beare, we are almost neighbors, I live in Rowlett..
Checked out your blog, what a great set-up..what do you do with all those tomatoes, can them?
I was at a local feed and seed store yesterday and noticed for the first time they have a lot of large barrels in a back yard. Never thought to ask if they were for sale or how much they were, but sure will next time.
I was freecycled 2 of the 55 gal plastic drums a few weeks ago and cut them in half and now have things planted in them. I am seriously running out of room in my yard, but luckily DS lives next door and has a wide open back yard full of weeds and scrub grass...virgin territory in MY eyes..LOL I have been thinking of trying the bale gardening there, now I will also see about getting more of the plastic drums and plant in them, too.
Thanks to everyone for all the tips. Now I have a place to start.....hoping we will get rain this year..
Kris
Rainwater
kris, we are neighbors. I have a brother that lives in Rowlett 1/2 a block from the lake. You live close enough to get barrels from the same place I do if they are too much there. I love my water system and this is my fourth year to use this container system, which I also love. I have been making a lot of salsa. Friends, family, neighbors, even a District Judge are all addicted at this point. I enjoy making it and they all enjoy eating it. I make some with "chile de arbol" last year and folks went wild... I am going to make marinara sauce and ketchup this year as well. If you ever come this way drop by and tour the "tomato forest". Thanks for checking out the blog. I place pictures on it from time to time so anyone interested can watch the progress. Just to know when the salsa is done, ya know...
Jerry
I just should have made my blog a hyperlink, so here it is: www.twylightman.blogspot.com
Ok guys this is fantastic - does anyone in the chicago NW suburbs know when I can get some cheap rainwater barrels or a holdin gtank? You've really got me wanting to try this!
Vicky
Beare, do these barrels have lids???
Locally they are selling for $21.50 with removable tops.
Kris
I bought several food grade barrels 6 years ago from the old Gerber baby food factory in town (Asheville, at that time). They held imported fruit juices. I paid $8 each but had to clean them.Still have 2-3 in my storage unit.
The barrels I get have two small (approx. 3") screw off lids. I simply cut the whole inner top off with a jig saw. Three min. deal. Cost for barrel is $8.00 if I hadn't given the price before. Jerry
Joy, guess what, I was coming to work this morning and I saw a pick-up parked in front of a house just on the edge of town. In the bed of the pick-up was one of those 275 gal. tanks in the aluminum gage. I stop and asked the guy where he got it and he told me the Cheese Store has a bunch of them around back. So I went to the Cheese Store and the fellow there sold me one for $40.00. I am going to use my pump to fill it from my rain barrels and then water from the 275 gal. tank. this bring my water storage up to 8 x 55 = 440 + 275 = 715 gal.s of water. So around 700 gal.s of water to get me between rains. Watering 50 plants. Hummmmmmmmm I don't know? Jerry
Jerry...............Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beare you have sparked my interest, going to show this thread to my husband. He gets mad at me cause I leave 5 gal. buckets sitting around some of my plants filled with tap water letting the sun remove the chlorine. If I get him to make me up a system like yours I wouldn't have the buckets sitting around. Yours is a very clever ideal. Thanks
Linda
Linda, you are welcome! It was very simple to make and I can provide the measurements for the various fittings if your DH would like? If you click on the thumbnail pictures and enlarge them you can see better how the system is made. Best of luck!
Jerry
Where is this Cheese Store?
I also like the way you have you tomatoes staked up. Last year we used the stuff you use when pouring concrete. We have a couple of rolls of the same fencing you are using, going to get my DH to use it this year. I have planted about 3 times more tomato plants then I did last year. Really enjoyed looking at your pictures.
Linda
Hey Kris, the Cheese Store is in Sulphur Springs also. Instead of turning right off of Interstate 30 onto Hwy. 19, you will turn left on Hwy 19 and go to the first Stop sign (approx. 2 or 3 miles). Go through that intersection and the Cheese Store will be about a hundred yards ahead on your left. Across from GSC. You can't miss it. The man I deal with there goes by "Junior"or "Jr." for short. LOL The tank fits in the back of a pick-up and I really like it! - Jerry
Thanks! Linda I appreciate folks taking a peek from time to time as I intend to post a running account of how the garden is doing. It's a way to share and learn from one another. I enjoy input , ideas and comments from others. Best of luck with your garden. Jerry
Thanks for all the info, I think we will be making a trip your way sometime this week, possibly Wed...
