And then . . . send it to me and I will paint it!

Sometimes you can find them free or cheap on CraigsList

Becky, what do you use to paint them with?

If you find a sturdy one with a lid that cn be clamped on, you could half-fill it with soil mix, clamp the lid, and then mix the soil by rolling it around.

Or set it on top of two skateboards or roller skates, and turn it by hand like a cement mixer.

But it mgiht be easier too mix soil in a wheelbarrow or on a tarp, with shovel, hoe and rake.

If you do it on a tarp, you can mix soil fom the edges and bottom back into the rest by pulling the tarp up from first one side and then the other, rocking the mass of soil back and forth.


55 gallons = 7.35 cubic feet (around 440-450 pounds of water).

I think that would provide one inch of water to 88 square feet:
a bed 22' x 4'.

Tabby, I spray them with prrimer and then Rustoleum and paint with acrylic paints.

Dump question...how do you get the water out ? It gets really heavy even 1/2 full.

LOL ... I don't remember submitting this tip but it sure is a good idea!

Canadanna, we added a spigot on the bottom, and put screening on the top to catch debris.

My mother got several that had been used at a car wash facility. The detergents and rinse agents came in them. I was a little concerned about residue, but once we rinsed them thoroughly, there doesn't seem to be any issue. And the grass it was sitting on while we rinsed it didn't seem to suffer any ill effects from the foam, which was reassuring.