Rain Barrel Workshops

Throughout spring and summer, the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District hosts rain barrel workshops around the county. During the one and one half hour session, the Cuyahoga SWCD representative explains the benefits of rain barrel use for individuals and the community, shows participants how to construct a rain barrel, and finally, offers guidance and answers questions as workshop participants work on making their rain barrels. Cuyahoga SWCD provides the materials (55-gallon food-grade plastic barrel, brass spigot, hose barb, downspout diverter and hose, PTFE tape) and the tools (drill, 15/16” drill bit, thread tap). Bringing your own battery-powered drill can speed up the construction process. Workshoppers are typically fully educated and waddling out the door with their arms wrapped around their new rain barrel before the 90 minutes are up. 

So why use a rain barrel? According to Cuyahoga SWCD, we put 60% of the treated, drinkable water from our municipal water supply on our lawns. Using stored rain water for lawn care makes much more sense. Additionally, the vast quantities of fertilizers and pesticides we put on our lawns pollute our local natural waters when rains wash them off our grass and into the waterways. Third, because rain water does not contain fluoride or chlorine, it is a natural match for vegetable gardens, flower beds, and lawns for kids. Finally, reusing a food-grade plastic barrel as a rain barrel is a highly efficient recycling method.

Check out http://www.cuyahogaswcd.org/RainBarrels.htm and watch the calendar here in the LO for upcoming Cuyahoga SWCD rain barrel workshops.