Meet the hero of the story: the rain barrel. It’s a big plastic (or wooden, if you’re fancy) drum that sits under a downspout.
You attach a simple diverter. The water goes from your gutter into the barrel. Magic happens.
One good storm can fill a 50-gallon barrel in minutes. That’s like filling 200 soda bottles with free sky-juice.
Quirky fact: A single inch of rain on a 1,000-square-foot roof yields about 600 gallons of water. That’s enough to fill a small swimming pool.
Barrel Bling: What to Look For
Not all barrels are created equal. Mesh screens are a must. Without one, you’ll be harvesting mosquito soup.
Mosquitoes love stagnant water. They are the uninvited party guests of rainwater systems. Don’t invite them. A screen keeps them out.
Look for a dark-colored barrel. It stops algae from growing. Algae turns your clear water into green swamp juice. Not ideal for your petunias.
