Rain, rain, come again. Fill up my rain barrel for me, then you can fill another, and another. In the Pacific Northwest, with its overabundant rainfall, we often think that rain barrels are a ridiculous idea. However, the Pacific Northwest also comes with its summer time droughts, so rain barrels are actually an extremely sensible idea in this climate. In other climates that are more prone to drought, sensible gardeners have been using them for years.
What styles of rain barrels are available for your garden?
The traditional drum-style rain barrel can be wood or plastic. There is an area to place a downspout diverter or a rain chain, and a simple tap so that gardeners can use the water. If you use a recycled drum, make sure that it does not contain any chemicals that could be harmful to the garden and to people who are eating the vegetables from the garden. Open drums should also be covered with mesh or other durable substances, to keep out children and animals and prevent mosquitoes from breeding in the barrel.
Flat back rain cisterns are designed to sit tightly against an exterior wall. From the front, they look like a traditional drum style rain barrel, but the back is flat. This makes flat back rain barrels a good choice for pathways between homes or townhouses or for corners where space is at a premium.
Collapsible rain barrels like the Waterbank are made to fold away when they are not in use. They must be inflated to be used. If it is going to be necessary to move the rain barrel, a collapsible barrel might be a good choice.
For those who are more concerned with rainwater capacity than with looks, water harvesting tanks are an excellent way to store more than two hundred gallons of water at a time. These harvesting tanks tend to be squat, rectangular, and very resistant to the actions of the elements.
Barrels such as the Trickle Tank are an irrigation system in and of themselves. The tap leads to a series of irrigation pipes underground that provide drip irrigation to garden plants. These systems are excellent for gardeners who are on holiday during the summer months, or for those with extensive vegetable beds with high water requirements.
For those who dislike the look of a barrel, rainwater storage and harvesting devices come in many other disguises. Some traditional drum barrels look like decorative urns. The Flora rainwater storage tank looks like a planter and has an area for flowers at the top.
Rain barrels come in many different styles. Whether they are used as rainwater cisterns for the occasional gardener or as rainwater storage for an entire lawn and vegetable garden, there is a barrel for every home, space, and gardener.
Image Credit: [michaelaw]