Do-It-Yourself Rain Barrel Workshops

Monday, March 22, 2010

Using rain barrels to store water for later use in the garden or around the house is a great way to keep your water bills low, help alleviate the burden put on our city’s stormwater system, and make your home more self-sufficient. But some barrels can be costly, putting an added price on going green. Here’s a solution – build your own!

 

On the afternoon of March 20th the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and New Kensington CDC hosted a Do-It-Yourself Rain Barrel Workshop at Shissler Rec Center. As part of the Sustainable 19125 initiative, this workshop provided free barrels and supplies to attendees. Sally McCabe, Project Coordinator from PHS, led the workshop, demonstrating her vast knowledge of building and maintaining your own barrel.

    

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the average American uses between 80 to 100 gallons of water a day. The average 8.2-minute shower uses 20 gallons of water! For many, building a rain barrel makes a lot of sense.

Obtaining a barrel yourself is fairly easy – many food distributors are willing to provide empty barrels for free (some on craigslist will pay you to take them away!). Food grade barrels are a must since you will be using these to water your plants or lawn. Many attendees at the workshop lifted the lids of their newly acquired barrels to discover the sweet smell of maple syrup, vanilla extract, or apple cider vinegar.
      


With the right drill bits, some hose, a screen, adhesive, and the right extension to connect to your downspout, you too can create your own barrel!  Make sure your barrel is properly screened to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes. “It takes three days for them to appear in my dog’ s water dish,” explained Sally to the group. “Open containers are great for collecting water, but without a screen you’ll be breeding mosquitoes in no time.”
       


These workshops are part of the community-led Sustainable 19125 initiative, which seeks to make our zip code the greenest in the city of Philadelphia. Focusing on a different bi-monthly green theme, participants of Sustainable 19125 are offering Water Conservation tips and resources during the months of March and April. Many of the program’s Green Guides, who work as ambassadors to the residents on their blocks, are distributing information to their neighbors about conserving water in their daily lives.



PHS has created an online video of Sally’s Do-It-Yourself Rain Barrel workshop – just visit www.youtube.com/user/PennHort. For more information on upcoming events through Sustainable 19125, be sure to visit www.sustainable19125.org or email sustainable19125@gmail.com.