A do it yourself Rain Barrel

 Since I started my gardening project this year one of the things that I wanted to take advantage of was the use of the rain water from the gutters.

Now I have been using 5 gal pails under the two gutters in the back but it is a lot of work plus you have to do it in the pouring rain which I have done but it isn't really my idea of fun especially if it is thunder and lightening out or very smart to be out in it.

Not the most efficient way or the best thing for my already hurting body. I have about (11) 5 gal buckets so when it rains I have the two buckets under the gutters that fill up and I empty them into the other 9. 

Now since I can't lift a 5 gal pail of water too far I have mostly scooped the water out of the two pails into the others with a smaller container.

One time when it was raining so hard I filled all 11 buckets in a matter of 15 minutes and then I filled the 2 watering cans, 2 mop pails and 2 trash cans. While it has saved some on the water bill.

Now just imagine the people that aren't on city water and have wells. Wells as you know can go dry.  With the heat I have watered just about every day and it takes about 1-1/2 to water everything. We haven't had a lot of rain so most of the water has come from the outside faucet and dragging a hose all over the yard to get everything.

I came across this idea which would save a lot of time, energy and strain on the body. It uses the same concept as mine but much easier, much more efficient, takes less time and cost wise it is pretty inexpensive.

You need plastic garbage cans, flexible black pipe and a few other things. Then you hook it up to your garden hose and you have free water for your garden.

The easiest to explain it is thru the video but the pictures will also give you a idea of how it works.

I saw a kit in Walmart the other day for $25 and a large sturdy trash can is probably about $10-$15. 

You need a trash can without wheels as the water will leak out and also need a heavy duty one.

Now for a large flower garden it is even better to have multiple trash cans especially depending on how much it rains. 

I will be trying this system very soon and will let you know how I make out.