It shouldn't be too hard to come up with a 12 volt DC pump and some solar panels. Three feet isn't an unreasonable lift. Do you have a good spot to stick some panels?

Although it would be cheaper and more fun to build your own, there are a number of solar pumps on Ebay. Some can lift the water 38". You will probably have to pay around $125 - $140.

Anne

My spouse built a solar powered pump arrangement from stuff sold online for marine usage. Apparently people with boats need this sort of thing sometimes. I don't think it was economical. She just did it for kicks.

thanks all.....yes....the back yard gets full sun most of the day. I found a unit from esolar.com that has a battery for storage and a timer so I can just run the pump from..say..5 pm to 10 pm......costa about $150....I'm thinking I'll risk buying it and trying it out. Worst case scenario is I have to send it back and admit defeat......then call an electrician! :( It's not that I don't believe the other folks who have already tried it....I'm just hard-headed and need to see for myself.....