20 November 2010

There’s nothing like rainwater.  My plants and weeds seem to prefer it. Collection methods can be simple and inexpensive. I chose plastic trash cans that catch the runoff from our 400 square foot metal garage roof. Here’s the math for 1 inch of rain: 10 cups/sq. ft x 400 square feet = 4000 cups or 250 gallons!

I have eight 32 gallon trash cans so I can capture 256 gallons. I cover the cans after the rain to prevent evaporation and mosquito breeding. Using a watering can, I irrigate the garden with the rainwater. The “bottom of the barrel” is used on fruit trees so the water is filtered through the soil. A spigot can be installed low on the can so a hose can be used for irrigation.  

This method is considerably less expensive than purchasing rain barrels. At Home Depot the Rubbermaid 32 Gallon Roughneck Refuse Can is $15.48. The cans stack easily and store in my garden shed during the off season.