First of all, let me begin by saying that we have had success with the new litter box. According to the Security Tapes (which is what I’m calling the laptop video) and physical evidence, they have been using it five times as often as the old box. No messes on the floor so far, which is a good thing. Y’know, other than this very, very wrong thing – there’s nothing wrong with them.
Ok, back to a real post. I’ve been toying around with the idea of a rain barrel for home. We have one at school, and it’s pretty cool. It has a screen so bugs and junk can’t get in, a spigot to get the water out for your plants, and it’s super-strong so that it doesn’t burst in the winter.
Before spending all that money, I thought it would be a good idea to prototype one. Then I got really lazy, so I just put a tub under the downspout. After a night’s rain, it was full! This water lasted a week, and I used it for the few plants that I water. If it weren’t going to be mosquito season soon, I’d just go with it.
Free water! Cheap girl approves.
Brad says
That dead plant is Lloyd’s Hedera Helix ‘Erecta’.
Lauren says
Can you forgive us?
Lloyd says
Yeah, um… It’s been going for a while now.
Peggy says
Hey, I have a dead plant in front of my house too. I didn’t even realize it. I asked someone before everything started blooming what it was…’cause it’s kind of strange looking…I forget what it is…but it’s dead. Has it always been dead since we’ve moved in I wonder???? I like to think of it as ‘dried’.
Lloyd says
Maybe it’s just “dormant”; I hear that plants do that.
Rae says
Lauren, go back and look at quote post. 🙂
Lauren says
Love it. Very cool!
Deanne says
So what will you do when it rains really hard to keep it from overflowing into your basement and making a big mess?
Lauren says
Fortunately the tub is tipped and the stuff that spills out the corner goes onto the old splash guard from the downspout, so it’s going away from the foundation still.
I hope.
🙂
Deanne says
Yay!
Curt says
Lauren, before you go out and buy any barrels, I might be able to get you a(some) free plastic barrels. I believe they are 15 and/or 30 gallon. Let me now if you are interested.
Beth says
I want one. Can you get me one, too. Or is this just a deal for Lauren? 😀
Deborah says
It is illegal to have a rain barrell in Utah. It’s considered stealing the community’s water. Kind of weird because then I just water with the hose, which is using water. Go figure.
Beth says
Man. Those Mormons own everything, don’t they?
Deborah says
By the way, today was my last day of my first year of teaching kindergarten!
Annette says
Forever, or just for this first year?
Deborah says
What?
Kristi says
Did the eternally grateful parents bestow you with gift upon gift of monetary value?? or did you get loaded down with Best Teacher in the World mugs?
Deborah says
I got good presents. 🙂
Gravity Gardener says
You may want to be careful keeping an open container of water out. Mosquitoes would love to move in. I made a rain barrel out of a Walmart Trashcan. Step by step with pictures if interested.
http://gravitygarden.com/rainbucket/?page_id=46
Lauren says
You, Gravity Gardener, are my new hero! I had looked up a bunch of how-to stuff but didn’t want to mess around with the spigot part. Using a hose is genius! Well done!
Gravity Gardener says
Glad you found it helpful…It was fairly easy to do. Let me know how yours works out.
Here is a link to a free pdf and youtube video on the process I put together. Feel free to share.
http://gravitygarden.com/rainbucket/?p=94
Beth says
That really is awesome. Let’s make one, no TWO, tomorrow night. Yes?
Lauren says
I”m going to Lincoln this afternoon, but I’ll call you if I get back in time.