The one rain barrel I have has been overflowing since GA started getting rain about the middle of the month. I feel like all that rain is being wasted! I want it all! Anyway, ever since the drought, everyone and their uncle has been wanting rain barrels. Now the price for one plain old 55 gallon drum has gone to $75+.
Does anyone have any neat tips on substitue barrels or rain catchers? Trick is, they can't be an unsightly sub because I live in a subdivision with covenants and I have one of the only yards where everyone can see just about everything! (I'm growing cedars and shrubs as fast as I can to build a screen!)
I'm posting this question on sever forums hoping to some varied ideas.
Thanks!
Need cheap substitute for Rain Barrels
Hello, 3gardeners,
We were able to get some large vats for free from a local business that supplys seed, liquid fertilizers, herbicides, etc to farmers. We live in a rural area and my DH knew someone at the company, so I don't know if this will help you or not. These were made of heavy duty plastic or vinyl of somekind and were maybe 3 feet in diameter and about 3 to 4 feet deep. I think it originally may have had Round-Up or something in it, not sure. We cleaned them up real well and sawed the top off to make a pool for our geese and the top is used for a shelter. These would work well for a rain barrel, but only if cleaned up well and not used for drinking water.
The picture shows the bottom of the vat only. The top part that we cut off is maybe another 18 inches in depth and is white.
I am in Houston and I try to catch as much rain water as possible. I use 5 gallon plastic buckets. I got them from a restaurant that uses the pickle spears. They were happy to save them for me and on top of that they gave them to me for free! Most of the time they have the lids saved also. I love free! I use about 4 buckets. After catching all the rain in my bucket, I place them around my backyard. I put them close to the beds I need them at. With a plastic cup I dip out what I need. I put the lid back on the bucket when I am not using the water. If the bucket does not have a lid I have a piece of wood I put on top. I then put a brick on that so it does not fall off the bucket. I think rain water is the best!
I have seen postings for large metal barrels under free stuff on craigslist,org. You could check your location there and post under "wanted." You could also check freecycle.org and post there. People who use the stuff that comes in these barrels often give the containers away or sell them cheap when they are empty.
Good luck.
katiebear