Why Having A Rain Barrel Is Good For The Soil, The Rivers, And You

Having a rain barrel is good for the environment.  It helps fight erosion and keeps trash from flowing from the gutters into our streams and rivers.

Rainwater is naturally soft and devoid of minerals, chlorine, fluoride, and other harmful chemicals.  The hard water and chemicals of our municipal water systems can add chemical imbalances to the soil and damage sensitive plants. 

The water collected from the roofs of houses picks up very little contamination, and is healthy for plant live.

A rain barrel is a container that collects and stores rainwater from downspouts and rooftops for future use in watering lawns and gardens.  Generally a rain barrel is made using a 55 gallon drum but can be constructed in a number of ways. 

However they all serve the same purpose - to collect rainwater and decrease the amount of storm water runoff that leaves from your property.

Using a rain barrel is one way to decrease your household's impact on local waterways and to become a good caretaker of your local watershed.  With summer in full swing, now is the time to start planning how a rain barrel can be of use to you in the garden.

Sustainable Lawrence can help.  They are going to have a workshop at the Lawrence Nature Center, 481 Drexel Ave., Lawrence Township. 

The workshop will take place on Saturday, July 28th, from 1 to 3 p.m.  The price is $50.00, which includes all the materials, including the barrel, and instructions to take home for installation. 

At the Workshop you will learn everything about rain barrel and how to build one or two for your garden.

You can resgister by calling Sustainable Lawrence at (609) 731-1818 or visit us online at www.SustainableLawrence.org.