How to Make an Inexpensive, DIY Rain Barrel – Karl’s Food Forest Garden: S01E105

This video shows you how to build a DIY rain barrel that really works! Chapters: 0:00 Rain barrel basics 0:32 Rain barrel top hole for screening water and cleaning barrel 1:45 Rain barrel faucet installation 5:32 Installing a bottom clean-out for a rain barrel 7:50 Rain barrel water pressure 8:20 Conclusion What is a rain barrel? Rain barrels or rainwater collection barrels (sometimes misspelled rainbarrel) are small rainwater tanks used to collect rain from a downspout, or another rainwater collection system, so that the harvested rain water can be used for your garden. How do I make a cheap, DIY rain barrel out of a recycled 55 gallon plastic drum? Making a DIY rain barrel for rainwater collection is easy. At minimum, you will attach at least one hose bib to the rain barrel - generally several inches above the bottom of the barrel. You will also want to cut a 4-6" hole in the top of the barrel so water can enter the barrel. What is rainwater harvesting? Rainwater harvesting is a term for collecting rainwater to use in your garden. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainwater_harvesting What tools do I need to make a rain barrel? To make a rainwater barrel, you will need an electric drill with a 1-inch hole saw bit (if using a 3/4" hose bib"). You may also want to cut a larger hole (perhaps 4-6 inches) for the water to enter the drum and to be used as a cleanout, which will require a larger hole saw. Teflon tape can be used around the threaded end of the hose bib and, if possible, the hose bib should be tightened using a "female" ring to tighten the bib from the inside of the barrel. The rain barrel is made out of a food-grade barrel, usually a 55 gallon drum (or smaller). You will also need at least one hose bib. If you want to add an over-flow spout at the top of the barrel, it is helpful to add a second hose bib so that you can connect several rain barrels in series. Can I make a rainwater collection system from an IBC tote? Yes, you can collect rainwater in an IBC tote. IBS totes can also be connected to rain barrels and used as part of your rainwater collection system. How do I connect two rain barrels? To connect two rain barrels, each barrel should have a hose bib near the bottom of the barrel and a second hose bib, usually closer to the top. The top hose bib is connected, with a hose, to the second rain barrel, either at the top hose bib or at the bottom. What is a rainwater garden? In a rainwater garden, rainwater is collected in an excavated depression in the ground. Rainwater gardens help refill aquifers with water from hardscaped areas, like sidewalks, parking lots, and streets. rainwater gardens also include plants that can purify the water as it enters the watershed. (https://www.epa.gov/soakuptherain/soak-rain-rain-gardens) Should I buy a rain barrel or make a rain barrel? Buying a rain barrel is expensive, and the barrels don't always last as long as a home-made 55 gallon drum rain barrel. The pros of buying a pre-made rain barrel is that it will probably look nicer than a DIY rain barrel. It also requires fewer tools and takes less work to install. The cons are that it will cost more and will likely be more cheaply made than building a DIY rain barrel. What is a food-grade barrel? A food grade barrel is a repurposed drum that has been used to transport something that is non-toxic. It should also be made of food-grade plastic. Where do I find a food-grade barrel for rainwater? I buy food grade barrels from Craig's List https://www.craigslist.com or https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/. You can also get food grade barrels from small food manufacturing companies, or drink manufacturers, that go through a lot of liquid ingredients. For example, you might search for a "beverage manufacturer near me" or a "food manufacturer near me" and give them a call. Ask if they have any used drums that you could have or buy. Do not use barrels if you don't know where they came from. Barrels found at farms may have been used to move pesticides or other chemicals. You do not want to use those as a barrel for rainwater. Is rain water safe for my garden? Yes, rain water is safe for your garden. Is rain water safe to drink? Rain water, as it falls from the sky, is safe to drink. However, if it comes off the roof of your house, it may contain pollutants from your roof or chemicals from your shingles. Rainwater directly from the sky need only be filtered if it is stored. This rain water is filtered to remove bacteria, insects, or larvae that may be living in the stagnant water of the barrel. In areas with high levels of air pollution, rainwater may collect pollutants and should also be filtered before drinking. How do I filter rainwater for drinking? Rainwater collected from a roof should be filtered through a multi-stage filtering system before drinking. Other popular videos: https://youtu.be/rwoNdMjz4Ls