rain water collection - suggestions? UPDATE!

[GrowinVeggiesInSC]

So I would like to collect the rainwater off our roof, and I have the gutters and downspouts installed, I just need the barrels.
I made a bad career move at the beginning of the year and have been unemployed on and off for the past two months, so there's no money to buy the $100 ready-made barrels they're selling at the store.
Buying a 55 gallon barrel by itself, even on craigslist, would run me at least $25, and I'd like to have at least two barrels, so that would be a cheaper alternative, but still pricey right now. Same goes for large barrels or trash cans from home improvement stores.

I'm more interested in looking for FREE barrels that I can convert myself. I'm not sure, however, where to start looking. I was thinking maybe big buffet-style restaurants? I don't want to be that weirdo who shows up looking for barrels, but surely they must get their pickles, etc. in some kind of barrel-style container?
Has anyone gotten any for free, and if so, where?
Maybe you are using a different container to hold your water and wouldn't mind sharing your set-up?
THANKS!

 

[digitS']

The dialysis unit at your local hospital gets barrels of kind of like a pickling solution. They use a lot (it doesn't go into the patients but is run thru the machines ).

Big blue plastic barrels but, I suppose you could paint them. And, there hasn't been anything especially bad in them, so they can just be rinsed out. I've got barrels from them. Shipping & receiving guys, usually nice people - their job is taking care of folks that need their help, too.

Steve

 

[Ridgerunner]

I was lucky and managed to get a metal one free from a trash drop-off/recycling center when dropping off recyling stuff. They were not supposed to let me have it, but... Then I found two food-grade metal barrels for $6 each at a container store near here. I found the container store by talking to my county extension agent. I called for something else (looking for compost in bulk) and happened to mention I needed rain barrels. You'd be surprised what diverse knowledge the county extension agent may have. Maybe I just have a good one.

Good luck!

 

[GrowinVeggiesInSC]

Thanks for the great suggestions! Defintely some starting points. I will poke around town and make some phone calls tomorrow.
Thanks again!

 

[smom1976]

I work at a hospital. I might just have to make a trip up to the dialysis unit..

 

[ranchhand]

Hey Growin, whereabout in SC are you? I'm near the coast in Hollywood, and sometimes I can get plastic barrels from the seafood stores, wholesalers, etc. for cheap and sometimes free.

 

[GrowinVeggiesInSC]

Sweet! I'm in Charleston. West Ashley to be precise.

 

[ranchhand]

Good heavens, I have been hatching chicks and haven't popped in for several days!

Whem DH and I were looking for a house, Hollywood was referred to in real estate ads as "rural West Ashley"!

As soon as things settle down, we'll have to do a meet and greet!

Do you have chickens? Want some?

ETA, there's a place on Azalea Drive in North Chuck that sells barrels for a pretty reasonable price. A while back, someone was selling food grade barrels in the P&C classifieds, under the livestock section.

 

[GrowinVeggiesInSC]

Good heavens, I have been hatching chicks and haven't popped in for several days!

Whem DH and I were looking for a house, Hollywood was referred to in real estate ads as "rural West Ashley"!

As soon as things settle down, we'll have to do a meet and greet!

Do you have chickens? Want some?

ETA, there's a place on Azalea Drive in North Chuck that sells barrels for a pretty reasonable price. A while back, someone was selling food grade barrels in the P&C classifieds, under the livestock section.

Ha! "Rural West Ashley!" That's funny! I Live in an older neighborhood right around 526 off of 17, so it's not so rural, but we have a larger yard than most of the new construction around here. How big is your property? Do you have garden photos? I love looking at other peoples' gardens!

I would LOVE chickens, but we made the decision a few years ago to get another dog instead of chickens, so it's no chickens for now. We were going to get some ameracaunas, buff orpingtons and my hubby wanted a silky. I started building the coop, but then the third dog came into our lives and we put things on hold. I am looking for a job right now (yay economy!), so there's no money to spare. Maybe some day I will be the market for chicks. What kind do you have?

Thanks for the heads-up on the cheap rain barrels, I'll look into that to see if I can find them.

Svenja

 

[GrowinVeggiesInSC]

I put a rain barrel together! Check my blog for a photo/video of it. I am so glad this project is finally done! Let the rain collecting begin! Thanks to ranchhand's suggestion, I found a barrel for $20 in the classifieds. Yay!
Good stuff.