Hi Pam!
I live in Bucks County, and yes, Wine barrels are awesome!
I have 3 giant containers, 2 are plastic and one is a wine barrel. I planted bamboo in my wine barrel and it is still alive so far.
They are heavy with the dirt in, so either put wheels on them, or keep them stationary because you won't be able to move them.
Happy planting!
Carla

I'm sorry Pam, it isn't a wine barrel. It's a whiskey barrel. I bought it at Home Depot. It smelled for weeks, but the smell went away. They don't cost much.
Just drill drain holes in the bottom of it before placing the potting soil in.

Whisky Barrels...YES! We used to have two of them when we first moved in here.

I made an AWESOME find last night while dropping same 14 year old off at basketball...I found an old aluminum bucket in a recycle bin! (of course my husband was concerned that this WAS their recycle bin...it was not!) I'm not talking the new shiny kind that you can purchase at BBB or LNT, but an OLD one (the kind you or your parents may have in their basements...depending on your age!). I think the new ones are purchased to hold sodas/beer w/ice on your deck at parties in the summer (so you understand the size bucket I am talking about). ANYHOW...this thing is so cool looking! I am picturing a bunch of lavender in it at the corner of my deck...even my daughter thought it would be AWESOME!

So...now I'm posting on Freecycle and craig's list to find more of these things. :o)

Take care,

Pam