I have to admit, my husband is really the one taking on this challenge. We’ve ordered four 55 gal. rain barrels that will get connected to our downspouts, and should help us collect plenty of rainwater for our flower and vegetable gardens. This project won’t save us money (we’re on a city water supply, and even during the summer our quarterly bill only runs about $50), but it’s an easy way to help ease the demands on our local water supply.

I live in the south where mosquitos are a significant problem. Although I would like to take advantage of this idea, I am concerned to create breeding grounds for mosquitos in my yard around my family. Any suggestions?

I installed one rain barrel to see what I thought of it before investing in more, and I love it! Regarding mosquitos, you can either use a rain barrel with a closed system (one small hole just large enough for a tube from your downspout – no open water) or purchase one of several types of mosquito treatment available online, and maybe in stores. I haven’t looked for those yet, as I hope the screening on the top of my barrel is sufficient to keep the little buggers at bay.

A good location for info on rain barrels is ” www.motherearthnews.com “

I stand corrected, a better location would be ” www.harvesth20.com/resources.shtml” I checked after sending mess. Its just that they have so much good stuff I figured that they would have something on rain barrels. They may have, but a fast look and I didn’t see anything.

I also live in the South, and tried a rain barrel a few years ago. It was an open top ( Don’t have gutters yet – they’re on my list!) and I did have mosquito problems. Gave it to a friend who uses it in his vegetable garden away from his home! The mosquito donuts work, but when the barrel overflowed, I lost the donuts! Would like to try again, if there is a solution…

I live in the South also and having a mosquito problem was a major concern. After the first 2 or 3 mosquito donuts washing away I gathered some fishing line, a fishing bobber, and a fishing weight. first measure the fishing line from the bottom of barrel to the highest point water would be. second tie the fishing weight to one end of the fishing line. Third thread the line through the hole in the mosquito donut and attach the fishing bobber at the other end of the line. The fishing weight will keep everything from washing away in a heavy rain and the bobber will float so when mosquito donut desolves you don’t have to fish around in the bottom of a barrel full of water to put the next mosquito donut on. Hope this helps.

One of the first things anyone with a rain barrel will tell you is that you should have a cover on it.

As I was reading all these commits, I was thinking like fatman…..cover it! I lived in Mississippi for 48 years and in Alabama for two. Uncover when it rains, if you do not want to cover it, you can put a netting matrial over the mouth of your barrel, just fasten it down.