The first thing to do, is drill a hole in the side, using a 3/4" (I think) holesaw. I really didn't pay attention, but know the correct size when I see it. (I'll verify this size when I can think to)
The hardware needed was purchased from Lowes, and this first item is located in the electrical dept., along with the other conduit fittings. The cost is around five bucks, and it is a watertight connection.
The second item is in the plumbing dept., and was less than five bucks.
Photo below - The electrical fitting, out of it's package. The locknut will not be needed, and someday i'll find a use for them in the garden.....Heh.
Photo below - The threads of the hose bibb were wrapped with teflon tape, which helps seal the threads, and also has some lubricating qualities about it - which makes it SO much easier to screw into the electrical hub. (Since the hub is made from aluminum, the threads want to gall - when screwed into another type of metal fitting).
Photo below - The 2 pieces screwed together. The locknut was removed, and is ready to attach to the barrel. See those aluminum threads on the electrical hub? They are really sharp, and make their own threads when screwed into the plastic barrel. Also, notice the black rubber seal that comes with it. This is what makes it a watertight connection.
Photo below - As you can see, the hole in the barrel is a tad smaller than the fitting, and it is simply screwed in by hand. Be careful not to continue screwing it into the barrel when all the threads are thru, because you could strip out the hole. Man, that would suck!
There. The spigot is installed, and the barrel can now be filled with rainwater.
This barrel ain't got much to say now, does it? Ha! This barrel was located about 20 feet away from the main raised bed, and a hose can easily be attached to the spigot, which will make watering that particular bed quite easy.
So, there ya have it......EG's rain barrel construction. Man....I have around 165-170 gallons of rainwater storage now! Yay me!
Take care, and happy gardening!
EG
30 comments:
Are those barrels easy to come by where you are? What is there "intended" use? I can't find anything to cheaply make one around here.
Oh yeah, Jen. Just off the top of my head, I can think of 3 places within 25 miles of me that has them. They are used to ship olives and pickles in. The current price for one is $19.99, and the fittings cost 10-15 dollars.
Hi EG. Nice barrel. I have a suggestion for you. I raise my barrel by sitting it on cinder blocks(2 or 3 high)so that there is also easy access to set a watering can under the spicket. Sometimes you dont need the whole "hose" thing. It also helps give the water a little more "pressure" when using the hose. BTW, love your site and the changes. Looking good as always.
Fanfortony (aka Jane)
Looks like it does a nice job EG. I just noticed today that a fellow down the street has one of those white poly water tanks that you see around the farms. It looks to be about a thousand gallons and is setting on two wooden sawhorses. It sets directly above a basement window. If we get a storm and that tank fills up with water, is he in for a surprise.
John
fanfortony - hey there! Thanks for the suggestion. Sometime in the near future, I plan on pouring a concrete pad in this location, that will hold all three rain barrels. I'll probably go about 12" high, but that's about it. This was one of those last minute ideas, and I just used what I had laying around.
John - Ah yes...that guy is in for a real surprise!
You have a lot of olive/pickle suppliers near you? :D
I don't suppose you can ship one to me?
Just kidding....it's just awful to look at the prices places charge for "real" rain barrels. I wonder, maybe I can ask in my company cafeteria if they ever get anything I might be able to use. They want to buy tomato plants from me, so maybe I can trade!
Jen, actually I don't. The farmer's co-ops in the area keep them, because most farmers use them to put feed in. Here' where I get mine, maybe they will ship one to ya pretty reasonable.
http://www.franklincoop.com/
Rain water is so good for the plants. The city sells rain barrels for about $50, but I just don't have room. I've been filling up my gallon milk bottles and letting the clorine dissipate. It's the best I can do with a little bitty space.
WOOHOO! I have three barrels sitting in the basement. I've been looking for ways to convert them. Thanks. Working at Lowe's, I'm sure I can find the parts. Good job!
Thanks EG, I appreciate it. I need to make several of these myself, a few of them that tie together.
I see you don't have an overflow valve. That's what I'd use to tie them together. Should be easy enough to figure out though.
Thanks!
That is one nice water barrel EG! Amazing the hardware you can find, I am in my glory in the hardware store.
Cheryl - oh yeah...the plants really respond to rainwater much better than municipal water.
Tom - I'm glad I could be of help to you. Man...if I worked at Lowes, i'd be in trouble!
Sinfonian - no, I don't have an overflow hole in it. Sometime in the future, i'll link the three together, and have an elaborate setup of some kind.
