Shadegardener said:What about a metal-roofed shelter (basically posts with a slanted roof and gutter) for the containers? Wouldn't collect enough rain water as a larger roof but better than nothing. Have also seen plastic flexible cones to fit into barrel top to catch rain water out in the open.
ShadyGreenThumb said:@UrbanWild wrote: "The various roof coverings on my structures are all variants of tar and asphalt which impart pollutants into the water."
UGH I did not know this! I have 5 rain barrels collecting from my rain gutters. Though my plants do not act as if I am poisoning them, I suppose there is no way around this? I have regular shingles.
Vanessa999 said:Should we be concerned with using pladtic rain barrels with all the news of plastic micro beeds???
pitimpinai said:
How do you plan to avoid plastic when it is found everywhere every time you turn around?
For years, I have tried to avoid plastic. I reuse and recycle everything in sight. But the amount of plastic is increasing exponentially as the years go by. It is overwhelming.
In that case, if we are concerned with plastic rain barrel, we should be concerned with garden hose as well. What about water filters? Drinking cups? Food wraps? Drinking water? For that matters.