Old wine barrel, new use.

Yogateacher · Post by **Yogateacher** » Thu 04 Feb 2010 21:26

I'm a bit of a green, re-cycling kind of guy, so I felt very pleased with myself when I realised that I didn't have to buy an ugly plastic container to use as a water butt. Wineries sell off their old barrels cheaply - I paid thirty euros - and they make great water butts. You can buy wooden taps for them on ebay for a few euros and with a water diverter for your drain-pipe you're in business. I think everyone should have one, or two! They look fantastic. I made a little base for mine from two courses of blockwork, so that I could get the watering can under the tap properly. It's a simple little DIY job that helps the environment in a small way.

Nigel and Karen · Post by **Nigel and Karen** » Thu 04 Feb 2010 22:27

Nice one, post a photo if poss?

Santiago · Post by **Santiago** » Thu 04 Feb 2010 23:25

Around March-April I will have a few to sell. Let me know if you want one.

mrob343 · Post by **mrob343** » Thu 04 Feb 2010 23:55

Yogateacher wrote:I'm a bit of a green, re-cycling kind of guy, so I felt very pleased with myself when I realised that I didn't have to buy an ugly plastic container to use as a water butt. Wineries sell off their old barrels cheaply - I paid thirty euros - and they make great water butts. You can buy wooden taps for them on ebay for a few euros and with a water diverter for your drain-pipe you're in business. I think everyone should have one, or two! They look fantastic. I made a little base for mine from two courses of blockwork, so that I could get the watering can under the tap properly. It's a simple little DIY job that helps the environment in a small way.

Nice idea yoga,
Keep some in reserve for summer though....

I had the same syetem on my house in Portugal many moons ago....
It worked a treat for the vegie patch!

john · Post by **john** » Fri 05 Feb 2010 09:31

They make excellent large pots for plants/small shrubs too. I bought several old beer barrels in the UK when the breweries went over to metal ones. Cut them in half..... et voila !

I guess you'd need a lot of compost to fill half a wine one,though.

Yogateacher · Post by **Yogateacher** » Fri 05 Feb 2010 09:42

Santiago wrote:Around March-April I will have a few to sell. Let me know if you want one.

Thanks Santiago. I took the last two barrels from the large cave in St Genis. I gave one to my friend Phil and kept one for myself, but I'd really like another three, so I'll see you in April! I'll PM you nearer the time to make sure they are available and I'll buy a few bottles of your wine au même temps. Excellent web-site by the way.

James

Roger O · Post by **Roger O** » Fri 05 Feb 2010 11:42

john wrote:I guess you'd need a lot of compost to fill half a wine one,though.

.. which reminds me that Netto (sub of Intermarché) in Carcassonne is selling composted earth in 50 liter sacks each weighing 12 kilos (light loam compost) at under 3 euros each - well, they were when I bought 30 sacks back in autumn. They were out of stock for some time but now they're back - though I didn't check the price on the current supply - maybe a bit higher?. Compare the price with those of your usual garden centres and DIY!!

If they're selling them in the PO, they're a real bargain!
http://fc1.1bis.com/netto/map.asp?modul ... apScale=-1

john · Post by **john** » Fri 05 Feb 2010 12:12

Yes,Netto in Le Boulou had them recently at that price. As you say,Rog,a bargain.

Compare with the rip off 9€ a bag in the garden centres.

Roger O · Post by **Roger O** » Fri 05 Feb 2010 15:18

john wrote:Yes,Netto in Le Boulou had them recently at that price. As you say, Rog, a bargain.

Compare with the rip off 9€ a bag in the garden centres.

Well you gotta charge extra for the (genetically modified to improve voracity) snails' and
slugs' eggs craftily inserted so you'll be buying followup "anti-S" pellets at 15 euros the bag!

Santiago · Post by **Santiago** » Fri 05 Feb 2010 19:26

That does sound quite cheap. The question is how fertile the compost is.

I've been hunting around for fertilization ideas. We have two cheicken farms nearby but they both already give their stuff to some bigger vineyards who come with trucks. The local stables give me manure but I need an awful lot to cover a hectare.

Now I'm experimenting with soil stimulants to try and reduce the need for fertilizer.

Not a subject I fully understand TBH.

Roger O · Post by **Roger O** » Fri 05 Feb 2010 23:35

Santiago wrote:Not a subject I fully understand TBH.

This may help - a little, though, of course, it's promotional!!
http://www.ecologycompany.com/agriculture.html

For some reason, I was always under the impression that grapevines produce better fruit quality for wine from poorer soil.
I never remember seeing a vineyard planted in rich black loamy water retaining soil in France, Italy, Germany, Greece, etc.
However, what do I know about it - that's just a personal observation...

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