How fortunate we feel to have found this home. Organic minded neighbors have been a most unexpected bonus. Today, I thought I would share what one neighbor put in for us to catch water for our garden being there is not source that far back of the property.
Not a very pretty site but none the less very cherished one.
There is screen placed between the down spout & the catch system container for filtering debris.  We fill 1 gallon jugs from the short hose attached to the yellow handled spigot. Which are then transported to the garden in an old child's red ryder wooden wagon.

This method not only utilizes a natural source of watering but has a way of reducing the amount wasted by method of hose. Also ensuring all plants are watered at their base in hopes of deterring disease, etc which is found with overhead watering methods.
I see these containers often for sale in front of residential homes at around $100. Barrels work great as well.

Our next update to this system will be adding a gravity filter system as well as a possible second catch system on the North side which happens to be inside our Chicken run. Although I must say, finding a method to clean this container despite being in a shady spot, has me baffled. How does one clean a 250 gallon container such as this with just an opening large enough to stuff an arm in halfway? There simply must be way & with my determination, I Will find it.
Some food for thought being the year is still young and the rains have been common. This is the time to begin the gathering & planning for your rainwater catch systems.
Sunny Dreams,
~Tammie