Now here’s a new one to me. I’m sure my kids banged away on some overturned 5 gallon buckets when they were little but I can tell you they didn’t sound anything like this!
And check out this group drumming:
Bucket Drumming
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Garden on a Balcony or Porch with 5 Gallon Buckets
You can create a self-watering plant container with a 5 gallon bucket. There are some written instructions for this on the University of Maryland Extension site. Essentially, the water is wicked up from below. Typically compost is used as the soil so it’s a very rich growing environment. These work great for urban gardens, as shown here on UrbanOrganicGardner. He’s also got a great video on how to build the containers if you’d like to watch rather than read.
The term “self-watering” does not mean you’ll never have to water your plants! Rather the water is soaked up from a reservoir into the soil. There’s an overflow spout so your plants can’t get overwatered. It’s apparently key to use compost or potting soil rather than soil.
Other containers need drainage holes and as such can mark or stain whatever they’re standing on–or leak below if you’re on a balcony!
Store your Homemade Laundry Soap in a 5 Gallon Bucket
If you like to mix up your own liquid laundry soap, you’ll want a 5 gallon bucket for sure! You’ll want a bucket with a lid.
Here’s a recipe for homemade laundry soap. You’ll need Fels Naptha soap, borax and washing soda. And water, of course.
Walls Made from 5 Gallon Buckets
I found this article on using 5 gallon buckets to build a stucco wall. As the author points out, it can take a while to collect enough buckets to build a large wall! I’ve seen walls made from plastic water bottles too. The same idea: use something that’s going into the landfill to create a new and useful thing.
It took 20,000 5 gallon buckets to build the wall in New Mexico!
Some finished pictures are here.
I would think this would make an interesting ways to create raised beds in a garden too.
Chicken Waterer
Chicken Waterer
Of course you can use a 5 gallon bucket to make a chicken nesting box. Now you can make a chicken waterer too, adding nipples to the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket.
Get the nipples and learn more about the chicken waterer here.
I only have 3 hens but they still manage to kick up a fair amount of “stuff” into the waterer I bought, even though I’ve raised it up on 4 or 5 paving stones. This looks much cleaner!
Electrical Cord Storage
Cut a round hole cut in the side of your bucket near the bottom. Put the end of the extension cord that plugs into the wall coming out the hole and coil the rest of the extension cord in the bucket. Makes a nice neat container and keeps the cords from getting tangled up.
Nesting Boxes from 5 Gallon Buckets
If you have laying chickens, you are familiar with the typical nesting boxes.
wooden nesting box
When people are building their coops as cheaply as possible, reusing as many materials as possible, I have seen people talk about using 5 gallon buckets turned on their side for nesting boxes. They can get messy though and the straw or chips you use to line them can fall out as the hens get comfy.
I found this modified 5 gallon bucket nesting box, complete with perch and a barrier to help keep the straw or shavings inside. Here’s a simpler DIY option for a nesting box from a 5 gallon bucket.
DIY Washing Machine from a 5 Gallon Bucket and a Toilet Plunger
Whether you’re living off the grid or just have a broken washing machine and need to get some clothes clean, here’s a way to use a 5 gallon bucket and a toilet plunger to wash clothes. Just follow the link for detailed instructions.
Square Foot Gardening Water Bucket
If you are growing vegetables from seed, cold water right out of the hose can shock the new plants as they emerge.
Instead, fill a 5 gallon bucket full of water and let it sit in the to warm up before watering. Use a small cup to water your plants.
When you’re done, refill the bucket so it’s warm the next day.
5 Gallon Bucket Camp Shower
Drill holes in the bottom and suspend from a tree, then fill with water for a rustic camp shower.
Brrrr!
I think I’d want a way to hold the water in the bucket for a bit so the sun could warm it up some. Maybe have a two bucket system where the first has no holes in the bottom so the sun can warm up the water. Then you tip it (pull a rope?) to fill up the bucket that has the holes.