Denob,
I'm in a beverage industry. Just about any manufacturing plant in the food and beverage industry would have food grade barrels. The thing to look for is that they are made of HDPE - those are the types that will not leach anything into the contents. I would also make sure that they did not originally contain anything too pungent - that could be difficult to clean out. The best thing about getting them from a food and beverage plant is that you know that they were single use - CFIA regulations mandate that. I work mostly in water quality analysis - BSc in chemistry. It comes in handy sometimes! 😉

Great answer, good response and thanks for coming in and sharing the info.

I acquired 2 barrels for rain, and hooked them up in series on a 2 m stand. I fear that without the snow we normally have at this time of year, there will be severe water restrictions. Going to need that water for the veggies that I cant afford to buy. The gravity flow should be enough for trickle watering. If not, I have a spare 12v marine battery and a marine pump to add a bit of pressure, hook up the small solar cell to it and were off to see the wizard. Anywho, we’ll see. Good luck to all this coming season.

I made sauerkraut for the first time.

Got into my mini survival kit which is just a fanny pack I carry most of the time. The main thing was to update the meds...3 day supply of prescriptions for myself and the wife as well as 3 day supply of commonly used OTC for both of us.
In addition, much grocery shopping as Maxi had a .99c sale this week.
Today, I have lots to do...gonna get the chainsaw out and go get some dead wood for spring fires in the stove as well as get the last of the firewood out of the leaking shed and into the sunlight.
Also want to take a look at the solar charger...seems to not be working.

I made sauerkraut for the first time.

Great minds think alike.... I made kimchi for the first time this past week-end! I could easily become a kimchi addict.

How is that jar of yours rigged up? Is it a special fermenting jar or something you came up with ?

bought more heirloom organic seeds ....and more starter pots

bought more heirloom organic seeds ....and more starter pots...and some cheap storage containers that I'm going to experiment with for container gardening to supplement the vegetable patch.

Finally convinced my Better Half of the need for the next level of things ... security. To that end, I am going to start looking around for a sturdy slingshot, marbles and develop some accuracy with it.
We also decided to get moving on BOBs for us all, including the dog. To that end, we started lists and decided what kinds of things we can shop for within our small budget.
Finally talked Better Half into getting a knife. So we looked at a few and she decided on a sturdy Swiss Army knife that she can carry in her pocket.
We also decided which food items we'd keep shopping for, even though we're moving shortly. More lists.
Also got us both stubby 6 bulb LED flashlights designed to go on our keychains. When we go for our night walks, we won't be caught unawares if someone does try something hinky.
We're Canadians, we won't beat you, but we will blind you temporarily while we make a hasty get away! 😀

Look into how to make a slingbow, very easy and can be used for hunting and protection. (@25' can take down a wild boar and deer.)

Ranger, dangit
you beat me to the SlingBow post 🙂 goon on ya mate

Dragon, I do like the quality Swiss Army Knifes, the only draw back is that the blade does not lock! That means more chances of nicks on fingers and such.
Great first steps congrats and welcome back.

Again, took advantage of sales at Maxi this week...lots of food stocked up for not much money...
More 2l soft drink bottles full of water...
Looking into a slingbow for small game hunting but I wonder how accurate they are.

I posted on my blog about how to do sauerkraut the easy way if anyone is interested.

I canned turkey, turkey broth and garbanzos beans and spices ready to make hummus right out of the jar.

I got my order of herbs so those are all nicely stored in glass jars ready for a dark closet.

Again, took advantage of sales at Maxi this week...lots of food stocked up for not much money...
More 2l soft drink bottles full of water...
Looking into a slingbow for small game hunting but I wonder how accurate they are.

I was at an event and saw them using the sling bow, it takes lots of practice to get accurate. You also need very stiff rubber in order to get a decent draw if you want to actually take anything down with it. Slow to reload as well, its' main features seem to be versatility and learn now if your stuck in the bush it is another option to use it.

Personally after watching it, I am inclined to make one only for interests and skills sake, then look for those little hand held crossbows, or make a take down bow for my pack.
This is not a good self defence option, IMHO
this is a good skill to learn in case your lost in the bush, need to make a slingshot to take game with. Everything you need would be, rubber (strong resistance rubber), some odds and sods, metal bits for the arrow heads.

I posted on my blog about how to do sauerkraut the easy way if anyone is interested.
I canned turkey, turkey broth and garbanzos beans and spices ready to make hummus right out of the jar.
I got my order of herbs so those are all nicely stored in glass jars ready for a dark closet.

You did a very good job on your blog, I liked it and the pic is to steal for 🙂

I picked up several gallon jugs of bleach and a few containers of salt. I'm not really into the "binder of information" thing, so I take copies of the instructions and mixtures of how much bleach to purify how much water and attach them in water resistant envelopes to the side of each bottle. If i happen to have a bottle of bleach when i need it, I will have instructions of how to use it. Same thing with the salt for how to pickle, cure, preserve, or dry foods such as meat, sausage, or pickles. All the salt is in 5 gallon pails and instructions are sealed inside. Sodium nitrate infused salt is stored separately as well as its instructions to use it.