Off Grid Uses for Five Gallon Buckets

The origin of the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle” is somewhat unclear. Most people think it dates back to the first Earth Day held on April 22, 1970. For dedicated homesteaders, however, the popular mantra is more than a call to reduce trash — it is a way of life.

One of the most useful items homesteaders can recycle is the five-gallon bucket. You can purchase new buckets online, but you’re better off looking for used ones for free at supermarkets, bakeries, coffee shops, restaurants, school cafeterias, painting and construction companies, and pool maintenance companies. Check Craigslist or Freecycle for other possible sources of free buckets.