That online source's prices are really high. Here in southern California the prices on used 55 gallon plastic drums can range from as low as $7 each to as high as $50 each, depending upon mostly who is selling them, type, condition, whether they are clean or not, whether you pick them up or get them delivered, quantity purchased, what was in them, etc. You might even occasionally get one or two for free, but most people know they are worth something. I am negotiating right now to buy 14 barrels for $10 each plus $20 to have them delivered. I plan to cut them in half, giving me one double open ended cylinder about 18 inches high and 21 inches in diameter, and one tub same dimensions but closed on one end from each barrel. The double open ended rings I plan to set on my hillside, leveling each place I set them, so my hillside will have in effect 14 miniature raised bed growing areas. The tubs I can put anywhere, including my patio, because they will be closed on the bottom. So I will end up with 28 planters. I also can buy six gallon pails for a dollar apiece, which I will use for smaller plants. The one thing that is sort of stopping me is the barrels I am buying are too good, too good to cut up, better than most people are selling, and the seller says they are brand new, might be true or not, but they do look new or hardly used. I am wondering if I should just resell the barrels and double my money.

Hey Al, I was thinking the hose/spout would be on the bottom of the spout (kind of like a rain barrel) but I don't need all the rain barrel funtionality on the top. Spout on bottom = gravity, no? (Maybe not enough?) I could SWEAR I have seen people watering plants in office buildings with something like this... but maybe it was their own jerry rigged contraption. LOL Any other ideas? I'd like to find a way to water my plants with the water I'm saving from warming up my showers but the 10 gallon paint cans are getting cumbersone to lift and pour into watering ans. Thanks, kristi

When I found that pic in google, I was also so impressed . Then I thought about all cutting, screwing, begging my husband to help ....:))) and finally I end up with just cutting square foot hole on the side of the barrel, but not in the middle part ; I cut that hole in the top side part, so I could use it not just rotating horizontally, but also keep it vertical for a while. When it is time to rotate, I lay the barrel on the ground and roll it several times and let it sit horizontally. Then several day later I roll it again, or put it vertically. Actually it is not difficult at all. Sorry, I don't have my own picture of the barrel.

You'd be amazed at the harsh chemicals they use to clean bottles and cans that are used for food storage. But ... they wash out. The chemicals in your dishwasher and washing machine cleaners aren't that nice either. Good that they wash out. The question is less how harsh they are, and more how soluble they are. The ones you named are highly soluble. Granted that some ugly petrochemicals aren't that soluble in water, but can be broken down with soap.