Who uses it and how do you collect and store it. Anything I should know? Tips, etc? How long have you stored it and did it stay fresh? Do you store it through the winter?

I really like this rain barrel but want to know if these things are really good at filtering out debris. Right now I collect in 4 5 gallon bucket, but there always seems to be debris/silt in the bottom, which bothers me.
http://www.gardeners.com/Shopping/sell.asp?ProdGroupID=12617&omMerchandising=Product%20CrossSell

Thanks!

Don't be scared.

Like my quote say's

"What doesn't kill you, makes you want to breed" (i.e. make plants flower)

I also find debris/silt at the bottom of my rainwater buckets and my plants are all doing fine and I have been doing this for years.

Ok, I'm crazy I know, I guess they DO live outside in situ, don't they? So you guys just dump the silt on too, huh? Apparently my maternal instincts kicked in about a year ago...I'm a worried mother, what can I say?

Ok, I'm crazy I know, I guess they DO live outside in situ, don't they? So you guys just dump the silt on too, huh? Apparently my maternal instincts kicked in about a year ago...I'm a worried mother, what can I say?

The silt won't hurt... It might clog up your hoses, if you use them. The only real problem I see with rainwater is that your roof is a haven for bird poo... Supposedly there are some plant pathogenic fungi that can come off a roof. I've heard that you should let the rain wash the roof for a little while, and then start collecting your rain water. Look for 'roof washer' on google (here is the first link, which looks informative)

http://www.wvu.edu/~exten/infores/pubs/ageng/sw12.pdf

But I know a lot of people who don't bother, too. I haven't gotten my rainwater system set up for the greenhouse yet, hopefully this summer. It will have a sand based filtration system to screen out most of the big stuff.

Ok, I'm crazy I know, I guess they DO live outside in situ, don't they? So you guys just dump the silt on too, huh? Apparently my maternal instincts kicked in about a year ago...I'm a worried mother, what can I say?

The silt won't hurt... It might clog up your hoses, if you use them. The only real problem I see with rainwater is that your roof is a haven for bird poo... Supposedly there are some plant pathogenic fungi that can come off a roof. I've heard that you should let the rain wash the roof for a little while, and then start collecting your rain water. Look for 'roof washer' on google (here is the first link, which looks informative)

http://www.wvu.edu/~exten/infores/pubs/ageng/sw12.pdf

But I know a lot of people who don't bother, too. I haven't gotten my rainwater system set up for the greenhouse yet, hopefully this summer. It will have a sand based filtration system to screen out most of the big stuff.

I generally wait to start collecting until it has been raining for a while, as I had heard that also. Thanks for the link, Rob, I'll check it out!

I read this kids book about Australian Aborigionees (spelling?) called Walkabout. The Aborigionees say "if nothing is swimming in the water, it must be poison". So I'm not really thrilled with the chlorine in tap water.

That's not to say you can't die from dysentary or gerardia. But most rooftops have been rained on long enough to leach anything toxic out of them.

I think Littlefrogs sandtrap idea is a good one. It will also go partially biological with time and pick up some of the biological impurities as it ages. You also need to make sure the system is screened well enough to keep mosquitoes from getting in and breeding.

I have many plants growing outside around the house, some right under the roof and they are all still alive and well for many years. :lol: