You did a great job. I just showed this post to my husband and he really liked it. Where did you purchase your rain barrels? Hubby looked at our Lowes and they were $115 a piece. Yikes.

Very nice and neat...

We have a well...it is sweetwater...no iron...Comes from 150 feet under a huge layer of rock. Sooooo cold.

That is great! You did nice work. Your plants are going to thrive.

I have almost the exact same set up. It works great!

You did a good job. I have always wanted to set things up like that but we need a place to store it, preferably underground so it doesn't evaporate. We only get rain Nov. - May.
Clare

Your system looks great. Your plants are going to do so well. I've been meaning to do the same, just haven't gotten around to it.

Have you ever rinsed your hair in rainwater? I remember when I was a kid, we'd get under the side of the house when the rain poured off and wet our hair. Sometimes we caught the rain in a pitcher and rinsed our hair in the shower. So soft!

Wow...Teddy is really growing!!! How's his barking issue?

When I was growing up, the people who lived two blocks away had a pond. They used pond water to water their grass. Very clever!

I wouldn't rinse my hair in it because of the chemicals in the shingles.

jannie that's what my sister did...except they used the lake water. her house was on...

Thanks for the compliments. :) I love my rain barrels.

As to chemicals in the shingles, it's a 1925-built home with a slate roof and there shouldn't be any chemicals. One of the bennies of an old house.

Yes, Teddy is getting big, isn't she? She's now 25 pounds at six months old. She'll be a good-sized sheltie.

Rose

Check with your local ordinances before drawing lake water for personal use. You may need a permit or it may not be allowed at all in some areas. You don't want to end up with a fine or jail time.

I would love to set up a rain barrel system! Unfortunately we probably can't because we are renters and would have to mess with the gutter system a little. I really like the idea of conserving water by using rain water rather than water from the house. Good job!!

Jenn, it's easy to fiddle with those downspouts and cut them down as needed and then replace them later (when you move out). I'd ask the landlord for permission and then go for it. :) As to the rain barrels themselves, they're actually drums for hauling olives from overseas (Italy and Greece) and I've found them on Craigslist for $20.

Wow! What a bargain. I wish I would have a a half dozen of those 2 weeks ago when we got 13 inches of rain in 2 days.

I'm very impressed. Wonderful job and system. Good for you.

Rosemary you are my hero, girl! LOL I have six barrels wait for DH to gang them together and build the platform. This rental house has no gutters, but I priced them at HD and they are very affordable as were the downspouts.

Please be sure to get Food Grade barrels if you are interested in setting up a system. I paid $15 each including delivery.

My daughter has one and loves it. I'm thinking of getting one as well. I live in an old house ..1840 and there's a hand dug limestone well in my yard that was the town's water supply in the 1800's. Twenty years ago we put a pump in and we use that to water the yard and fill the ponds.

Very nice set up. I was thinking of using concrete blocks... and now you got me thinking.

I posted about rain barrels over at the Oklahoma Gardening forum, and will link that below.

Moni

Here is a link that might be useful: more on rain barrels

Sweet! I'm impressed and it takes a lot to impress me...lol

Great job...could not have done any better myself.

How are they connected together, with pvc and silicone caulk and then painted to match the barrels?

Sue

Sending this to friend. She does something similar!

Great job!
Thanks for sharing.

Awesome!!!! I really want rain barrels at my next house. I hope to move sometime w/in the next year or so, so I hate to mess w/ them here. Way to go!