For those of us who practice urban homesteading in close proximity to the neighbors, sporting a butt-ugly rain barrel can be a concern. I personally like the looks of the traditional rain barrels, but many neighbors (and homesteaders) do not. Even if the neighbors can't see the barrels, many people don't want their yards to look like an Ed Begley, Jr. experiment so they seek out something a little more subtle. Beautiful even.
That's what I did when I got our rain barrel (pictured at left). Not only did it look more like a large, earthen urn but it included a planter on top. I drilled holes in it, lined it with barrier cloth, filled it with potting soil and planted strawberries and cyclamen to add some visual interest. The raised strawberries worked out great because it kept the slugs, critters and chickens away and produced all summer long.
If you don't want to use it as a planter, you can use it as a birdbath instead. In either case, it looks much better than a giant pickle barrel and, no doubt, the neighbors will be less likely to give you funny looks. Funny looks that they can save for when the dairy goats move in.
Giveaway
For today's giveaway, one randomly selected winner will receive a 50 gallon Algreen Rain Barrel (pictured at right). It's a little smaller than my 65 gallon one, but the principles are the same. It features:- Molded plastic that won't chip, crack, or fade
- A 4-foot garden hose with shutoff nozzle
- A screen guard and removable crown planter
- Measures 23 x 33 inches
If you are interested in entering the random drawing, please add your name to the comments of this post. You have until midnight PST this Friday, February 25th to enter. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. You do not need to be an urban homesteader to enter this giveaway - just someone who needs a rain barrel.
Good luck!
Note: There are affiliate links in this post. Consider yerself warned.
365 comments:
1 – 200 of 365 Newer› Newest»WOW that is a Cool Rainbarrel.
Hey I wanna enter Rivenfae here
I'm the neighbor with the ugly pickle (olive) barrels repurposed into rain barrels! Thank goodness my neighbors are my kids, one on each side. I would love a nice fancy-dancy rain barrel.
Lynda
would love!
Wow, style and practicality. Nice!
OMG! Would totally love one of those! Especially since it's pretty enough that the landlords wouldn't be able to say anything. ;) Living in the desert, that would totally come in handy (especially weeks like this week where it'll be raining most of the week). Sunshine here (and yes, that's my name). ;) Love your blog by the way. Was just recently turned onto it by a friend. :)
Would love to have an awesome rain barrel.
Katy
For real!?! This might go down in history as the coolest giveaway ever. :-)
Fantastic! Thanks for the chance to enter!
I sure could use one of these!
Color me entered! What a fantastic way to start UHW. Badass.
I would LOVE to have a bee-yoo-tiful rain barrel! (please!) :)
I love the looks of these! No need to hide that with bushes and such. Great give away.
Shelly King
count me in! that is so cool!
kate @ twokniveskatie.blogspot.com
I think the only thing I need now is a rain barrel and some chickens. I'll work on warming my husband up for chickens if you enter me in this contest. Thanks crunchy!
So cool! count me in!
This would be perfect for my garden...and great use of our abundant PNW rain! ♥♥♥
Wow...that is gorgeous...I want it!
Would love to have that barrel. I live in a very dry area and would love to use it to conserve a bit of water.
Nice looking rain barrels. Good enough to have out front. Gotta look into get ting a few of those.
I am in LOVE with this rain barrel!! How awesome is that!! Count me in!!
I would love to have a fancy rain barrel!
Chris could use this
I have been despairing about ever being able to afford a rainbarrel that looks ok enough to pass muster with my landlord. Finally, an answer: I must win this giveaway :)
Thanks so much for your wonderful blog. Hoping I win!
That rain barrel would be very happy at my little house! Thanks.
/i could use this!
Love it. Entering ;)
I would LOVE that!
-shannon
Love it . That is something I could use without anyone complaining ..
Michele
That is a fantastic giveaway! My husband has really wanted a rain barrel for so long...and I love the way this one looks!
Thanks for the chance to win!!
~Michelle
www.falafelandthebee.com
Oh, that's a cute rainbarrel, and I do need one!
Marya wants this rain barrel. Oh yes indeed she does.
I love your blog. I'd love to win a rain barrel!
Enter me, please! :D
Very nice rain barrel! Would love to win.
Very cool rain barrel! Would love to win.
That has to be the prettiest rain barrel I've ever seen. :)
Sign me up!
