550 more gallons of rainwater storage

This past season, it was almost impossible for me to meet watering demands for the swc's. Even though 220 gallons of rainwater was in storage when the growing season began, an absence of rainfall quickly depleted everything that had been saved. So, that meant hauling about 20 five gallon buckets filled with municipal water around 200 feet every 3-4 days in 100 degree heat. I'm sure you can imagine how difficult this was for someone with fibromyalgia, and I decided that it would never take place again. A couple of large totes were acquired from work, and a heavy duty support system was constructed for them to sit on. 6x6 posts were concreted in the ground, then 6x6 beams laid on top of those. Since there wasn't enough 6x6's to complete the job, a 4x4 had to be used in the front/center. Just as a precaution, I'll most likely add another 4x4 beside this one so a weak point can be avoided. Afterall, when full these will weigh almost 4,000 lbs. The totes were connected underneath by 1 1/4" PVC pipe, then reduced down to accept a 3/4" spigot for connecting a really long garden hose to. With enough surface area on my parents roof to equal 175 gallons from only 1" of rainfall - these things should stay pretty full most of the time. Oh, and in case you're wondering, these totes (215 lbs each when empty) were put into place by only myself. It was pretty tricky to do - to say the least.

As you might guess from the photo below, the compost auger system was dismantled so the 6x6 posts of the framework could be utilized for the new rainwater catchment system. Besides, the auger didn't work as good as I'd hoped, so the decision to do it was easy.

Afterall, there's 2 bins full of finished compost ready for next year's garden, which means I can let Mother Nature make compost for me from now on. The wood used on these oldest bins is really beginning to deteriorate after 3 years of continuous use, and will likely receive a complete makeover once this current batch is used.

Anyway, gardening is gonna be alot easier for me from now on, and lord knows that I'm ready for it. :)
: Also, it goes without saying that extreme sadness still fills my heart...I imagine a small bit will remain inside until my last days, but still I carry on...Whenever things in life get me down, my feelings are turned into something constructed by these hands. So, I'm going to build another planter on the property which will be perhaps the most beautiful to date. We'll just have to see, I guess. Every angle cut, board attached, and measurement taken will possess all of my ability, and I hope you enjoy it. I don't consider myself as being a woodworker, but things usually turn out ok. Because of the complexity and sheer size, it'll probably take a few weeks to complete....

EG