What's so tough about building a rain barrel? You could put a bucket under a downspout but if you want to do more than that, this guide is for you. Most people think it's time they tried to do their part at lowering their monthly utility bills or curbing climate change, but they suspect that their dream of building a large rain barrel is more than they can handle. In some cases, this may be true. However, if you have already accomplished other own do-it-yourself projects, this one may not be as difficult as and more affordable than you imagine. This down-to-earth guide can show you just how possible such a project can be. With simple step-by-step instructions, seventy-eight clear illustrations, and tips on lowering your water usage, you may fulfill your dream of harvesting rain water sooner than you think. Both simple rain barrels and expandable cisterns are covered so you can start small and grow your system to meet your changing needs. Don't let your valuable rain water go down the drain! Harvest it now and your plants will love you for doing so. -Simple and straight forward. Nothing very technical. The calculations were presented well. I realized that the average rain that fell on my 1000sf roof was 2000 gallons per month. Now I'm looking for barrels.