For more than a decade, we’ve relied on an old-fashioned but surprisingly effective garden secret: rain barrels made from reclaimed whiskey barrels. These charming wooden containers sit quietly at the corner of our home, collecting every drop of rainwater they can during the spring and summer seasons.

But our story doesn’t end with rain collection. What we discovered — and what we’d love to share — is a simple, natural trick to solve one of the biggest complaints about rain barrels: mosquitoes.

🌿 Why Rain Barrels Are Worth It

Rain barrels are one of the most eco-conscious tools a gardener can have. Here’s why we love them:

They cut down on water bills.

Provide chemical-free water for plants.

Help reduce stormwater runoff.

Keep your garden hydrated during dry spells.

Our barrels are made of oak — old whiskey barrels that we repurposed. They look great in the garden and last for years if cared for properly.

🦟 The Mosquito Problem

When we first researched rain barrels, the mosquito warning came up over and over. Stagnant water is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, and traditional open barrels can become a problem fast.

Some solutions we found:

Fine mesh covers (not always effective)

Plastic barrels with sealed lids

Mosquito dunks or pesticide tablets (we didn’t want chemicals near our plants)

But none of those options felt natural enough for our garden.

🐟 Enter: The Feeder Goldfish

One spring, we came across a tip that changed everything: add goldfish to your barrels.

Each spring, we head to the local pet store and buy a few feeder goldfish — the inexpensive kind meant as food for other animals. They cost about a dollar or two each.

We gently release them into the barrels, and they immediately get to work:

Eating mosquito larvae before they hatch

Feeding on algae that collects over time

Cleaning out small bits of debris

And the best part?

They require no feeding, no cleaning, and no extra care all summer long.

They live off the natural ecosystem inside the barrel.

💧 Clean, Safe Water for the Garden

Thanks to the goldfish, the water in our barrels stays fresh, clean, and insect-free. Our plants love it, and so do we.

We’ve never once had a mosquito issue since using this method.

🌡️ What Happens to the Fish in Winter?

As temperatures begin to drop, we have a few choices:

Move them to a small indoor tank to overwinter.

Relocate them to a pond.

Or, if the fish were inexpensive, simply buy new ones next spring.

(We prefer keeping them if we can — they’ve earned it!)

📌 Tips for Success:

Use large barrels (40+ gallons) to give the fish space.

Place your barrels in partial shade to avoid overheating the water.

Don’t use pesticides or mosquito dunks — they can harm the fish.

Check water levels often during dry spells.

Cover barrels partially to prevent predators from reaching in.

🌿 Sustainable Gardening, Simplified

This small trick is part of a bigger picture: working with nature, not against it. Instead of chemical solutions, we’ve built a tiny ecosystem in each barrel that benefits our garden, our budget, and even the fish.

So if you’ve got rain barrels — or you’re planning to start — consider giving a few goldfish a summer job.

Your plants (and the bees, and your ankles) will thank you!