Garden Water Barrel

Save water by catching rain water in a barrel in your garden. Connect to downspouts and redirect overflow to other parts of garden. Use a large garbage container instead of expensive barrels. Help save water. New insight - how will the nutrients travel into the earth and get to your plants and trees without lots of water?
Now I wish I had a 1,000 gallon tank because it was very dry on U.S. east coast for 2010. A 4' x 8' x 4' high tank would hold 960 gallons, and I might build one. Install the largest tank you can, and if you can't get any height to create head of water, use a small submersible pump to push water thru your hose. Don't forget a one inch storm on a 500 square foot roof produces 312 gallons of water in one go!

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• gardening
• rain
• barrel
• save
• redirect
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• tony
• buck
• environmentally
• friendly
• water
• harvesting
• tonyfixit
• rainbarrel

[tonyfixit]

The higher the water level above the end of your hose, the more pressure you'll get. A small submersible pump is best.

[aquabarrel]

Looks like your trash can is bowing out from the volume of water it was not designed to hold. The chemicals that that trash can was made from probably contain nasty chemicals - like lead that you are leaching out into the world. The trash cans break down much quicker I found b/c they are not design to hold lots of water.... So not more stuff headed to the landfill before it's time :-{

[tonyfixit]

I see that you are a barrel seller, I wish you luck with your enterprise. I think my container bowed when the water level was at that level and it froze last winter, but it hasn't been a problem. I saved about $100 on my water bill this year. I hear roof shingles leach more chemicals than trash cans. It's mid-December and I'm still eating vegetables out of my greenhouse, watered from my trash can 'barrel.'

[lizmillan1]

We are getting ready to install one, regular 45gal trash container , the only difference is I am elevating mine two feet of the ground to hopefully increase the water flow. thanks for sharing your ideas

[joezbackwith2gatz]

Great video Tony... It's like I always say. Let's all learn from each other. Joe Tactical

[brianwurst1234]

hey is that about as much pressure as you can get with a rain barrel? I think i may have to put a pump on mine. i will be doing this in a few weeks.

[JwaMcC]

Rain water is so much better for plants containing trace elements and ions that are very natural and free, you can also add you very own compost tea to the water butt in the growing season. There are allot of gadeners using (wasting)tap water that has been manufactured thus large carbon footprint, tap water contains many nasties for plants as its only designed for humans, plus miles of pipe material elements, why water your lawn with chlorine it will go yellow then need fertilisers.

[aquabarrel]

by adding a downspout diverter U could reduce your stressing of the plastic by redirecting the water during the harsh winter months. Glad to hear your saving lots of $

[UnkleSi]

Good work, thanks for the vid. I wouldn't be concened about chemicals leaching out of the plastic. Most likely the bin is Polypropylene or Polyethelene which are both very stable. You could do a little research on these if concerned. Many of your foods such as ice cream etc alread come in PP or PE and are considered food safe. I'm pretty sure neither contain any amount of lead.

[halicon74]

nice job it works for you and that's all that matters im getting supplies to connect all mine in to a 200 gallon storage tank it will be permanent