Dan - Me too! I just love walking down the aisles, looking at everything.
EG, Yes that barrel makes us barrel-less folks a little envious. I am sure that water will come in handy.
suburbangardener - well, that wasn't my intention. Ha! I see alot of people on the forums asking how to build one cheap and easy - and felt like this might help some. The total cost, is around $35, which is not bad! Maybe you'll make one in the future?
Great lookin' rain barrels. My next honey do project is getting gutters on our house, so we can harvest our rain water. Those barrels are great! I don't think we have a farmer's coop around here. Would Tractor Supply carry them?
Rachel
Thanks, rachel. I'm not sure if tractor supply has them, or not. I bet they could order one for you!
EG -- awesome post! We have the barrels already. I just need DH to find the time to get them set up for me. I will definitely have him read this post. You need to copy this post and make a permanent page for it!
I can't wait to see when you have all of your rain barrels set up and linked together :-) I'm sure it will be a first class job!
EG -- I just checked out the weather. OMGoodness!! You have yet another storm heading your way today! Stay safe because I heard that there was lots of hail in Texas with this line. So far it's not coming down this far south.
Thanks Judy! I'll have to figure out how to create some permanent links for posts that are a favorite for readers. Oh yeah....more rain.....It's unbelievable.
Hi EG!
Greetings from northern Wyoming, zone 4.
I really want a few rain barrels! I so appreciate you post with all the pictures!!! Thank you!
I just contacted our local Pepsi plant. They have 55 gallon drums for $10. I have 4 on the waiting list.
I'm just starting SFG this year! My blog is http://mysquarefootgardenadventure.blogspot.com
Toni - Welcome! Wow...Northern Wyoming! I've never been to your state, but can imagine the beautiful scenery. You're very welcome on the pictures. I'll have to check your blog out. Hurry back!
Jackpot, EG! My company cafe is going to save a pickle barrel or two (or five) for me. However many I want! I'm not sure if they're going to be the big ones that you have, but I'll take anything food grade that's free!
Very nice barrel... I really should make one instead of forking over the $$ to someone else. I'll have to remember this and come back and try it myself some day... I'm thinking right after I get the two new raised beds and patio put in. So ya know, a couple of years from now. (We can't all move at the speed of EG!)
Hey EG - man, I have pages and pages of blogs to catch up on after being internetless for about 10 days. I'm so far behind!! I've been doing my best to get through yours tonight... you're hard to skim though! I want to read it all - LOL.
Answer a question for a rain barrel novice, will you? What does the top of the barrel look like? It's not open, right? I have no idea what the top looks like and I'm insanely curious.
Down here in FL we're told to have NO open water containers anywhere...that means, no birdbaths and no barrels full of water. The mosquitos lay eggs in standing water and then we get all the West Nile virus and encephalitis worries. I know they county will give you this mosquito disk things to dump in standing water to kill any mosquito larvae, but I wouldn't want to deal with that all the time. (Boring fact, but they dump these little donuts - as they're called - into swimming pools of foreclosed homes to prevent all the larvae from growing).
Wow, this is a long and boring comment.
Point is - what do you do about the skeeters? And what does the top of the barrel look like? is it screened in?
peel - good for you! I can't wait to see yours after completion...
Jenn - This barrel takes about 5 minutes to construct (after you get all of the tools necessary)
Kate - The top of the barrel has a screw-on lid. Although it collects water when it rains, I just unscrew it - then dump the water out. Some bleach added to the water would keep the skeeters out, though...
So EG - dumb question of the hour from me (as usual)...
What do you plan on doing with your rain barrel water? Is it solely for filling up watering cans and hand-watering your garden? I thought you did a lot of drip irrigation or something? Is it for supplemental watering?
I'm trying to figure out what I'd do with the water in one of these. I rarely hand water things - other than a couple of plants out front and my hanging bags o' berries...
Kate, correct....I fill watering cans with the rainwater, then manually water the garden.
This is awesome. Dingy me, did not think I could have a rain barrell like this if I did not have gutters on the house. I will surely be in search for the material to do this. When it rains here it really rains and then nothing. Thanks.
Collecting rainwater for my bucket garden is a great way to help conserve water.
Good step by step pics...
I too created a rain barrel using a vinyl trashcan and a few tools.
It cost about 10 bucks and is working nicely. You can take a look at my step by step pictures if interested.
http://gravitygarden.com/rainbucket/?page_id=46
Gravity Gardener..
Wish we could find barrels like that near us. We bought our rain barrels for $80 each. sigh.
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