Blog Posts
February 24, 2026
Irrigating with rainwater is wonderful because plants love the water so much. Fresh from the sky, rain is completely free of the salts, minerals, and chemicals found in other water sources. So now that your rain barrels are full, how do you get that super high-quality water over to your thirsty garden? This post offers a handful of tips on DIY drip irrigation, and how to automate your rain barrels with gravity. Read More...
February 3, 2026
Learn how to adapt your rainwater harvesting system when moving to a new climate. Discover efficient, modular water solutions for your new home. Read More...
January 26, 2026
For decades, mainstream building design has been shaped by speed, scale, and efficiency—often at the expense of health, connection, and longevity. Now, people are choosing homes that support the body, natural rhythms, and connection to place. These are the shifts shaping the regenerative home in 2026.
Read More...
January 9, 2026
As we launch head-first into a new year, we're reflecting on the last one by sharing our most popular rain barrel videos of the year! Drumroll please... Read More...
December 15, 2025
In many North American climate zones, it rains during winter when we're not irrigating. So what can we do with full rain barrels while we wait for irrigation season to start up again? Plenty! Read on for 10 ways to use stored rainwater this winter. Read More...
November 4, 2025
At this time of year, your rain barrels are probably full! Learn three ways to winterize rain barrels based on your climate zone, and your drip irrigation system too! Read More...
October 16, 2025
Just how does water get from the roof into a rain barrel anyway? This article demystifies downspout diverters for rain barrels, including creative approaches for non-standard downspouts. Learn about automatic overflow handling, and more! Read More...
October 7, 2025
Check out Mike & Judy's guide to rain barrel painting. That's right, they're painting their barrels to match the house. Many of our customers ask us why the barrels are blue, and how to paint them. This article includes a step-by-step for how to paint barrels - any color you like! Read More...
September 22, 2025
If you're thinking about rainwater harvesting (also known as roof-water harvesting!), you may be wondering about the best roofing materials for rainwater collection. Whether you're working with existing conditions, or spec-ing out a brand new roof, we've got expert advice for you. The good news is Read More...
September 3, 2025
Enjoy a series of podcast interviews with BlueBarrel's founder, Jesse Savou. Join hosts Neal Collins, Izumi Tanaka, Mike O'Rourke, and Scott Sandstrom to learn about DIY rainwater harvesting, our journey as a company, the values behind our business, and how our offerings have evolved to what you see right here in our Online Store today! Read More...
August 26, 2025
Get inspired by our DIY highlight of the season. BlueBarrel customer David shares photos of his BlueBarrel System®, including double diverters, winterization, and gravity-fed drip irrigation to his vegetable garden. Read More...
July 31, 2025
At BlueBarrel, we hear this question all the time: Is it safe to irrigate my vegetable garden with rainwater from the roof, stored in used barrels? The short answer: Yes, it’s a smart, sustainable move for your garden and your water bill. Let’s walk through why using rainwater for vegetables is not only considered safe, but also beneficial. Read More...
July 14, 2025
When shopping for water barrels—especially the popular blue plastic drums we sell in our online store—you’ll come across terms like “food grade” and “food safe.” These labels sound similar, but when it comes to used barrels, the distinction matters. Our barrels are made of food-grade plastic. They're perfect for re-use as rain barrels, composters, floating docks, and more. Read on for important safety definitions when it comes to used barrels. Read More...
June 30, 2025
Barrel docks, boats, and floats are a great way to pluck 55-gallon drums from the waste stream and utilize them creatively. There is an island of plastic trash floating in the ocean...let’s try to upcycle and float some of it responsibly! Read on for inspiration to build floating docks, picnic islands, party barges and more. Summer project, anybody? Read More...
June 4, 2025
There are two kinds of people (or so we like to say!): those who boast their blue, and those who's first question is how to keep their rain barrels hidden from sight. We're here with a handful of great ideas for decorating, masking, and blending your rain barrels into your landscape - inspired by our very own customers across the USA. Read More...
May 22, 2025
Irrigating from rain barrels? Watch Jesse set up an easy gravity-fed drip irrigation system with bubbler emitters. While pre-drilled inline emitters are great for veggie rows (see our last article), bubbler emitters allow you to control how much water each plant gets, and are best for ornamental gardens, and other layouts with irregular spacing and varying water needs. Getting started is easier than you think with this step-by-step! Read More...
May 12, 2025
It's garden tour season and we've had a number of BlueBarrel Rainwater Catchment System™ sightings across the USA! Read More...
April 9, 2025
Learn all you need to know about rain diverters, leaf eaters, and first flush! This post includes videos demo-ing special adapters and upgrades to get CLEAN rainwater into your barrels, tanks, or cisterns. Read More...
March 26, 2025
Let Sarah show you how to set up your gravity-fed drip irrigation system, step-by-step. It's actually pretty simple once you understand what all those little parts are for! Read More...
