Rain Barrels
June 19th, 2008
Drought is one problem that won’t have Ron Simanovich over a barrel this summer.
Actually, it would, come to think of it… because this Newberry Twp. gardener waters his flowers and veggies with rainwater stored in a pair of homemade rain barrels.
“I collect rainwater off a little greenhouse that’s only about 160 square feet,” Simanovich says. “Just a half-inch of rain fills two 55-gallon barrels.”
Simanovich has been doing this for seven years and is so sold on the concept that he’s adding a third barrel.
“Water is a precious commodity,” he says. “Most people don’t realize that.”
We’re starting to pay attention, though.
Rain barrels are suddenly an intriguing item as last year’s horrid drought in the South and growing concerns about water pollution, conservation and all things green point to this age-old contraption as a trendy solution.
A Spruce Creek rain barrel displayed at the 2008 Pennsylvania Garden Expo.
The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources turned lots of heads at March’s Pennsylvania Garden Expo when it featured a rain-barrel hookup as a star of its earth-friendly display garden.
“People are curious,” said DCNR spokeswoman Gretchen Leslie. “I think in the next 10 years, we’re going to pay more attention to our water. It’s an issue that’s hit some areas pretty hard already.”
Highland Gardens, Ashcombe Farm and Greenhouses and Davis Country Living in Mechanicsburg are among local garden centers that have started carrying ready-made barrels with mosquito-proof screened tops, overflow systems and spigots. Highland even hand-paints flowers and ferns on its 60-gallon model.
Tool giant Fiskars Brands Inc. last week announced plans to roll out its new barrels nationally at Wal-mart and other chain stores and home centers.
“Rain barrels are a huge hit in Europe,” says Fiskars spokesman Brent McHenry. “We know that as budgets continue to tighten, droughts plague the U.S. and concerns for the environment continue to escalate, eco-friendly products like our Rainwater Collection System will move to the forefront.”
Richard Wright, a central-Pennsylvania transplant who used rain barrels in his previous North Carolina yard, can’t understand why barrels aren’t already in routine use.
“I was amazed at how quickly they filled up,” he says. “The water saved my grass and flowers from being bombarded by the rushing water from the downspouts. Not to mention that it kept my yard from pooling in times of heavy downpours. Add to that the environmental advantages, and it’s a win-win-win for everyone. I even used rain-barrel water for washing my cars and other non-gardening uses.”
It’s ironic how “trendy” rain barrels have become despite archaeological evidence that they’ve been used for at least 4,000 years.
“Rain barrels have been around since Noah decided he didn’t need them on the ark,” says Craig George, who has seven rain barrels at the Annville Inn Bed and Breakfast that he owns with wife, Rosalie.
George says his rain barrels attract more inn-guest questions than anything else.
“People have been trying, I think, to do whatever they can, however they can, to be more responsible about the environment and more concerned about sustainability,” he says.
Barrels not only store water for use in dry weather, he says, but they lessen flooding by keeping at least some water out of streams.
That run-off can carry various roof contaminants and yard chemicals, so it also reduces pollution, George adds.
“I hate to see a precious resource wasted or for water to run out into giant puddles in the lawn when it could be saved, stored and reused in drier weather,” he says.
Rainwater is especially good for plants because it has no chlorine or other treatment chemicals, and it’s stored at air temperature.
It’s also free, although it’ll take a long time to recoup the typical $150-$160 cost of a store-bought barrel.
DCNR’s Leslie said the No. 1 concern consumers have is about stored water attracting mosquitoes.
This barrel has a mesh-screen top.
Most barrels stop that threat by covering the tops with a window-screen-like mesh. That’s open enough to catch water pouring in from a cut-off spout but sealed enough to keep out egg-laying mosquitoes and rodents.
A few barrels have solid tops with openings big enough for the hose that delivers the incoming water.
Manufactured barrels also come with a system to deal with overflow – either a side opening near the top with an overflow hose to direct water away from the house or a “diverter” that sends water back into the spout system once the barrel fills.
Water is accessed through spigots near the bottom of the barrel.
Get them set up right in the first place, and there’s little maintenance needed, other than checking for hose leaks and emptying and turning over the barrel for winter storage.
Hook several barrels together, and you may never need to tap into your home water supply for garden-watering again.
Can’t find a rain barrel at your favorite garden center or store?
They’re available online at such sites as the Pennsylvania-based Spruce Creek Rainsaver in Warriors Mark at www.sprucecreekrainsaver.com or at www.rainbarrels.org; www.rain-barrel.net; www.planetnatural.com; www.gardeners.com; www.rainsaverusa.com; www.composters.com; www.aquabarrel.com, and www.nerainbarrel.com.
Information on Fiskars new “Rainwater Collection System” is at http://rainwater.fiskars.com.
Cumberland County’s Conservation District teams up with Cumberland Valley High School to make and sell 50 rain barrels each May. To get on the list, go to www.cumberlandcd.com/rainbarrel.html or call 240-7812.
Want to take a crack at building your own rain barrel? Check out instructions at www.dnr.state.md.us/ed/rainbarrel.html; www.cityofbremerton.com/content/sw_makeyourownrainbarrel.html; www.longwood.edu/cleanva/rainbarrels.htm or http://blog.pennlive.com/gardening/2008/02/rain_barrels.html.
One good book that offers details on rain barrels is “Water Storage” by Art Ludwig (Oasis Design, $19.95, 2005).