Until last week, this little song is the only reference I had when i heard the phrase “rain barrel”. I think i learned this song watching Captain Kangaroo in the early 50’s. No one I knew had either a rain barrel or a cellar, so these concepts were foreign to me. Still, I remember every word of it as if I just sang it last week at Carnegie Hall.
As you can see by Itzl's concerned look, this group is for us to check in at to let people know we are alive, doing OK, and not affected by such things as heat, blizzards, floods, wild fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, power outages, or other such things that could keep us off DKos. It's also so we can find other Kossacks nearby for in-person checks when other methods of communication fail - a buddy system. Members come here to check in. If you're not here, or anywhere else on DKos, and there are adverse conditions in your area (floods, heatwaves, hurricanes, etc.), we and your buddy are going to check up on you. If you are going to be away from your computer for a day or a week, let us know here. We care! IAN is a great group to join, and a good place to learn to write diaries. Drop one of us a PM to be added to the Itzl Alert Network anytime! We all share the publishing duties, and we welcome everyone who reads IAN to write diaries for the group! Every member is an editor, so anyone can take a turn when they have something to say, photos and music to share, a cause to promote or news!Monday: Crimson Quillfeather/Tuesday: ejoanna/Wednesday: Caedy/
Thursday: art ah zen/Friday: FloridaSNMOM/Saturday: jan4insight/Sunday: loggersbrat
But this article today is about rain barrels. I understand some states ban the collection of rain water but in Southern California, we are encouraged to buy up to 4 rain barrels for our homes and are given rebates to offset the cost. With El Nino predicted to hit hard this winter, the idea is to catch the water, let it run out onto your property by way of a hose at the bottom of the barrel, taking it away from your foundation. All of our public drains here run to the ocean so this helps keep some of the water on the property, going down into the aquifers.
The one pictured above is one of two I bought through a program run by the water district and the fine people of www.rainbarrelsintl.com. The company is interesting, they recycle food grade poly barrels that would end up in land fills after only one use and make these very nice, attractive rain barrels. It is family business. They partner with water districts to make the barrels available at about ½ of their retail cost and even that is then reduced by a $75 rebate for each one, up to 4 barrels. The rebate can be more if you are in certain water districts, and the end cost to me was $10 each. What a deal! The lady of the company came to one of the local city halls here, gave a presentation about the barrels, how to use them, and then delivered them to our cars. She does this every month, flying around the country from North Carolina.
Now, there are poly barrels available on Craig’s list for much less than you would pay for one of these at a retail place or even through their program, but there is a catch. The color of these barrels denotes what was shipped in them. I have this terra cotta color and they were filled with imported Greek olives. You can still faintly smell the brine. These people use only terra cotta and black, which were used to import pickles. The white one you might see online somewhere were used for maraschino cherries and are impregnated with that aroma which draws ants like a magnet here in So Cal. Other colors held oil, which you do not want in your water. So you have to be careful what you might find out there.
The website for them tells their story, shows their products and says where they will be next. I have no financial interest in the company; I just think they are cool. It has not rained since we set this one up but I am pouring the saved house water into it which comes from waiting for hot water in the shower or kitchen. I am loving it and it has started some conversation in the neighborhood. Just this morning, the Mosquito Abatement Officer stopped to check to make certain it was not just open to the elements and mosquitoes but he hardily approved on this one. It has a tiny mesh screen in the top that will not let in even “no see ‘em” bugs. He also told me Mr. Zen was smart to chain it down. Oh sure, men support each other.