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Re: rain barrels?

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

At 09:30 PM 3/22/00 -0500, you wrote:
Karl wrote:

>If anyone can think of a reason not
>to use a garbage can let me know.

I understand full well that your intended use is for the garden as opposed
to for drinking or personal use. That said, garbage cans are not food grade
plastic. The implication of *not food grade* is that it leaches plastic
stuff into what it holds (or can). That may or may not make any difference
for your garden, but I thought I'd mention it for your consideration.

Personally, I'd prefer something that once held food. That way I'm sure I'm
safe (well, assuming I can believe *food grade* plastic is safe), and that
the microorganisms in the soil (and earthworms) aren't being harmed.

In addition to soft drink bottlers, you might try other types of food
processing plants. I have some plastic 35-gal. drums and some metal 55-gal.
drums, one of which once held frozen strawberries. I think the other held
lemonade or some beverage syrup . I've heard, tho don't know if it's true,
that food and beverage processers can't reuse these drums.

Real Goods has a nifty attachment for downspouts, with a lever that you can
open or close, enabling you to redirect the rainwater to your drum when
open. I bought some, but they were too big for our gutter/downspouts.  Bummer.

Patricia
Zone 7b, West Georgia


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