tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76918146053112939652011-12-25T19:58:00.118-08:00For 12 years we have been builders of wood clad, steel banded rain barrels and rain harvesting systems. We have a shop and outdoor rain barrel display yard, in the Kenton Neighborhood of N. Portland, Oregon.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01969944513464213684noreply@blogger.comBlogger171100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691814605311293965.post-42975698458884434802011-12-25T19:56:00.000-08:002011-12-25T19:58:00.128-08:00

This is the month to get things done that I cant get done any other part of the year.  Although....I haven't got half the things I want to do....DONE!   Cold weather doesn't help.  Sometimes it feels colder inside my shop than what the weather is outside.   Ive got two kerosene heaters but I have to be careful not to keep them on too long or I'll use up the fuel really fast.  Trying to get

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01969944513464213684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691814605311293965.post-53963219164852130472011-11-29T23:28:00.000-08:002011-11-29T23:28:35.112-08:00

I just checked out the stats on this blog and I found out that there is a lot more people following me than I thought.  To date, it's 974 viewers that have checked my posts since I started this blog.  Well, that's some encouragement.  I don't know if that is a lot or not but all I know is I'd better get on the ball and keep up with this.  So anyway as I stated in the last post, the RainSauser

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01969944513464213684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691814605311293965.post-12860771318841944622011-08-14T22:46:00.000-07:002011-08-14T22:46:08.968-07:00

I drove past the old place (at 30th & Alberta) a few days ago on my way to pick up some over- flow hoses and boy has it changed! The once trimmed bushes (that I trimmed) are now over grown and it looks like someone had been drinking and drove his can through a section of the hedge out front, probably on "Last Thursday".  My shop actually set back behind what the neighborhood called "The Mansion",

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01969944513464213684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691814605311293965.post-47687621043771632892011-07-29T16:15:00.000-07:002011-07-29T16:15:20.965-07:00

Swamped again you say?  Well it's been awhile since I have felt that way.  Mainly small stuff with a rain barrel or two thrown in.  It's the 29th of July and the weather is hot but that didnt deter the two customers that bought, all together,  five rain barrel systems not to mention the rain barrel I just finished building.  There is also the guy I sent a box full of parts to back east as well as

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01969944513464213684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691814605311293965.post-68461766126672557222011-05-19T12:25:00.000-07:002011-05-19T12:25:12.266-07:00

It seems that it's either feast or famine around here.   As for projects, it's feast time.   Every year produces different orders.   Last year it was a lot of orders for the Delux Rain Barrel.  The year before that was the Full Flow System.  This year, so far, seems to be the Drip Kits, Timers, and Drums turn.   As for projects, having just moved from a location a few months ago, and not having

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01969944513464213684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691814605311293965.post-55944819359046454742011-02-15T18:47:00.000-08:002011-02-15T18:47:32.823-08:00

I got a few small orders under my belt, which in turn lifted my spirits a bit, and has boosted me off my butt to complete a few projects that I had been procrastinating about.  I also finished designing the wooden spool series of the Bird Barrel Bungalows and built three display units.  I put the prices up for them on the website and now I just have to download a photo so people can see what they

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01969944513464213684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691814605311293965.post-56230888804531438842010-12-22T23:26:00.000-08:002010-12-22T23:26:03.399-08:00

Well, I'm finally moved in (95%). Just ahead of the rainy cold weather and just in time for the christmas rush. NOT!!  November, December and January are the slooooooooow months that I have to eke by, digging into my savings and praying for an order or two.  Man! I hate these months!!!   Just when I thought I was going to wait it out snuggled up, watching movies, and drinking hot tea,  what

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01969944513464213684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691814605311293965.post-37054820847362821762010-09-16T11:02:00.000-07:002010-09-16T11:02:05.808-07:00

What a strange trip it has been so far.   We found a place in the Kenton neighborhood of NE Portland Oregon.  Two of the people who were living at the "Mansion" invited me to join them on their new property.  My new shop will be the garage in back.  I cant totally move in just yet because of all the stuff from the "Mansion" that is still piled up inside the garage.  So as it slowly emptys, I

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01969944513464213684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691814605311293965.post-79792392514780993612010-05-25T08:11:00.000-07:002010-06-06T11:16:24.225-07:00

The property where my shop is at, is going to be sold, which means I will have to vacate. For eight years now, I have had a unique work arrangement behind 5024 NE. 30th (& Alberta St.) Portland, OR. working out of a garage, taking care of the landscape, and paying some rent.  For the last two years I have been living on a limited income, and because of that, I can only afford $140.00 a month. 

