"Rain, rain, go away, come again another day."

We all said this rhyme as children, but as adults we understand the importance of rain to our gardens and flowers. We want rain to visit more often. Now, through the wonders of a rain barrel, you can have rain on a non-rainy day!

Outdoor water use typically accounts for 40% of a family's water usage in the summer. A rain barrel is a simple system used to collect rainwater from your roof and store it for later use. A quarter-inch rain on an average sized roof can yield about 200 gallons of water. The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates the average homeowner can save 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months by using a rain barrel.

A homeowner can find assembled rain barrels available for purchase at local home and garden centers or online. For the do-it-yourself types, an internet search produces several videos demonstrating how to construct and attach a rain barrel for water collection. If you have an artistic flair, make your rain barrel into an art project. Visit Roll Out the Barrels to see how local artists have turned a blue, plastic drum into a unique and beautiful rain barrel.