March 13, 2025
Rain barrels are great, but what if you don't have room right next to your downspouts? Not a problem! Read on to get inspired by BlueBarrel customers all over the USA who have crafted inlet hose extensions using our longer inlet hose option. Read More...
February 4, 2025
Sold as a customizable DIY kit, there is plenty of room for tailoring your BlueBarrel Rainwater Catchment System; to your space, and to your taste! Check out these creative foundation ideas submitted by our DIY customers. Read More...
January 21, 2025
This article was written in response to the October 2017 wildfires that devastated the City of Santa Rosa in northern California; republished in January 2025 as even bigger wildfires ravage southern California. Read More...
January 9, 2025
As we launch head-first into a new year, we're reflecting on 2024 by sharing the most popular rain barrel videos of the year! Drumroll please... Read More...
December 5, 2024
As a rainwater harvesting professional and owner of a company selling rain barrels nationwide since 2012, it's one of the more common questions I get: Aren't rain barrels illegal?
Luckily, (and spoiler alert...) they are not. But don't take my word for it! This article is full of fun facts and links to regs allowing rainwater harvesting in all 50 states. Read More...
October 16, 2024
It's one of our most frequently asked questions: Can I stack rain barrels vertically? The quick answer is yes. But there are some safety considerations as well as functional ones. Check out our customer highlights for real live examples of stacked systems that work and others that don't. Read More...
October 9, 2024
This post is a reprint of a letter to BlueBarrel's owner, from one of our participating barrel suppliers in the
aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Read More...
August 14, 2024
Can you convert old pre-drilled barrels into a planned BlueBarrel System™? Or patch up ruptures (or oopsies!) in your barrels or downspouts to restore water-tightness? Now with special watertight plugs, and fool-proof patches, the answer is yes!
Read More...
July 23, 2024
You’ve seen them everywhere: along the side of the road, in refuse yards, in your neighbor’s garage (or maybe even your own!); and repurposed into all kinds of things like ballasts, floats, storage bins, planters, and of course rain barrels. What could we be talking about? 55-gallon blue plastic barrels – what else?! This blog post contains everything you ever wanted to know (and more!) about the ever-present blue food-grade drum. Read More...
April 22, 2024
April is Earth Month, but the environmental benefits of collecting rainwater hold year-round! How can rain barrels help the planet? Most of us know rainwater harvesting is good for the environment, but we need a little help explaining why. Read on to understand why rainwater harvesting is oh-so-good for Mother Earth... Read More...
April 5, 2024
Get inspired by our DIY highlight of the season. BlueBarrel customer Danny shares photos of his three BlueBarrel Systems™ collecting from four downspouts, including some easy customizations. Read More...
October 11, 2023
It's no secret that plants prefer rainwater head-and-shoulders (or should we say "leaves-and-stalks!") above any other water source. And why is this? There's more than must one reason. Do you know all four reasons that plants prefer Mother Nature's rain? Read More...
July 19, 2023
A well-designed downspout diverter is the key piece that takes water from your downspout into rain barrels. This article covers how to measure your downspouts for a tight-fitting diverter. Read More...
June 28, 2023
Gutters and downspouts are an essential part of the drainage system on any home. They are also necessary for efficient collection of rainwater. For those who like to tackle their own home projects, this article combines a variety of resources for DIY gutter installation, repair, and maintenance. Read More...
March 17, 2023
As a company specializing in multi-barrel rain catchment systems, we often get asked about the benefits of single vs. multi-barrel approaches, and we have options for both! Read More...
October 11, 2022
Most of us dread getting on the roof to clean out the gutters, but a seasonal cleanout is recommended especially for rainwater harvesters. This article contains tips for how to safely clean your gutters without a ladder, and how to use a leaf eater to keep debris out of your rain barrels! Read More...
July 28, 2022
This "barrelponics" project is another fun DIY opportunity to upcycle 55-gallon poly drums. Learn how to grow plants without soil and with rainwater...in a blue barrel, of course! Read More...
February 23, 2022
Do you know how to maintain your rain barrels to make the most of them? BlueBarrel's founder, Jesse Savou, is teaming up with the LA Stormwater Program to present a webinar on Saturday, March 5th covering everything you need to know about rain barrel maintenance. Event is FREE but registration is required. Read More...
February 11, 2022
BlueBarrel was recently featured in this news segment! Bay Area residents, and indeed our customers all over the USA, are catching on to the benefits of rainwater harvesting in any climate.
Watch the short (3min) video to learn more about the benefits of rainwater harvesting. KTVU's Emma Goss reports.
Read More...
October 27, 2021
"Many DIY-ers have the experience of researching and installing, and the first time it rains, the water shows you exactly what you did wrong. That's when I realized the value BlueBarrel could bring as a business. We tinkered until we got it just right, so there's no guesswork for our customers. Just a system that works" Read More...
August 22, 2021
We love a good upcycle project featuring recycled blue plastic barrels. The latest project we’d like to share with you is a DIY aquaponics system. But first, a brief introduction to aquaponics... Read More...
