Rain Barrel Workshop, Feb. 8

As the economy, drought and environment continue to be important in today’s society, Fernbank Museum of Natural History is again offering its popular rain barrel workshop on Sunday, February 8 —just in time for spring.

At this make-and-take workshop, participants will start spring in the green as they learn a quick and easy way to collect rainwater for their gardens and decrease their water bills during a dry spell. Collecting water with a rain barrel is an environmentally friendly way to manage outdoor landscaping and can be used to hydrate plants with a clear conscience when rain is scarce.

Fernbank Museum’s environmental educators will reveal the benefits of using rainwater collection for maintaining gardens and will help participants create rain barrels they can take home.

The Make-and-Take Workshop: Rain Barrels will be held from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. on February 8. The cost is $65 for Museum members and $80 for non-members, and includes all materials. The workshop is open to participants ages 16 and up. Space is limited and reservations are required. To register, call 404.929.6379 or e-mail programs@fernbankmuseum.org by January 23.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located at 767 Clifton Road in Atlanta. For more information, visit www.fernbankmuseum.org or call (404) 929-6300.

Is Your Rain Barrel Ready?

Rain barrels have been used for thousands of years to naturally harvest the rain for a variety of uses. Today, with tight water restrictions and the general public increasingly concerned about our impact on the environment, rain barrels are making a comeback. They are an easy way to save money and do something good for the earth. If used exclusively to water your lawn and garden, you can reduce your water use by up to forty percent, helping you to cut back on using our severely depleted water resources. Rain barrels also help control the amount of polluted runoff from your home, thereby reducing the pollution you send to local lakes.

Rain is naturally soft water, unlike tap water, making it perfect for use on your lawn and garden. Tap water normally includes added chemicals, such as fluoride and chlorine, which can be harmful to your plants and the soil around them. By using rain water to water your lawn, you are doing your plants a favor and not putting potentially damaging chemicals into the earth. Rain water you collect can also be used for drinking if it is filtered through a proper filtration system. Rather than buying bottled water, why not bottle your own?

In order to properly harvest the rain, you need to ensure that you have the right roofing. Traditional asphalt shingles tend to collect dirt and other possible contaminants, as well as absorb the rain that falls rather than sending it to your rain barrel. “Metal roofs are ideal,” says Jim Ryan of Rain Harvesting USA, and “they are impervious, meaning that all of the rain easily runs off without being absorbed.” Metal roofs have smooth surfaces, making them easy to rid of harmful materials with the first rainfall before the water is stored for use. Metal roofs are also energy efficient, allowing you to help out the environment in an even bigger way.

Rain barrels are available at a number of locations around Atlanta with an ever rising popularity. Currently, a local roofing company is offering a complimentary rain barrel with a qualified purchase. U.S. Green Roof specializes in eco-friendly and sustainable roofing and encourages their customers to “think and act green.” For more information on this offer, visit www.usgreenroof.com/rainbarrel. 

Build Your Own Rain Barrel

According to Live Earth, if one million Americans used rain barrels, they could collect enough water for the daily usage of one million people. With Atlanta still in drought conditions, a rain barrel might be the perfect way to keep your garden and lawn wet this summer. 

Click this link for a step by step guide to building your own rain barrel, courtesy of Mid-American Regional Council.