DIY Rain Barrel For Greener Gardening
If you’re trying to be green, or if you’re just looking to save a few dollars on your water bill, having a rain barrel is a good idea for a gardener. Most plants love rainwater because it’s free of additives like chlorine and softening agents. If you are in an area that’s under water restrictions, collecting rainwater in a barrel is a good way to get around them, not to mention the water you can save from using one!
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You would be surprised to know how much water you can collect with each rainfall. A mere half-inch of rain falling on the roof of the average 1,000 sq. foot house can get you almost 300 gallons of good water- enough to fill six barrels.
Here’s what you need in order to set up your own rain-capturing system:
Image: Low Impact Development Center
- Downspouts and gutters. If your home doesn’t already have them, it may get expensive but it’s only a one-time investment.
- A tank to capture the falling rain. In more dry locales, a lot of people have rain cisterns set up. They can be made of concrete or plastic, and they can hold thousands of gallons of water. You can start small with just one rain barrel, and add more as you need them. Old plastic barrels can often be found in salvage yards and in construction site trash!
- Screens to catch debris. The best downspout won’t do any good if your rain barrel gets filled with leaves and pine needles. All you need is a removable screen, on top of the rain barrel or on the end of the downspout.
- You’ll also need a way to distribute the water. With smaller rain barrels, a simple spigot or hose attached near the barrel’s bottom will suffice. You can either stretch the hose out to your garden, or use the spigot to fill a watering can.
In some places, rain barrels and other containment systems provide a big portion of the water people (and gardens) need. If all you want to do is get some water for your plants without driving up your utility bills, then you don’t have to catch every single drop. However, the amount of rain that it’s possible to capture makes the rain barrel a very good idea.
