Conejo Post

I’ll bet a lot of us are wishing we could catch and store some of the rain that is predicted for the Conejo Valley in next few days.  How about buying or constructing rain barrels?

Actually, two years ago, I designed and made some rain barrels with the help of a friend.  My design specs were that:  1.  A barrel be as cheap as possible to make, 2.  The construction process be easy enough that someone not tool savvy could do it, 3.  The barrels be child-safe,  and 4. It would be easy to drain the barrels and irrigate areas of the yard.

I made some out of heavy duty plastic garbage cans from Home Depot, and enjoyed using them for a season.  However, even though the barrels had a locking system to keep them closed and child-proof, I decided I could not recommend them, because the lids could be removed.

 I was sad about that, because the whole process of making sure the barrels were set up before rain, connecting some together under one downspout, and then later hooking up a small diameter boat hose to the spigot and irrigating…that all was a lot of fun.  And, I felt like I was actively participating in nature. 

The solution is that there are rain barrels available on the internet which are completely enclosed, and therefore safe to have around children.  I think that is the way to go.  I think experiencing weather should be enjoyable, instead of a bother, and rain barrels really contribute to that.

Posted by Janna Orkney  (Of interest also, might be post of December 8, titled “Water Talk.”   Access it by entering title in search box at upper right.  For more on water conservation, go to the “tag cloud” at lower left and click on “Water Conservation.”)