Happy Earth Day, everyone! A day dedicated to celebrating our planet and reflecting on how we can all contribute to its well-being. It’s also a time for personal celebrations, like our little brother, Almost-Doctor-Dan’s birthday – and yes, that link does come with a warning for incredibly cute baby Clara pictures! In the spirit of this environmentally conscious holiday, we wanted to share a recent adventure that led us to embrace a more sustainable practice in our own backyard: acquiring a new rain barrel. This journey began, quite simply, by driving down a familiar street and spotting an intriguing sign that sparked an immediate sense of purpose.
Embracing Sustainable Gardening: Our Journey to a New Rain Barrel
For quite some time, a new rain barrel had been lingering on our home improvement to-do list. When we sold our first house, we had to part ways with the custom-made rain barrel that served us so well. We’re certainly no strangers to DIY projects, and the idea of crafting another one from scratch was appealing. However, finding the time to sign up for a local workshop to acquire a large, food-safe barrel and dedicate a weekend to the build just hadn’t materialized. So, when that humble sign caught our eye, it felt less like a coincidence and more like a gentle nudge from the universe. We took it as a clear signal to pull over and explore what was available, even if the “store” itself lacked traditional windows or a storefront appearance.
Discovering a Local Gem: Carolina Mike’s Produce Stand
What we stumbled upon was Carolina Mike’s Produce Stand, a charming, albeit early-season, local establishment. While Mike was still about a week away from having fresh produce ready for sale, his stand was already a treasure trove for other unique items. Despite its seemingly “out-in-the-boonies” aesthetic, this hidden gem is actually situated on a bustling suburban street, directly across from a Target. For those familiar with Richmond, Virginia, you’ll find it conveniently located at the corner of Forest Hill Avenue and Cherokee Road, nestled within the Stratford Hills area – a testament to the unexpected places you can find sustainable solutions.
Mike, the proprietor, greeted us with incredible friendliness and was happy to discuss his inventory of repurposed barrels. He offered two distinct options: tall, black 55-gallon barrels that previously transported jalapenos, priced at $60, and shorter, blue 55-gallon barrels that once held soy sauce, available for $40. The pricing was remarkably coincidental, as $40 was precisely what we had spent to *make* our last rain barrel through a community class. Given the incredible value and the ease of a ready-made solution, opting for one of the $40 blue barrels was an easy decision. After a quick trip home to drop off Clara and Sherry – making crucial space in the backseat – I returned to collect our new blue best friend, eagerly anticipating its role in our home’s water conservation efforts.
Strategic Placement: Integrating the Rain Barrel into Our Outdoor Space
Our newly acquired rain barrel, affectionately dubbed “Ol’ Blue,” spent a contemplative week-ish in our carport. This period allowed us to thoroughly consider and debate its optimal placement. Ultimately, we concluded that its utility would be maximized near the small, fenced garden area situated directly behind our carport and adjacent to our sunroom. We recognize that this explanation might make even more sense once we’ve published our comprehensive outdoor tour post (which is indeed in the works – pictures are taken and uploaded, just awaiting final edits!), but for now, suffice it to say that this location was chosen for both practical access and its integration into our larger landscape plans.
This particular outdoor zone, while currently serving primarily as our dog Burger’s designated restroom area, is slated for a significant transformation. Our ambitious plans include “de-liriope-ing” most of it – a fancy term for meticulously digging up that floppy, ubiquitous grass. In its place, we envision replacing the narrow brick pathway with a spacious, inviting stone patio on this side of the house, offering seamless access from a sliding door in our living room. Crucially, even with these changes, we intend to maintain ample plant beds around the perimeter of our DIY patio. These beds will undoubtedly require regular watering, making the downspout located next to the brick half-wall (which is actually the backside of our carport) the perfect partner for our new rain barrel. Harnessing rainwater for these future plantings will not only be environmentally friendly but also incredibly convenient.
