Sandi,
Thanks for posting the particulars. I've been toying with this idea for awhile. Glad to know what I'd be getting into.

Linda

Thanks for reading it!

Now i've got to figure out how to get all my tomato seedlings and two raised beds planted before Saturday, so I can get to the RU in the Woodlands to discuss the Master Gardening program with you!

I truly want to be there, but I'm burning daylight on this spring planting season....

you better come...or we'll talk about you!!!!!!

I too have been giving serious consideration to rain collecting off the house and the barn. You hve given me some more inspiration! Thank you!

Hi Gymgirl! A few weeks ago I planted the remaining seeds you sent me from last year.

If you have questions, let me know. Glad to help!

Sonoita! Good to have you aboard the Cubits site.

How'd you come out with the seeds I sent last year?

Last year was a bust for me. I got powdery mildew and some other disease. I lost just about everything, and what I didn't loose was not very good. I have moved the garden else where to rehab. the toxic location of previous years. I am awaiting the seeds for a Prudens Purple tomato to sprout.

Thanks for the very informative article for the rain water collecting. Now it has the wheels turning in my head, for all those hot dry summer days that I am dragging the hose every other day, and that collection system will be just the thing to give my poor well a break!!

Thanks again Sandi!

Becky

Well, than you for reading it! Let me know if you have any questions.

I built mine for less than 75.00 and it holds over a 100 gallons
2- 55 gallon white plastic barrels for 20.00 each...40.00
2 spicots at 7.50 each............................................15.00
pvc parts needed....................................................10.00
tube of caulking........................................................3.00.

works like a charm!!

Blkraven2,
Would you mind posting pics and instructions for constructing your rainbarrels? I'm about to take up temporary residence for awhile, and installing a rainbarrel would truly help out with the water bill.

And, your construction budget matches mine REALLY, REALLY well....

Thanks!

Linda

sorry for the delay in answering ... my camera is down so Ill try to write out what I did..as soon as I get the battery charged Ill post pics..
I placed my barrels on concrete bricks, the large ones to make sure I could get a watering can under them The higher you can get them the better water pressure you'll have.
I cut a hole in the top big enough for the gutter down spout and my arm to reach inside..
I attached the spigot's to each barrel. I went to Lowe's to the plumbing dept and explained what I was trying to do.. the guys there fixed me up with the parts I needed to hold each of them in place
then I took a small piece of PVC, about 2 ins in diameter, and connected the 2 barrels so when one was the full the overflow would go into the second one filling it up.. you place it as high up as you can
this is the tricky part.. the over flow
I cut a hole the size of my PVC joints, 4in was what I used for this part. I placed the hole about 15 ins from the top of the barrel. I attached the 2 joints. 1 on inside the barrel with the opening curved to the top and the other on the outside curving down. then I cut a piece of straight PVC and attached it to each curve.. now you have to make sure the inside piece is taller than the PVC piece connecting the 2 barrels or your second barrel will not fill ...the inside straight piece is cut the length you need to fill the barrel as high as you can get it... the outside straight piece goes into your overflow drain if you have one so the excess isnt washing away the soil around it..
tips on the construction
a dremel makes things a lot easier.. when you cut your hole cut them a bit smaller that what you need then use your dremel so you get a tight fit..
caulk like theres no tomorrow... I used a silicone caulk and I caulked everything on both sides to make sure I got a tight seal.. caulking the spigots was tricky but I used a long dowel to get it smeared around them
these directions might make it clearer I basicly followed them but tweaked them a bit to suit me..
http://www.instructables.com/i...

Thanks, Raven!