Hi, I got all the barrels I use around the house from a car wash. The soap and stuff comes in nice plastic 55 gallon drums. Just a thought for you.

Bob in Morgan County

How do you keep mosquitoes [spelling] out of them?

Thank you very much for the help, Bob. My husband called around today to several car washes and found one barrel available. The car wash wanted $20 for it. I guess it beats paying a great deal for already made barrels.

On the mosquitoes question, one can either float oil on the top (and put the spigot at the bottom of the barrel so that the oil floats and stays out of the garden, devise a lid or one can use an organic control such as Bacillus thuringiensis (var-israelensis).

I am thinking about using lids because where we live is one of the most diverse for reptiles and amphibians in the state. My land is full of an amazing variety of lizards and frogs and toads. Frogs would lay eggs in anything open. I'd rather they do this in a safer place. And lizards and toads would drown (speaking from experience). I need all the frogs, lizards and toads I can get!