Jerry do you put any holes in your barrels when you use to plant your tomatoes in. If so where, and what keeps grass from growing up into them.
Linda
Love this thread. I have about 200 gallon capacity now and hope to add more. I have a question about all the systems I see in the photos. Why does everyone connect the barrels at the top?? If you connected them at the bottom you could have them all at the same height and would be able to draw all the water from one spigot. Also, only the first one would have to be open at the top. You would just need one overflow on any one of them for those wonderful times when the whole system is full.
Victor
This is exactly what my DH has been saying, he plans on joining them at the bottom, said they will all fill up at the same time and you can run a drain (or faucet) off the last one.
Kris
Linda, I drill 1/4 inch holes in the bottom of my barrel/pots. One could place weed-X in the bottom and it might be a good idea. I have not had a problem with weeds or grass growing into the pots.
Victor & kris, I thought about a bottom connection, however for the spigot to work (well) you will have to raise all your barrel up to provide spigot clearance. Also with my barrels, I clean them rather frequently (due to alge build-up on the bottom of the barrels) and by each barrel being independent, this process is much easier to accomplish. Lastly, a bottom connect raises the spector of a leak, which I do not have to worry with having a top overflow system. I guess each has it's advantages but these are the reasons I went the way I did. Jerry
More food for thought, thanks again for all your input.
Kris
Kris, If you'all get to come over Wed. Let me know and I will help in any way I can. My cell phone number is 903-366-6145 or just e-mail me at beare@bluebonnet.net Jerry
Thanks Jerry.
You're welcome Linda, I re-read my reply and I should have told you that I drill five or six holes. One in the center and the others at other places (all on the bottom) wherever I think water can best escape. Best of luck with your garden. Jerry
Wow Jerry, great job and great blog! :) I just don't see myself being able to tackle such a project right now, but I love it! I am very impressed with your forrest from last year. WOW!! You insprire me.
Just a thought... I know you have the pretty blue set up and all as your containers, but i just wanted to let folks know that they can also use the huge 20 gallon nursery pots that I have found some nurseries sell very cheaply. I have found many for free and a few were nickels and dimes. I used them for my huge wintersowing project this year, but I am certainly considering using them for some of my maters, as I seem to be running out of room. I too, cut them down with a jig saw, filled with soil and seeded them.
About mid Feb. Wintersowing pots that i will now use for my mater's
Susan
Thanks for the info. Susan ! I started out using those several years ago but found that in this HOT TX sun that it was hard to keep enough water in mine to keep them from drying out. I think that even the blue color heats up more than white would. However on the front end that's good. So that's why I went for the compromise of "blue". I use "white" for my rainbarrels. Black would work great in some cooler areas. Jerry
Yes, they do heat up for sure, which is good for my wintersowing, but something to consider when growing tomatoes.
Have you ever used the water absorbing polymers? I buy them bulk at http://www.watersorb.com/index.htm and all my containers get them mixed in to save on watering and keep them from drying out. Love them.
Susan
Hey Joy, I have my new rain water storage tank in place and under the shade. What do you think? Check it out!!! www.twylightman.blogspot.com Jerry
Jerry, looks good and familiar! Will you use your pump when it comes time to water? If it doesn't rain here soon I will be using some of my stored water. Way to dry here, yet another spring.
Joy
Yes, Joy I have been watering with the pump. Works great and I love the rate at which I can now water my plants. I have an attachment that softens the flow so I'm not digging holes in the soil. I really want to thank you for your post and picture. It sure has been a big help.... THANKS! Jerry
Jerry the thanks goes to you. We have wanted to do something like your barrel system for a couple of years and could never quite figure it out.
I guess really the thanks goes to Dave and Dave's Garden that gives us the opportunity to share ideas across the country. I will continue to watch this thread and your blog to see what may be new in your neck of the woods.
Joy
This truly is a WONDERFUL site. The best I have found on the web. The people are just the BEST!!!
I learn sooooo much everyday, it seems...
Jerry