How to Use Rain Barrels in Community Gardens

Plenty of water is needed to make a community garden a success. Because these gardens are also generally for the environmentally-conscious, the way you use water in these gardens can be a valuable lesson to the community about sustainability. Instead of using tap water from a hose or sprinkler system to water the garden, use rain barrels to collect and store the water for future use. Rain is considered a renewable resource which will limit the cost and amount of water used in your garden. The use of these barrels is actually an ancient practice.

• 1

  Determine what size rain barrel is appropriate for the size of your community garden. In many cases, one or more 55 gallon rain barrels are ideal. While you want a large drum that will collect plenty of water for your needs, you might not need one that is too large if you live in an area with heavy rainfall. Storing more water that is needed can often lead to algae growth which is not recommended for watering your plants.

• 2

  Mosquito-proof your rain barrels as much as possible. Mosquitoes are a serious concern for areas with standing water because they can spread the West Nile virus. Store-bought rain barrels often already come sealed so they can prevent mosquitoes from gathering at the water source.

  To mosquito-proof an ordinary barrel, cover the barrel with a fine screen and cover it with a lid when it is not raining. Place the barrel on gravel or absorbent mulch as opposed to concrete where spilled water can pool and attract mosquitoes.

• 3

  Position your rain barrel under a downspout from a nearby roof or awning. If your community garden is in an open air lot without access to a roof's gutter system, you may need to create a covering for this purpose.

  If it is not possible to place the rain barrel directly beneath the downspout, you can use a rain diverter to feed water to the barrel. Simply hook the diverter to the opening of the downspout and direct this into the barrel.

• 4

  Use the spigot of the rain barrel to use water when needed. If you are not using a store-bought rain barrel, either attach a spigot on your own, or bale out water when needed from the top of the barrel. If possible, position your rain barrel on a raised surface to increase the water pressure and usability of your attached hose.