To un-volunteer...

[SillyCow6]

I have wanted to join our local community garden for ages but because I procrastinate over almost everything, it never happened. I saw a post on our local tidy towns facebook page asking for people to help water the plants dotted around the town and I thought "yeah, great way to start getting involved in some sort of community gardening type activities" despite my complete lack of gardening knowledge and equipment.
I have been asked to water 8 huge planters, which I am happy to do...but I have no idea how to transport the water to the fupping flowers I have some big plastic toy tubs I can empty and half fill but there are speed bumps all down the road to the flowers so I will end up soaking dhs car and I have nothing with a lid apart from my large saucepan.
I was told to give them a bucket full of water each per week but how the frig am I going to manage this?! Does anyone have any tips for me, or will I have to un-volunteer and let everyone in town know how inept I am?

From
Embarrassed in FlowerLand

Round here they have an IBC on a truck. A bucket full for each container per week might not be enough in this heat. Depending on where you are of course.

The Junior Mole used to have a ride-on John Deere tractor which came with a water tank and pump spray on a trailer. (Probably about 30-40l capacity?)
I don't suppose you have any small childen round abour with a similar rig who could trundle out with you? We used to force him to pedal round the garden spraying the plants...

Milk cartons, water bottles. Ice cubes can be another way to do it (and it reduces water waste if watered quickly and the water drains through and isn’t absorbed). Need to make sure the ice isn’t touching the plant stems though.

Water container?

It's a bit ridiculous asking people to volunteer to do this when the average person won't have anything like the equipment needed. Plus the cost of all the water they're going to need in this heat! Definitely ask for advice on how they expect this to be done. It could be that there is some sort of water source near each planter but that's probably unlikely.

We used to use an aquaroll on scout camps. It’s just a barrel with a metal frame that you can pull along. You might be able to pick one up secondhand? One of those in the car plus a catering can would work?

Thankfully not on a meter so no worries about that. I like the drone and helicopter ideas...any donations welcome!
I'll rummage in the recycling bin for milk bottles and pop bottles so!!

Are there any nearby shops that would be amenable to letting you go in to get water with your own containers - one different shop per planter if they are widely dispersed?

If there's 8 planters and they need watering once a week then do one a day and 2 on one day of the week. I'd ask if anyone has an old camping or caravan water carrier that you could have, there's bound to be one in someone's garage or loft that's no longer fit for human use. Failing that save some plastic bottles with lids if you get them (I don't drink milk or soft drinks so rarely have any!)

Raindance.

Unfortunately no shops or taps nearby to use so I'll have to ferry a boot load of milk bottles. I may even use the bin and half fill it. I think I shall be renouncing my title of enthusiastic flower waterer.

Would bringing my kids down there to widdle on it under cover of darkness count at all

@ScrimpshawTheSecond genius. Ive never done one before mind, do I just get my baps out and wiggle around while chanting at the sky or is there something else I'm missing.
The neighbours seeing me do this is definitely preferable to admitting to a lack of mahoosive watering can, of course

You can get those water canister things with a screw closure.
Horse shops and camping shops I usually see them.
They will be heavy those and may wash away small plants so get a watering can with a rose on it for when you get there

Please ask the organisers and report back! Maybe they provide containers/equipment but forgot to tell you? How far apart are the planters?

Theyre in groups of 2, all within a half a mile or so.

The big water containers sound good but I doubt Id manage to lift them to pour into a watering can. Ive had heating oil in the past in a container about 20L and I could lift it but not tip it to pour

I will ask how best to do it. I am currently imagining some sort of roman water system from my outside tap

Learn how to do a rain dance?

www.amazon.co.uk/Aquaroll-Hitchman-Economy-Litre-Carrier/dp/B07P6L48HQ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&crid=13CRAUUBOXLY2&keywords=water+carrier+on+wheels&sprefix=water+carrier%2Caps%2C153&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1591035173&sr=8-1

Invest in a very very very long hose

B&M sells those big 5 litre collapsible water bags.

If you have a local Facebook group ask for bottles etc. I'd be happy to rifle through my recycling for someone in a similar situation.

local fish keeping shop will probably sell big carriers and a hand pump

water carriers

This is probably why this job is vacant

I would have probably expected them to have aquarolls or similar for volunteers if I had seen that.

www.leisureshopdirect.com/water/camper-van-conversion/water-carriers/aquaroll-and-accessories