Are there good links on this? How do you do it? I don't know why I can' t seem to get a handle on this.

How much? We have 3 3 or 5 gal, can't remember which, plastic blue jugs w/spigots. I should empty and bleach them and refill them w/fresh water; I forget to do that. :o

Do you have a well? One of my thoughts is to try to figure out how we'd retrofit our well to have a manual pump if need be. I don't need it to work like that now but I need to have the manual pump and know what to do to switch it over. Or, to convert it to solar or other alternative power sources - even a deep cell battery that could be charged by current from an alternative power system like microhydro.

We have a well, but it has an electric pump. We might need to have the water tested. At the moment, we are "allowed" to use it for watering and have city water for household use. I would like to either get a hand pump or some setup that will allow for use without electric.

Also, I have found a source of steel and plastic food grade barrels of various sizes near me for $8 a piece. I was thinking if we could fill four, that would give us a month's worth of water. I am guessing it would be best to set up for rain collection. Then, if we don't need it, we can water without running the pump, eh?

Would you choose steel or plastic barrels?

I would choose steel, as long as it's galvanized.

I would choose steel, as long as it's galvanized.

Another dumb question....Can you tell by looking at it that it is galvanized?

Another dumb question....Can you tell by looking at it that it is galvanized?

I am not sure...

How big is the largest barrel you can get? I would love to get my hands on a couple for rain water collection.

Oh, and are you ordering oil through the Ader's this year?

He is in Sparta and has barrels 5 gal-55, I believe.

I hadn't heard about the oil order. I've been using Nutiva, and my brother and S-I-L brought a few small bottles (like drinking water bottles, only glass) from the Philippines when they were there this summer for her father's funeral. They were obviously occupied, so they weren't able to get a lot or a great deal on it, but, anyway.

So, I have some right now. What is the price?

golden olive oil is $23 a gallon
Extra virgin organic olive oil is $28 a gallon
organic coconut is $16 a half a gallon

It is open to anyone. If you want some I could put it on my order and you could come for a visit and pick it up. The order will be in the end of Sept. There are several other oils including safflower, flax, palm, etc...

Do the barrels that you can get have lids? I think a few plastic to use as rain barrels would be great.

I haven't seen the barrels yet, but I'll let you know when I do.

I definitely would like to get in on the order--I will PM you.