That's very interesting on the fact that those drums will last you through the dry spells. I wouldn't have thought that it would be enough.

I live on a large hill and have the rainwater off the front of my house running into our garden and it helps a lot as there is a large strip of the garden below that spout that does better than the rest of the garden even though I still water the whole garden once it gets dry.

I need to get some 55 gallon drums for sure.