I love hardware stores. Really. To me, hardware stores are places where people can go to have their dreams realized and their nightmares destroyed. Imagine this great event: 

What a wonderful evening we could have, learning about the differences in LED light bulbs, fixing stopped drains and squeaky things. Oh Lordy, the spatulas and dishtowels, seeds, brushes, pliers, and tool boxes. Around each corner is a new zone of heaven. There’s always a whole WALL of glue choices.

This is how I found my first pickle barrel! I was at one of my favorite hardware stores, Fairfax Lumber, poking around their yard of lumber, gardening supplies, and salvaged treasures, when I saw a 550 liter, rust-colored, plastic jar, with a screw-top lid, for $19.99. What?? With a hose bib attached, only $24.99! Well I bought one! This recycled piece of equipment started me on my way to collecting FREE WATER to keep my garden going. Catch water during the rainy days, and use the water during the summer to keep my plants alive? Yes! Sign me up! 

550 Liter Pickle Barrel

Pickle barrels are the perfect vessels to begin banking Dripcoin. They are about the same size as a large garbage can, so they fit easily into the seat of a car. Drive it home to your garden and rinse it out; it does smell like pickle brine. The recognizable, vinegar-and-spice-smell may linger but I never had any issue with spoiled water. Each barrel holds 550 liters, which equals 145 gallons. Even with all my buckets, garbage cans, lids, non-draining pots and watering cans outside waiting to collect rainwater like hungry baby birds, it would take a few rains to fill one pickle barrel. If it rained while I was out for dinner with friends, I would look wistfully out the window, and then at my watch. I wished it was time to go home. Dripcoin falling from the sky!