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01969944513464213684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691814605311293965.post-61843781407930262092010-05-17T09:10:00.000-07:002010-05-19T21:39:32.153-07:00

Last year, KOIN local 6 news, visited me for a half an hour filming every move I made and discussing every feature of my product only to air me on their channel for a mere 10 seconds, editing out most of what I said and did.  They just kind of generalized everything in the end, which is what KGW channel 8 did this year but worse.   As Rod Hill interviewed me, I tried my best in the time aloud, to

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01969944513464213684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691814605311293965.post-33990874124874542992010-05-07T19:30:00.000-07:002010-05-07T19:30:27.198-07:00

Yes, we are packed and ready to go!!   If your not doing anything special Saturday, May 8th, Please come on up to Camas, Washington  and check out the thirteenth annual Camas Plant and Garden Fair.  Website: http://www.cwplantfair.org/   E-mail: ladybugs@cwplantfair.org   We will be showing most of our systems, with  lots of Water Saver Diverters on hand and demo's on how we go about building our

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01969944513464213684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691814605311293965.post-57080459565510569392010-03-31T22:39:00.000-07:002010-03-31T22:39:19.233-07:00

I havent had any time to write on my blog because we have been so busy. We just finished building and delivering two Full Flow Rain Saver Systems for the  Bolton Primary School in West Linn, Oregon and I just heard that another school has put in an order for a rainbarrel kit. We are going to have to start putting people on a waiting list before to long. I dont like to do that but there is

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01969944513464213684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691814605311293965.post-78428579461951083772010-03-11T16:46:00.000-08:002010-03-11T16:46:32.994-08:00

It's 6:00 am.. I wake up, I pee, I'm on the computer.  That's an average day.........       The crazy days start earlier and end later and that's the day I had yesturday !   On top of everything that a person does that operates a micro business there are some days that I think that I do more than anybody else.  Being 60 doesnt help either.   Ok, I'm done belly aching.   There was one thing

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01969944513464213684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691814605311293965.post-35513660165832834212010-03-07T12:54:00.000-08:002010-03-07T13:49:59.764-08:00

What a Day it was! I opened the shop early, went out to set up my sidewalk sign and when I returned, people were already visiting the outdoor rain barrel display garden. Not to long after that did my helper (Dave) show up with a couple of barrel parts that needed to be assembled and banded. So even though I didnt get much done in the way of old orders, I did have some good conversations from

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01969944513464213684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691814605311293965.post-34294791280268556392010-03-04T22:52:00.000-08:002010-03-07T21:40:04.453-08:00

It seems like just yesterday that I was fooling around with a couple of white drums that I picked up from an industrial company, wondering what the heck I was going to do with them. I believe my original plan was to cut the tops out and place them in my garage to store tools. The plan failed when I forgot about them (having cut the tops off and putting them out in the back yard) and went out to

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01969944513464213684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691814605311293965.post-57944160857794647362010-03-03T23:11:00.000-08:002010-03-11T07:32:35.799-08:00

Well it's March once again and it always seems to be the start of the stampede where everyone wants "his or her" rain barrel now. We are swamped with orders but dont let that keep you away. The list isnt going to be as big as it was last year, thank God. The "new economy" has taken care of that, as well as I have a super duper side kick helper this year. He's the best side kick I have ever had. I

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01969944513464213684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691814605311293965.post-2585938826341666112010-02-28T20:46:00.000-08:002010-03-07T21:32:27.596-08:00

For all of you who havent checked my website at http://www.rainbarrelman.com/ lately, I have several new items. I'll start with the Garden Irrigation System. There are two now. The new one comes with non-painted drums, a hose connection w/spigot and is less expensive. I also have two sizes of the Downspout Rain Container System- 275 and 330 Gal. I am proud to say that I am one of the few

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01969944513464213684noreply@blogger.com0