Comments on: Rain Barrels http://www.bearmountainbooks.com/home/rain-barrels/ An Ever Growing Bookshelf Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:31:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Maria http://www.bearmountainbooks.com/home/rain-barrels/#comment-1411 Maria Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:07:23 +0000 http://www.bearmountainbooks.com/home/rain-barrels/#comment-1411 Rain barrels are basically cisterns, only fancier. :) These are the barrels actually made for the purpose--with a spout at the bottom of the barrel (the barrels have to be raised up) and a hose out the end. There's a nice screen on the top to keep debris and bugs out. I've seen several different setups from home-made barrels designed so the drain goes right into the barrel with a rubber gasket holding it in place and sealing the top to keep out bugs/debris and other designs as well. They are pretty useful if you garden a lot. I don't know how helpful they would be in Phoenix--I would venture to guess you'd need to use a lot more gutter to direct water into the barrels and/or have more barrels. In NM we used earth tanks, but that is more for cattle than gardening! Water is so expensive here that I really like the idea of having some extra water for the lawn or garden. Of course that is assuming that it rains...and while I spent almost nothing on the barrels, I then blew 65 dollars on cinder blocks to raise them high enough, gutters and hose pieces... Rain barrels are basically cisterns, only fancier. :) These are the barrels actually made for the purpose–with a spout at the bottom of the barrel (the barrels have to be raised up) and a hose out the end. There’s a nice screen on the top to keep debris and bugs out. I’ve seen several different setups from home-made barrels designed so the drain goes right into the barrel with a rubber gasket holding it in place and sealing the top to keep out bugs/debris and other designs as well.

They are pretty useful if you garden a lot. I don’t know how helpful they would be in Phoenix–I would venture to guess you’d need to use a lot more gutter to direct water into the barrels and/or have more barrels. In NM we used earth tanks, but that is more for cattle than gardening!

Water is so expensive here that I really like the idea of having some extra water for the lawn or garden. Of course that is assuming that it rains…and while I spent almost nothing on the barrels, I then blew 65 dollars on cinder blocks to raise them high enough, gutters and hose pieces…

]]> By: Patrick http://www.bearmountainbooks.com/home/rain-barrels/#comment-1410 Patrick Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:35:12 +0000 http://www.bearmountainbooks.com/home/rain-barrels/#comment-1410 Rain barrels? Never heard of them, but I would think I would see them more often because I would think - however I am not sure - that certain parts of Texas are like Phoenix, we get little rain. Ours tend to come in spurts a few times each year (They call them monsoons here). However, I like the concept. Whenever I get my own place (Ashley and I are looking to buy a place in the next 2 to 5 months. It is a little before the wedding, but we want to take advantage of the market and plus, I will be living there before we get married so I can move from my current location) I may have to try and set up something like this. We are all about saving money! [:-{D} Ashley's mom actually decided to do all of her own landscaping for their semi-new house. It was supposed to be their own little project, bonding time before I take her away. Well, that lasted all of about 15 minutes. That is when I came out and saw that they were still working on digging the first hole for the first plant. *SIGH* There went that entire Saturday, and then the following Tuesday and Wednesday evening. Another Saturday may have been lost as well, I forget at the moment. Hehe, rambling now, am I? Hope you are having a good weekend! Rain barrels? Never heard of them, but I would think I would see them more often because I would think - however I am not sure - that certain parts of Texas are like Phoenix, we get little rain. Ours tend to come in spurts a few times each year (They call them monsoons here). However, I like the concept. Whenever I get my own place (Ashley and I are looking to buy a place in the next 2 to 5 months. It is a little before the wedding, but we want to take advantage of the market and plus, I will be living there before we get married so I can move from my current location) I may have to try and set up something like this. We are all about saving money! [:-{D}

Ashley’s mom actually decided to do all of her own landscaping for their semi-new house. It was supposed to be their own little project, bonding time before I take her away. Well, that lasted all of about 15 minutes. That is when I came out and saw that they were still working on digging the first hole for the first plant. *SIGH* There went that entire Saturday, and then the following Tuesday and Wednesday evening. Another Saturday may have been lost as well, I forget at the moment. Hehe, rambling now, am I?

Hope you are having a good weekend!

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