Seamless Installation: Making Rainwater Harvesting Easy
Before proceeding with the final installation, a crucial first step was to verify that a standard watering can would comfortably fit beneath the barrel’s faucet, also known as the hose bib. Thankfully, it did, which meant we wouldn’t need to bother with raising the barrel on blocks or any other elevated platform. This was a welcome simplification. If I had been constructing the barrel from scratch, I might have positioned the hose bib slightly lower to allow access to every last drop of water. However, our positive experience with our previous rain barrel, which had a spigot in a similar location, assuaged any concerns. After years of use, we never encountered issues with odors or algae accumulating from the water collected below the spigot level. Plus, as a simple workaround, we can always tip the barrel forward slightly to achieve a complete drain when needed.
With the faucet height confirmed, the next phase involved preparing the installation site. This began by carefully leveling the ground where the barrel would sit, ensuring a stable and secure base. Then, I precisely measured and determined where the existing downspout would need to be cut to align perfectly with the barrel’s collection opening. Once the measurements were finalized, I grabbed a small hacksaw and began the straightforward process of cutting away the necessary section of the downspout. It’s a simple modification that makes a world of difference in directing precious rainwater directly into the barrel.
For those interested in a more in-depth, step-by-step tutorial on downspout modification and general rain barrel construction, you can find a comprehensive breakdown on our original post: “How To Build A Rain Barrel.” The process is quite manageable for any DIY enthusiast. In essence, after making the cut, I simply squeezed the curved spout section back into its proper place, slid the rain barrel underneath it, and declared the project complete. Voila! With minimal effort, we had unlocked infinite rain collecting potential, ready to capture every precious drop from the sky.
The Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting for Your Home and Garden
Bringing a rain barrel into your home is more than just a simple home improvement project; it’s a commitment to sustainable living that offers a multitude of benefits for both your property and the environment. Rainwater harvesting significantly reduces your reliance on municipal water sources for outdoor irrigation, which can lead to noticeable savings on your water bill, especially during dry spells or summer months when garden watering is frequent. Beyond the financial advantages, collecting rainwater helps mitigate stormwater runoff, preventing excess water from carrying pollutants into local waterways and contributing to erosion. Furthermore, plants often thrive on rainwater because it’s naturally free of chlorine and other chemicals commonly found in treated tap water, providing them with a healthier, more natural source of hydration.
Integrating Aesthetics: Camouflaging Our Eco-Friendly Addition
While we eagerly await our first proper rainstorm to put Ol’ Blue to good use, there’s an undeniable satisfaction in rejoining the rain barrel club. It’s a small but significant step towards greater self-sufficiency and environmental responsibility. One aspect we’ve noted, however, is our new barrel’s rather vibrant blue hue, which doesn’t exactly allow it to quietly blend into the existing landscape. Its bright presence is, for now, a not-so-subtle declaration of our Earth Day celebrations.
But rest assured, once we formally embark on the larger landscaping overhaul of this area, we have plans to address its conspicuousness. A simple paintbrush might just do the trick – perhaps a muted brick red or an earthy tone – to help it better camouflage itself, much like we did with our utility boxes and propane tank, as detailed here. Heck, we might even take it a step further and strategically plant a few ornamental grasses or climbing vines around it to further obscure its form, transforming it from a bright blue statement piece into an integrated, functional element of our garden design. Until then, it stands as a proud, if somewhat bold, symbol of our commitment to sustainable practices.
Looking Ahead: Beyond the Barrel to Our Outdoor Oasis
Are any of you also rejoining the rain barrel club after a lapse in membership, much like us? Or perhaps you’re deep in the planning stages for ambitious patio projects? It seems like every day, Sherry playfully taps me on the shoulder, suggesting, “Wanna go dig up some liriope? Come on, you know you want to!” It’s humorously akin to the adult version of “are we there yet?” Can’t a husband simply bask in the glorious afterglow of having built a magnificent 12-foot console table for just a little longer? No? Alright, alright, I suppose I have some shoveling in my future. The vision for our transformed outdoor living space, complete with a stone patio and thriving plant beds watered by our new rain barrel, is a powerful motivator. Here’s to sustainable living, beautiful outdoor spaces, and perhaps, a little less liriope in our lives!