some sort of food or soda syrup, or put in a lining.

[frugalwarrior2]

I would skip painting them because you don't want chemicals in the water you put on your future food. Would a little fence do? Thats what they did here to hide the well pump head and the garbage cans.
Also, if it held chemicals I wouldn't use it. Plastic holds chemicals only to release them later. Just concerned not trying to wreck your enthusiasm.
And yes I can't stand that blue either.

[Shantyel]

Ours is set up with the downspout that is right next to the garden so it works out really well. When it is full, there is the hose hooked up to it and you just turn the spigot on. It was getting low the other day and we just had rain so it is full again. I think ours holds 67 gallons.

Can't wait to have a setup like that!

[Shantyel]

Given what those barrels had in them.. chemicals... I would consider that liner. You would sure hate to kill your plants with any residual thats left.

That's why I was considering the liner, but have no idea which type of liner to use, will be researching more into that today. They are metal barrels and the man who sold them said they should be ok once soaked and scrubbed out well but... i dunno...

[Shantyel]

I have had everything to make 2 of them for 2 years, Guess I need to stop waiting for the men to make them and do it myself. Mine had soy sauce in them 55 gallons of soy sauce can you imagine?

takes a woman to do the job anyway hehe

[MomToTwoBoys]

I purchased rain barrels two years ago for about $75 per barrel. They were a nice green color with a black hose (the water was gravity-fed through the hose) and it had a screen on top. I wasn't a fan of the screen because when we got hail and such, it put holes into it. This year, we have rain barrels coming to us through MIL and FIL. We'll be putting them on the side of the house because that's a good hiding spot for them and the water from the troughs drains into either side of the front of the house. We just have to cut out a section of the pipe and put in a bendable unit like Durgan has for his watering system (we had something like that for our rain barrels in Calgary, but we didn't bring them with us).

[Shantyel]

.

Otherwise I would just get some sheets of lattice and build a corral for them, and maybe grow something pretty (or edible) on the lattice.

hmmm that's definitely a good idea

[Shantyel]

I would skip painting them because you don't want chemicals in the water you put on your future food. Would a little fence do? Thats what they did here to hide the well pump head and the garbage cans.
Also, if it held chemicals I wouldn't use it. Plastic holds chemicals only to release them later. Just concerned not trying to wreck your enthusiasm.
And yes I can't stand that blue either.

I was planning to paint them but only on the outside and was considering using a liner but need to figure out which liner lol

[Shantyel]

I purchased rain barrels two years ago for about $75 per barrel. They were a nice green color with a black hose (the water was gravity-fed through the hose) and it had a screen on top. I wasn't a fan of the screen because when we got hail and such, it put holes into it. This year, we have rain barrels coming to us through MIL and FIL. We'll be putting them on the side of the house because that's a good hiding spot for them and the water from the troughs drains into either side of the front of the house. We just have to cut out a section of the pipe and put in a bendable unit like Durgan has for his watering system (we had something like that for our rain barrels in Calgary, but we didn't bring them with us).

you sure are lucky to get rain barrels from the in-laws, they are costly and everyone tries to get the cheap ones around here. I dont have gutter pipes so I plan to just place them under valleys in the roof where more water runs off and just different places in the yard, but try to blend them into surroundings lol

[Shantyel]

If the barrels contained chemicals, soap and a power wash may not be enough. I would either get ones that contained some sort of food or soda syrup, or put in a lining.

yep, was considering a liner.. any ideas on what kind?