| Author |
Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills:  collecting rain water  |
|
|
FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
|
|
Farmer Judy
True Blue Farmgirl
433 Posts
Judy
North Aurora
IL
USA
433 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 12 2012 : 06:18:34 AM
|
Kristina, try this book from the library, The complete guide to greenhouses & garden projects : greenhouses, cold frames, compost bins, trellises, planting beds, potting benches & more by Black and Decker. It has a really simple rain barrel you can make yourself. I'm waiting till the thaw in spring to make mine since I hae no real room to work in the garage until then.
God bless,
Judy
Farmgirl #3666
Born a city girl but a farm girl at heart!
http://farmtimes.blogspot.com/ |
 |
|
|
Melina
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Melina
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2012 : 07:31:59 AM
|
We got two white barrels off Craigslist. My DH put gutters on both front and back of our 16x20 shed, because it's in the garden area. He ran the gutters directly into the tops of the barrels, drilled spigot holes at the bottom, installed the spigots, with lots of clear caulking to avoid leaks. We have to add those Bt mosquito donuts during the summer.
After doing all this, we found out that it's against the law in Colorado to harvest the rain. Seems the old water laws from 'way back state the rain belongs to the utility company from the time it leaves the clouds. I beg to differ, and if someone wants to take me to court over my rain barrels, bring it on. I have a sheriff living next to me, and the code enforcement people regularly patrol. I've been told they aren't going to come after me because they have much bigger fish to fry. That's good, because we are adding two more barrels on our house gutters.
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
|
|
|
rksmith
True Blue Farmgirl
858 Posts
Rachel
Clayton
GA
USA
858 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2012 : 4:33:17 PM
|
I got some of the yard trashcans at Walmart or Lowe's and put them up on bricks in the yard. I just leave the top open when it looks like it might rain. They work VERY well. We also bought a spigot and installed it near the bottom, but I don't even use it (go figure) I dip water out in my watering can. We put one near my flower bed and the other one was in the big garden area. We now use that one to hold dog food, since we moved the garden spot to a place easier to water. But anyway, those big trashcans really work. We got the ones with wheels and a flip top, black ones. They hold water well and with the lids closed not much evaporates AND the water is nice and cool in summer.
Rachel
Farmgirl Sister #2753
True enlightenment is nothing but the nature of one's own self being fully realised-- His Holiness the Dali Lama
http://madame1313.wordpress.com/ |
|
|
|
StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2012 : 6:21:48 PM
|
We use rainwater from our roof to water the garden. Our roof is metal, so there is no risk of contaminants from asphalt shingles. The water runs into a 1500 gallon underground cistern, that is uphill from our garden, so it is all gravity fed. There wasn't enough water-pressure from the gravity fed waterline to sufficiently water the garden through our drip-irrigation, so we installed 5 gallon buckets to the drip-irrigation at the end of each raised garden bed, and we fill the 5 gallon buckets from the garden hose coming out of the cistern each evening during gardening season. In the morning, I open the valves on the 5 gallon buckets and water the garden on my way out to feed horses.
Yes, that is a deer in the background.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/StrawHouseDesigns |
|
|
|
FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
|
|
FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
Posted - Jan 13 2012 : 08:54:24 AM
|
Melina, I just read this morning that a study revealed only 3% of rainwater actually makes it into the water system. So the resource you're so preciously "stealing" isn't water the water supply would have received anyway. Many towns are taking those 100 year old laws off the books. You could help do that in your town. I can get you the link to the story if you want it.
~FarmDream is Farmgirl Sister #3069
Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow
http://naturaljulie.etsy.com
http://julie-rants.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Jan 13 2012 : 10:17:16 AM
|
I have two 55 gal plastic barrels I got that at one time held orange juice...I bought spickets from the hardware store & cemented them in near the bottom....i keep one under the roof of the house & the other under the roof of the shop...I use fabric like you use for toto's & tie that around the top so it doesn't get leaves ect in it......very simple & works...only water I use for my gardens each year...but I don't do the whole sprinkler thing with my garden I water each plant that has a soda bottle next to the plant in the ground...that way they get water at the roots & not dry off waste....Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
|
|
|
FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
|
|
Montrose Girl
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm
1360 Posts
Laurie
Montrose
CO
1360 Posts |
|
|
Farmer Judy
True Blue Farmgirl
433 Posts
Judy
North Aurora
IL
USA
433 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2012 : 11:20:30 AM
|
Kristina, try youtube.com they have many quite good videos about rainbarrels and also seed starting etc.
God bless,
Judy
Farmgirl #3666
Born a city girl but a farm girl at heart!
http://farmtimes.blogspot.com/ |
Edited by - Farmer Judy on Jan 15 2012 11:21:14 AM |
|
|
|
Melina
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Melina
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2012 : 11:59:48 AM
|
It's good news about the rain in Colorado! I wasn't too worried, but it's nice to know the rain barrel police won't be battering down my door in the middle of the night.
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
|
|
|
Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2012 : 3:25:02 PM
|
I have a rain barrel, and use the water for watering the flowers, the garden, and the cats love to drink out of it. The barrel does have a screen, but the water, at times spills over, and the cats jump up and have themselves a drink.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
|
|
| |
Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills: collecting rain water |
|
collecting rain water
