Blue Barrels
We use Food Quality High Density Poly Ethylene Barrels that were previously used to ship pickled food overseas. We clean and rinse them with rain water and PH neutral soap so you never have to worry about harsh containments getting on your plants. Before determining which color or size barrel to order there are several factors to be considered – see “Determining the Correct Barrel” in the common questions section.
These 55 Gallon Blue Barrels are very popular with customers who would like to paint their rain barrel. They are the perfect blue for the sky and water of any landscape picture. All our barrels can be painted. We recommend Krylon Fusion paint for plastic which comes in a whole array of colors. For pictures of previous blue barrels that have been painted visit our Past Events page for pictures of blue rain barrels painted by students for an event we partnered with Chicago Botanical Society at Navy Pier in September 2009.
The blue barrels all come with a two piece lid like a mason jar with a screen on it. There are three holes drilled into the lid for the water to drain into from your downspout. The screening keeps out the debris from the roof and keeps the mosquitoes out. The screening is easily removed for cleaning by unscrewing the outer ring of the lid.
Because all our barrels have a garden hose size spigot at the bottom of the barrels you have several options on how to water your plants since a garden hose, landscape tubing or drip tubing can be attached to the barrel. If you wanted to use a watering can simply situate the barrel on a wooden pedestal. The barrels also have an overflow fitting to allow the excess water that flows from the downspout to be diverted away from the barrel and a linking hose fitting so (2) or more barrels can be joined together and will all fill up from just (1) downspout.