Awesome! You know, collecting rainwater is technically illegal in Colorado (complicated water rights in the desert!)but I think this stealth beauty would make my thievery a little easier!
That's a great idea. I could totally see that in my front yard.
Enter me in! Kendra P.
we have what would be considered an "ugly" rain barrel!! I would love this!!
*crossing my fingers*
This will make hubs happy! He won't consider a rain barrel because he is convinced they're all ugly!
Love this!!
Deanna, no need to put me in the drawing as we already have 2 of rain barrels, I just want to tell you how much i LOVE your blog!! You are a riot girl!
oooh, I want! This would collect the rain off the chicken coop perfectly! And since I am the crazy chicken lady I insist their set up is pretty! =)
Oh! Lovely barrel!
We left ours at our house when we moved so a new one would be lovely.
Thanks
Jessjgh1 at gmail
All this talk about pickle barrels might make my husband think that cucumbers instead of rain should reside in said barrel.
We have been wanting to get a couple of these, but have never been able to find a nice one!
Absolutely luv this! Using a rubber storage tub now to water flowerboxes on our townhouse deck. This would look so much better, & match the chiminea. :)
oh yeah! I'd love to win this for my urban farmette :0)
OOOOOOH MAMA LIKE! I was planning on a DIY plastic rain barrel for my yard but that is a BEAUTIFUL design!
Add me to the drawing!
Yes please for the rain barrel. Pickle barrels are their own kind of cool but this one would even get the approval of SWMBO!
Ed
Ooh! Pick me, pick me! :-)
What a great giveaway!
Gorgeous! You find the coolest stuff!
Thank you! Liberty
Please enter me in the drawing! I want a couple rainbarrels so bad! My dear hubby isn't sold on having ugly barrels sitting at the corners of the house yet. But if he sees this one, he's sure to give in! Thanks...love your blog.
We are going to be moving into our first house soon and this would be a great addition!
Would love to enter the drawing and would put it to very good use!
Me, me. me :) Terri P.
Thanks for the giveaway- that's a purdy rain barrel for sure!
Would love to win a stylish and functional rain barrel! Thank you for the opportunity. :)
Count me in :) It's lovely
This would be perfect for me! Sign me up! Thanks!
I would love this gorgeous rain barrel. Sign me up for the contest.
Luis
How Beautiful!
I would love it. So stylish!
Deanna - We get loads of rain in N. CAL and we don't have a rainbarrel. I want this!! Thanks for the give away!
what a cool giveaway! Thanks for putting this on :)
LOVE the rain barrel, HATE that I can't enter cuz I'm in Canada!!!
love this barrel!
heidi
Trailing vines, and one of those pretty rain-chains would be a pretty setup.
Yes please I would love that barrel like one of my own chiildren.
Nice! Also, I like the new look!
ooohhh...this urban homesteader would love that fancy rain barrel.
I like the new blog look, too!
Love the design - I could get away with that in my neighborhood!
Ooh, wow. This seems like a good time to de-lurk! Found your blog via Sharon Astyk, and am really enjoying going through the archives.
Thanks for the chance to win!
Renee
I am looking for a new rain barrel at the moment to replace an old ugly barrel one that came with the house. I really like the looks of that one and the hose is a must. Plus it will definitely keep the rat snake out, which is always an unpleasant surprise.
kirstencorsaro@mac.com
I've been looking for a nice rain barrel for years. I'd love to win this one!
Such a beautiful barrel! Much nicer than the blue ones from the carwash...
Great looking rain barrel! If I don't win, where can I get one? ~ Kim
We sure could use a rainbarrel! We live on townwater, had a partial drought last year, and garden didnt fare well at all on townwater!
Carol
Funny looks that they can save for when the dairy goats move in. Bah-ha-ha-ha-ha!! Excellent and clever as always, Crunchy!
I don't need a rain barrel and don't need an entry in this excellent giveaway (which is good because the random integer generator hates me anyway). I just wanted to comment on the hilarious line, the awesomeness of this giveaway, and my liking of the blog's new look! Thank you for always inspiring!
My yard would love this!!
Very cool. I'd love to have it!
I would love to win the rainbarrel! Our raised bed vegetable garden is going to be downhill from our house, and this would be perfect for watering during the summer.
I love this rain barrel design! I hope this makes more people want to add this to their landscaping. With recent population increases here in Texas, we're gonna need them! Thanks for posting this. :) I can't wait to spread the word.
