Our region just received a ton of rain and I was thinking how beneficial it would be to start using rain barrels this year, seeing I'll be taking care of a lot of new trees.  If anyone uses a rain barrel, can you provide any tips on a certain kind or maybe advise on the best location, say channeling rain gutters into it somehow?  Thanks

Ok, so a quick search brought up some great info.  Now I guess I'm asking if it's okay to use on fig trees since the water may carry some nasties.

http://home.howstuffworks.com/rain-barrel.htm

I have a couple of rain barrels and water my figs with them all of the time. Rain water is naturally higher in nitrogen and they love it! I hope Martin chimes in, I believe he's mentioned his success with rainwater as well.

I  use a plastic garbage can.  I think it holds about 50 gallons.   Not as purty as the one in the link....but probably less than 1/4 the cost as the one in the link.

As far as nasties in the water?   It's just rainwater.   It's good stuff.  Your trees will love it.

I have 17 barrels under my porch collecting rain water.  I like the system, the only problem is I have to figure out how to clean their inside. We washed the roof before collecting and we disconect the pipe to the barrels when it first rains...that washing of the nasties do not go in the barrels. Then we have a set of filterings that gets most of the debris. It worked very well for me.  They were ugly blue, so I painted them the same color as the wall.

Very clever Grasa - I like your set up

I just installed a Fiskars Salsa2 58 gallon with diverter pro. It diverts water from the gutter into the barrel and then when full it moves the water back into the gutter. It took 2 hours to install including installing a level base which took the bulk of the two hours. Cost 160 shipped from Amazon.
Unless you are going to use a pump, I would pick a gutter near the plants you are watering.
I left it hooked up for tonight's storm I will let you know how it made out.

Grasa, That's really impressive system.  

Here's mine - it has worked out really well. 

http://rockvilleedibles.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/strawberries/

The most expensive part was the "Y'" piece that brings together the two downspouts into one.  I plan to install another one on my patio this year.

Steve

Good stuff guys!  I'm going to have over 50 one gallon pots to water.  Do you think four 55gal barrels is overkill?  Based on your experience, how many barrels would you suggest?  I don't have space to add more than 4.  Thanks!!

Four would be good to start with. If we have another hot dry summer like last year then you might need more. When it's hot and dry those figs really suck up the water. Last summer I was watering mine 3 times a day. Had a couple of them wilt when I missed them but they recovered. I'm going to be adding a few more barrels to the one I have now. You can't have too much water.

For those that need more water and have a good spot to hide it the 350 gallon poly totes work great and are much cheaper than the barrels.  I picked mine up for $25 and it had contained dye they use on woodchips so it is non toxic.  I use it as a mixing tank where the well water and sulfuric acid mix that is pumped out and used on my blueberries.  I have 130+ blueberries so storing rainwater for that many plants is not practical.  Have thought of adding a pond for the purpose.  

Thanks everyone.  Which of these would be best?  Black or blue ones?  Are they worth $20 a barrel?

http://danville.craigslist.org/grd/3514165915.html

Mine came with everything needed to set it up its a 65 gallon rainbarrel that the next township sells for about 50.00 much much cheaper than the store bought ones.

I measured and cut downspout and with 2 self tapping screws i set it up easily, take down is as simple each fall season unscrew the 2 screws and put screw in the old cut downspout.

The hose is the overflow when it fills up during good rains here. The screen on top comes off for easy cleaning.

But i have to say i lose 5 gallons as the spiget is up some from the bottom so its actually 60 gallons of water and when i water my fig trees some can take nearly 5 gallon buckets of water each so it does not go far.
Usually i use the water first for the smallest plants to get them off to a good start and them go to the big plants but always run out quickly and then i finish watering with the hose and bucket as i measure 5 gallons at a time for the MG.

Yes one of them big 500 gallon containers would work well and i have just the spot in yard for one if i want to go that route but since im drastically downsizeing i figure meh forget about it !

I like Martin's setup the best.  I have one and would love to install 4 more and tie them to my irrigation system.  My rain gutters kept getting clogged with tiny sticks and leaves.  So, I add those slip on gutter guards.  Now, my rain barrel fills up fast with just a good downpour!  I got mine from Lowes for $50 bucks on sale with my military discount during the off season.  That rain water is best for any plant.

Los Lunas Farms has a "barrel" that looks about 8 feet square.  And that's only 1 of his water storage units.   :)

Looks like there are lots of ways to set this up.  Youtube has been a great source of info as well.  I get so damn excited when I can build something to benefit the house!

@ Grasa
A very nice setup!

Can you give us some more 'plumbing' details?
I bought 4; 30+ gal food-grade barrels (olives were inside),
for the purpose of collecting rain water.

(Just before our recent cruel NE 'Sandy' storm, I did fill one of them with 'emergency' tap water).

We used the blue kind.  The lid does not come off and barrels are on their side. there isn't much pressure for regular watering. We use a pump. when the barrels are getting low. this is the first time we emptied them and I want to run a clorox rinse, but I am disapointed that I cannot get in there and scrub their inside...so the water is good for plants only and some side walk cleaning.

It has really made a difference in my metered water consumption. This last summer was cheaper than the year before and paid the system, so we will benefit of unclorinated water for the plants for the next few years.  I thought puting a coat of paint on the white connection pipes would help them last longer. We shall see.

George,my partner is very good with putting things together. I will ask him to make a short summary to post. He did  a modified version of a set up he saw on You tube, but that update shows that the guy had to re-do it.  Mine has already corrected some of the issues. I will get back on this.

I appreciate the info, everyone.  The more ideas, the better.

For those not on the bucket brigade it is very easy to set up a pumping system for a tote or a series of barrels for very little cost.  

Rain water is a great idea.  I just collect it with 3 gallon water jugs (from the refillable water machine aisle) and funnels.  When it rains I put them under parts of the house where water runs off and they always fill up fast.  Most of the rainwater I collect is under 002ppm tds.  Virtually as clean as RO water.  All of my plants love it.

Day2. I installed it yesterday and it is already full.