Rounding Up The Rain

We finally installed the rain barrel this past week.  The barrel itself and the two pavers we used to set it on totaled around $115.

Even though it's pretty spiffy, we put it on the side of the house in the back, kind of behind the air conditioner and close to the new garden.  Set up didn't take long, but the pavers weighed about 60 pounds each and were awkward to carry.  We set them on some gravel and used a level to make sure it was even.

It came with the pieces to tie into the downspout and the discharge valve.  I have no idea why the designer would need these to be black and break up the earthy look of the barrel, but how many rain barrels have I designed in my life? Zero point zero.

Here's the finished product:

I wanted to get it installed quickly because EVERYTHING I planted is GROWING and needs watered!  The worm compost is working its MAGIC!  The only thing that's slacking a little are my baby strawberry plants, but they ARE growing. 

Take a peek:

I bought some of the sweetest plant props ever made for the tomatoes- they are coated metal stakes with a little loop at the top to put the plant through. 

The great part is you can push them as far in the ground as you need to, and as the plants grow you can pull out the stake gradually to grow with it and they stay in the loop all propped up.

Any advice? Do tell!

I also sifted worm castings today for some friends, and I'm going to start making compost tea bags for watering cans.

Lilliworm revival for sure!