Welcome to our regular Monday-morning blog feature, where we share easy tips and DIY projects that you can use this week to help make your life a bit more sustainable!If you haven't already setup your sustainability profile at MakeMeSustainable, you can start by visiting http://makemesustainable.com. If you live in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, you'll automatically join our local group!
This week's project: Cheap & Easy Rain Barrel
Whether you have a apartment container garden or a lush backyard landscape, a rain barrel will help you take care of your plants. As an added bonus, it is also an easy way to conserve water and reduce run-off pollution!
Lots of stores sell expensive rain barrels. Fortunately, you don't need an expensive barrel! You don't even need a gutter! Here's all you need for a basic barrel (at a fraction of the cost):
- 1 sturdy, thick trashcan (remember the water will add a LOT of weight)
- A drill or some tin snips
- A hose (for drainage, so it does not overflow)
- Plastic drainage pipe (to connect to the gutter)
- *If you don't have a gutter, just make a hole with wire screen in the top OR leave it open during rainstorms to fill up.
- *You can also easily add a faucet to the bottom if you want to connect it to a hose or drip irrigation line.
http://www.naturalrainwater.com/make_rainbarrel.htm
