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I've been looking at rain barrel based irrigation systems both here and in other forums. Most include a pump and/or solar/batteries and range in the $200 to $400 range to build. I came up with a solution for my small (2 8x10 and one 2x12 raised beds) that cost me right around $40. Parts:
2 50' hoses (bought at a yard sale for $5 for both)
2 male hose repair kits and 2 female hose repair kits ($8 at the local hardware store)
2 Y connectors ($20 at the local hardware store)
I laid out the hoses and cut to length for an above-ground watering system. I then put the appropriate repair kit on them with end caps on the male end (2$ for a pack of 2...or $4 total). Once that was done, I took each hose and drilled a 1/16" hole about every inch or so to let the water out. My barrels are about two feet above the gardens so gravity gives just about the right flow to water the gardens. When the barrel gets close to empty, the water slows to a trickle out of the holes but, frankly, I don't care....as long as it flows onto the garden.
An added bonus to this system being cheap, it requires NO power of any kind....I let gravity do the work for me. The barrels are hooked into the gutter system on my house so, once built, everything else is free.
I tested this system on my wife's flower beds before putting it in the garden. I got the flow right (good to have a testbed) and also some brownie points from my wife....win-win.
2 50' hoses (bought at a yard sale for $5 for both)
2 male hose repair kits and 2 female hose repair kits ($8 at the local hardware store)
2 Y connectors ($20 at the local hardware store)
I laid out the hoses and cut to length for an above-ground watering system. I then put the appropriate repair kit on them with end caps on the male end (2$ for a pack of 2...or $4 total). Once that was done, I took each hose and drilled a 1/16" hole about every inch or so to let the water out. My barrels are about two feet above the gardens so gravity gives just about the right flow to water the gardens. When the barrel gets close to empty, the water slows to a trickle out of the holes but, frankly, I don't care....as long as it flows onto the garden.
An added bonus to this system being cheap, it requires NO power of any kind....I let gravity do the work for me. The barrels are hooked into the gutter system on my house so, once built, everything else is free.
I tested this system on my wife's flower beds before putting it in the garden. I got the flow right (good to have a testbed) and also some brownie points from my wife....win-win.