I would love this! What a great idea!
I would love this - the front yard, right by the front door needs a prettier solution.
What a great way to start off the week - thanks!
Love it!!! Thanks!
Much better than my hubby attempting to create something hideous out of a farm barrel!
yay for rain barrels!
I so need one of these!
Very attractive! Would like in my yard. :)
My husband and I were just talking about getting these so I'm entering!
I'm wayyyy up in Canada so don't bother including me in this. But, I like how many times you used the words urban homesteader. You sassy girl you.
Very Cool! So pretty:)
That is the coolest rain barrel I've ever seen. I would SO love to give it a home.
The Ed Begley Experiment would be a great band name, but I digress. I'd love to win this. I have had this bookmarked since I bought my house. Thanks for hosting this giveaway!
Pick me! Pick me!!
LOVE the rain barrel giveaway!
Sheila Rumble
I'd love to win a lovely rainbarrel. I have one but it is a bit ugly. I would move it around to the back of the house and have this lovely one out front.
I just recently discovered your blog. Just in time, I guess! I have wanted a rain barrel for a long time.
Hey, I'm an Urban Homesteader! I could totally use your rain barrel! Count me in!
I would love a rain barrel.
I teach Kindergarten/1st grade. We are working towards a food filled garden. As teachers we have been wanting a rainbarrel. Our building is shared and so need to keep up appearances in order to please everyone. The children could learn so much through the use of this rainbarrel!
Enter me please! :)
Nice rain barrel...I use a garbage can!
That's a great looking rain barrel. We have a pickle barrel style but have hesitated putting it in the front yard.
This would be awesome!
Just what I need!
I know that the whole "Urban Homesteading" trademark situation has created lots of ill will, but I think a lot of positive will come out of it, too. Like connecting with all the Urban Homesteaders out there! And finding out about really cool things like this (coolest ever!) rain barrel. I am an Urban Homesteader in Charlotte, NC and just put in an asparagus bed yesterday. My new little asparagus babes would love this! Thanks so much for giving this away.
Awesome, what a great giveaway. Fingers crossed.
Don't need the rain barrel but did want to comment on your new look which is very eye catching. Simple and effective.
That is a cool looking rain barrel. My neighbors would be impressed, as would my flower bed.
I love the rain barrel!
Sweet!
Some day I'd like to have a large water cistern, but it's small steps for me.... Thanks for the chance to enter this giveaway, Crunchy!
That's such a pretty one! We have three rain barrels in our backyard but we are selling our house and leaving them for the new owners (because the downspouts have been cut and the barrels are set up to water the flowers etc). So this would be lovely to win to use in our new home! Thanks!
Manuela
I'd love to enter! New apartment, new plans!
Wow, what a great contest. Count me in. Thanks
I have been wanting one of these for a long time now. I would love to win!
Love it!
Wow, yeah...I could really use that. Thanks for the contest.
That's a fine looking rain barrel.
Awesome! Please count me in for a chance to win. And thanks for your generosity.
What an awesome giveaway! Thanks for doing this.
I would love a rain barrel- they are not exactly encouraged in my 'hood, this would be great.
I'd love that. It's such a cute shape too.
I have been meaning to get a rain barrel. This looks fantastic!
Yay! Non-rain barrel rain barrels for urban homesteaders (sorry, just had to get that in - without the TM.) Would love one for my front yard.
We've been wanting one of these!
Here I am, humming along to "Oh, Playmate" (http://bussongs.com/songs/oh_playmate.php), and hoping for a rain barrel. Maybe next summer a cellar door .. with (root) cellar!
Please, please!
I would love to win a rain barrel.
-Kelsey
I like that rain barrel. I do like the old barrels and wouldn't mind having some old whisky barrels, but this is just lovely.
What an awesome rain barrel - and one that does not offend the landscape!
What a lovely rain barrel - and one that does not offend the landscape!!
I would love a rainbarrel like that.
We could get a lot of use out of that. Add me (Mary) to the list!
Oh, count me in. We got a couple of barrels from the local dairy/cheese house but they aren't nearly as stylish as this.
Judy
Pick me, please! I'd love a nice rain barrel like this one!
Wow! I'd love to win a rain barrel! Exciting!
Tara
I could really use one of these here in Illinois- Make the neighbors notice!!
My neighbors can't really see my back yard, but I would love to have a rain barrel, and a nice looking one is important, my back yard is small, so everything counts.
