Florida storms don’t mess around. One second it’s sunny, the next it looks like the sky is emptying its entire bathtub on the backyard. For most people, that’s just a nuisance. For us? Free water delivery service. Rainwater collection might sound fancy, but honestly, ours started with a couple of barrels and a lot of trial and error.
The first time I tried it, I thought I was being clever, setting up a trash can under the roof drip line. By the end of the storm, the can had tipped over, and Ethan was out there trying to “save the water” with a plastic beach bucket. He ended up wetter than the plants. Josh rolled his eyes but eventually helped me set up actual rain barrels with spigots at the bottom, so we could hook up hoses or fill watering cans without splashing around like maniacs.
The trick is placement. We’ve got ours lined up under the gutters, because Florida storms don’t sprinkle—they dump. A good downpour can fill a barrel faster than I can say, “Where’s the bug spray?” Keeping the lids on is key too, unless you like raising mosquitoes instead of vegetables. Trust me, those little vampires don’t need extra encouragement around here.
What I love most is how simple it is. Rain falls, barrel catches it, and suddenly I’ve got water for the garden that didn’t come with a bill. Ethan thinks it’s hilarious to “taste test” the water with his finger (don’t worry, I stop him every time), and Josh insists the plants look perkier when they get rainwater instead of tap. He might be right—my basil practically doubles in size after a good storm.
It’s not a perfect system. Barrels fill, barrels overflow, and sometimes I forget to empty them before another storm rolls in. But there’s something satisfying about using what nature throws at us—literally. And on those days when the thunder rumbles and the sky opens up, I can’t help but smile, knowing our barrels are quietly working for us while we watch from the porch, safe, dry, and maybe just a little smug about our free water stash.
