RAIN BARREL INFO SHEET

BARREL INFORMATION

George Nowsch <geobuildit@yahoo.com>

All of my rain barrels are made from recycled, FOOD GRADE, 55 gallon plastic barrels. The barrels have a sealed, non removable lid. In their previous life, they were used to hold various consumable liquid food products. I never have, and never will, use anything but food grade barrels for my rain barrels.

All of the barrels are made with #2 HDPE blue plastic. #2 HDPE plastic is the same material used to make milk jugs. Rain barrels that I offer in different colors (green, black or brown), are blue barrels that have been painted, with a special paint just for plastic.  That's why the painted barrels cost more than the blue ones.

Each rain barrel has a solid brass spigot 3 1/2” from the bottom of the barrel. This is high enough to attach a garden or soaker hose, but close enough to the bottom to get almost all of the water out. Brass holds up longer over time and the spigot is the most critical part of the rain barrel.

Each rain barrel has a plastic overflow on the side of the barrel, 3 1/2” from the top, and is threaded to accommodate a garden hose fitting. This allows excess water to be diverted away from your basement and foundation.  The overflow valve is plastic, because you attach the hose to it once and its done, unlike the brass spigot which gets much more wear & tear. It's recommended that you install a screen washer inside the overflow hose fitting before you attach your hose to the barrel.

The top of the barrel has two holes. One hole is filled with the original threaded plug. The other has a screened downspout adapter covering the hole. The aluminum screen keeps out mosquitoes, bugs and debris. The adapter is removable, should you want to clean the screen of any needles, leaves or debris. The adapter is always white, regardless of the rain barrel color.

The brass spigot, side overflow and screened downspout connector are installed before you pick up your rain barrel. You don't have to drill, adjust, attach, modify or alter anything on the rain barrel, it's all done and ready to go. Your work involves making the connection to your downspout once you get home.

The rain barrels are 36” high and 24” across.  One barrel will easily fit in the back seat of any car sold in America. They're also very light weight, weighing approximately 21 lbs.

The only thing NOT included is a flexible downspout elbow. Depending on your current downspout setup, you may or may not need the elbow, which is why I don't include them. I'll have flexible elbows available for sale at the time of delivery, for $5 each. They're available in either brown or white.

response from Jared:

George,

I love the idea of your business.  I agree that homemade organic compost and rain water are the best for the garden.  The smell of chlorine from the hose water makes me sick!  I know that it's going to be killing off a lot of life that makes my plants and soil healthy.  I like your compost tumbler design, and thank you for the work that you are doing.

I have three recycled 55 gallon drums that I received last year.  I was going to install two as rain barrels, and turn one into a compost tumbler.  What held me back was the fact that we have asphalt roofing, and the water collected from them contains carcinogens and other toxins leached from the petrol.  Petroleum is everywhere; will we ever be able to get by with less?  I would like to hear your thoughts on the quality of the roof water collected from asphalt roofs. 

Would you be interested in the Permaculture Seminar on the 17th?  I think that you'd really enjoy it.  Think of it as interdisciplinary earth science, where you take into consideration all the elements of your environment and put them together so they result in synergistic, efficient and productive systems.  Take for example rain water:  As the water moves through your environment, how many times and in how many ways can you use that water in order to maximize the health and yields of the overall system?

As I understand, you will be in the area from the 15th-17th?  I would like to get together to chat that weekend.  On Saturday, I will be attending the Michigan Family Farms Conference out in Battle Creek (out near you!).  On Sunday I will be in Oxford, likely for most of the day.  The Seminar is at 3 p.m.  I see that you've opened a dialogue with Deanne Bednar of the Strawbale Studio.  The Upland Hill Ecological Awareness Center and the Strawbale are only a few miles apart.  Perhaps on Sunday we could meet in Oxford, and you could visit the EAC and the Strawbale Studio.  Deanne is great, and the Strawbale Studio is beautiful.  I think it'd be great for us to get together and find ways to work together. 

Keep in touch.