We've been wanting a rain barrel, but the HOA is picky about what they will allow. This one is perfect! Thanks for offering the chance to win it.
Oh, I wish that I could write the appropriate "Ode to a Rain Barrel" as I have been lusting (yes lusting) after one for years. Please, please pick me!!!
We get some rain up here in the 'Ham. :) Want!
Sign me up, Crunchy! Somewhere in Montana...
That is a pretty nice rainbarrel. It would actually look pretty in my front yard.
I like the new look.
Wow would I love that! I'm in!
What a fabulous rainbarrel!
I need a new one front the front of the house, would love to win one!
this would really come in handy!
this would really come in handy!
Very nice. Please enter me
Wow what a great giveaway, Im Sue and I want. Thanks
Just started subscribing to your blog and I would love to enter for the rain barrel. Thanks!
Ooo! I want! I think this may be the only way to get my husband to agree to a rain barrel!
CJ in Nebraska
This is a wonderful giveaway! I would love to win it!
My high desert home needs to harvest some water!
Wow! What a nice looking rain barrel. I would SO love to have this in my back yard :)
I love the urn style rain barrels - they look nice and serve a purpose. I would love to put one at every valley of my roof where I get runoff when it does rain here in AZ. Thanks for the chance at one!
Count me in. Thanks!
OMG...I want this so bad....I'm not allowed to have normal rain barrels becuase of my HOA.....but this one is so nice no one would notice....and oh the saving on the water bill...I expanded the garden and I have been worried what the bill was going to look like....OMG...I am so excited about this give away.
Been wanting a rain barrel for ages.
I would LOVE to win this!!!
Maria
Coolest contest ever!
Sonya Lynn
I so need one of these!
My family and I would love to win one of these rain barrels!
My folks live way out in the sticks and have been using big blue plastic 55 gallon barrels to collect their rainwater, but those wouldn't go over so well here in the city where I live.
-Daniell
Count me in Deanna. Thnk u
Nichole from Seattle
What a beautiful rainbarrel...would LOVE to own one!
Oh, count me in - it is perfect!
Thanks for having the best giveaways - this is one of the few homesteading necessities that we haven't yet tried...
I'd love to win this, since I'm the neighbor who is planning to put in the uglier-than-a-pickle-barrel blue 55 gallon barrel rain barrel this spring. :)
I'd love to win!
Oh, I'd love to win this
Wow, I stay away for a couple of days and you change the whole look! Very nice. That is a very fine rain barrel and I would like one fer shur.
Way cool! This is Tammy at Wrensong Farm. :)
I just went to the Algreen site and found that this name is a huge misnomer. They use NO recycled plastic in these, so I will withdraw my name from the give away. My neighbors will just have to suck it up when I get a used pickle barrel.
We would love (and very much need) to have this rain barrel!
Hi! I want this purty rain barrel.
Thanks!
I'd love a rain barrel. Please?
so beautiful and so at the top of my wish list... thanks for the chance... :))
we need a rain barrel!
Nice giveaway! I'm feeling lucky, too!
Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! I love it! Our neighbors all have lovely, classy yards which put me to shame while I attempt to control the weeds in my shaggy herb garden.
These are awesome, would love one!
What an awesome rain barrel. Would love to win it! Just found your blog and am loving it.
That is just the prettiest rain barrel I have ever seen, so sweet. I do need one oh so much :)
I have been longing for one of these for my tiny urban backyard. I have to lug water outside and down two flights currently to keep the herbs and strawberries alive.
This might just save my life!
Tory in DC
My neighbors next door have one like this, and I've been envious since. It's really nice (and expensive, compared to the plastic pickle barrel).
I am planning to install 6 barrels this year, and this one would be great in a one of the more visible spots. I hope I win! --Tracy
Just found your blog through another blogger & have lots of reading to do on previous posts!
Wouldn't mind a fancy-pants rain barrel either!
Thanks! Carolyn Renee
I'd like to enter the giveaway!
Thanks,
Carolyn Renee
Living in the Colorado Rockies we could totally use one of these for our dry season!
What a stylish rain barrel - great idea for a giveaway. I'd love to win.
Love that rain barrel!
-Melissa
Oh yes, I would love to own that rain barrel. It's raining right now and all those rain drops are going to waste!
Just thinking about looking for a rain barrel - good timing! It's great!
That is one swanky rain barrel!
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