Tag Archives: rain barrel

Singin’ in the Rain (Barrel)

When you’re new at this gardening thing, every little event is worth celebrating. And the new rain barrel certainly fits our criteria of things to celebrate. Break out the champagne! (You think I’m kidding.)

The Scientist has jumped wholeheartedly on board with the 2008 Bumbling Gardener adventure and deserves a medal for all the back breaking groundbreaking he did to prep the soil. But that’s another post…

City of Vancouver Rain Barrel Program

City of Vancouver Rain Barrel Program

I have the good fortune of having a Partner in Grime (gardening is dirty work, people) with a nice big vehicle and the willingness to join me in the adventure. A little bit of scouting at City Farmer put me in touch with the City of Vancouver Rain Barrel Program which provides city residents with a subsidized rain barrel (50% off).

The Scientist hooked it up and is regularly watering the garden with it. In fact, after a few days without rain, and a dwindling supply in the barrel, we were actually pleased to have a recent overnight deluge. Can’t say I ever thought I’d be pleased to hear there is rain in the forecast!

Win a Rain Barrel from Yellow Tail

I just spent $75 on a City of Vancouver subsidized rain barrel but you don’t have to!

yellow-tail-win-a-rain-barrel-contestEnter to win one of 30 water conserving rain barrels in Yellow Tail winery’s Save Every Drop contest. It’s a quick, easy entry form, no skill testing question (except your age, to enter the site — you must be legal drinking age), and unlike most online contests I registered in under half a minute.

Deadline: May 4, 2009 and it’s open only to BC residents, so get on it!

Gaige Goes Granola

Hey, I’m not exactly Ms. Granola, but I’ve decided to take the leap anyway (wearing gloves at all times – let’s not kid ourselves).

Heaven forbid, I break a nail!

Heaven forbid, I break a nail!

In keeping with my “let’s try eating more local food” I’m giving urban gardening a shot and am pretty excited about it. Pretty much completely in the dark, but excited none the less!

My goal is to be as environmentally friendly as possible (i.e. organic pest solutions and reclaimed materials) and as cheap as possible – if we want everyone to do it, it can’t break the bank. I’m asking you, my friends, for help with tips, materials, insight, and encouragement in the process.

What I’ve identified so far as stuff I need to do/use:

  • Ideas for a seed starter tray – I want to get creative in putting one together (I’d use old milk cartons, but I don’t drink milk) or find a used one
  • Compost bin – picking it up from the city transfer depot next weekend
  • Rain barrel – ditto
  • Soil test kit – anyone done this before?
  • Advice on where to borrow or cheaply rent a rotatiller
  • Recommended reading for when/what to plant in this climate
  • Materials to border the garden – I’m doing in-ground rather than raised bed and would like a border, i.e. reclaimed wood or maybe old bricks
  • Free/cheap used canning stuff – I’ll be scouring spring lawn sales for jars and lids, canners, etc. suggestions and donations welcome
  • Info on good recipes, how-to resources, companion planting info, etc. also welcome!

I’ll keep you posted on the play-by-play, which should be interesting. (Blind leading the blind?) First step is to see if the soil is any good or whether we’ll be trucking in a load…