Watering the garden

**MisterHappy** · 05-27-2012, 09:12 AM

Here's the setup -

I have a rainwater collection system for my ~~deer buffet~~ garden that gives me about 150 gallons from 1/2 inch of rain.

I have a Yankee Drip Irrigation System (hoses, with holes drilled in them) that runs on gravity. Unfortunately, the back end of the garden is about 12-18" higher than the front, so watering has to be done in the right order, to get the whole thing done.

I want to transfer water to another set of barrels that will be at the high end of the garden, so this won't be an issue.

I want it to be a zero-effort, low cost setup (yes, laziness is a factor, but it's an effort and experiment in automation)

I'm looking at the solar-poweed fountain pumps on eBay- has anyone used these? Are they crap? I understand that the're submersible, and I might have to "make it work".....but that's not a real problem

any input will be appreciated.

**goofycj7** · 05-27-2012, 09:40 AM

I would get some free bricks or cinder blocks and raise the rain barrels up 2-3 feet. Speeds up watering all around and is a low cost permanent solution. Works great on my front garden.

Unfortunately my back garden is 8-10 feet above my rain barrels and my 120 volt sump pump will not raise the water to that level. I use 5 gallon buckets and a wheel barrel.

**MisterHappy** · 05-27-2012, 09:43 AM

I've done the best that I'm willing/able to do with elevating the barrels, but I understand what you mean.

**lateapex31** · 05-27-2012, 10:45 AM

I use a ShurFlo pump to get water into my high-mounted rain barrels. I use a 12v model and run it off a car battery charged by a 250 watt solar panel that I built from chipped/cracked solar cells. I think if this was 100 years ago we could figure this out without electric pumps :-)

**bfm** · 05-27-2012, 10:49 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFJPHtTVmhA

**06LemansC6** · 05-27-2012, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by goofycj7

I would get some free bricks or cinder blocks and raise the rain barrels up 2-3 feet. Speeds up watering all around and is a low cost permanent solution. Works great on my front garden.

Every 2.31 feet is 1 psi.

**MisterHappy** · 05-27-2012, 06:15 PM

Apex:

Yes, it would be an Armstrong system ('cause it makes your arms strong). My mom, though not 100, lived it.

You did see the "Lazy" part in my post, right?

Watering the garden

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