Homeowners can do their part to protect the Sassafras River Watershed and Chesapeake Bay by building their own Rain Barrel at a workshop hosted by the Sassafras River Association on October 13. The event will be held at Toal Park Pavilion in Galena from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Participants will build a rain barrel that collects water from downspouts and that can be used for washing windows and watering gardens or houseplants. Collecting and reusing water reduces the amount of runoff and the associated pollutants that eventually reach the Sassafras River and Chesapeake Bay.
Doug and Sandy Hamilton attended two workshops recently, and installed two rain barrels. They use the collected water for their gardens. Doug said that depending on the weather, each barrel may be filled six, eight or ten times each summer. That goes a long way toward keeping their plants and flower gardens healthy. “It doesn’t take much to fill up a barrel. Even a light shower will do it. You’d be surprised.”
Doug Hamilton is pretty handy around the house, but said that even a novice could build a rain barrel at the SRA workshop. “Some people had limited construction experience, but if they had a question, somebody from the SRA would jump in and help them. There were lots of helpers.”
Sandy Hamilton was impressed with the quality of the workshop. “Everything was all ready for us – all the equipment we needed was there. They provided all the tools,” she said.
The barrels are hard plastic and come in blue or white. They can be painted to match the home or coordinate with the landscape.
To build your own rain barrel, sign up today. Space is limited. A $45 fee covers the cost of the rain barrel and all supplies. To register for the workshop, contact the Sassafras River Association at 410-275-1400 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. Registration must be complete by October 9 to reserve a barrel and supplies.
The Sassafras River Association is dedicated to promoting good water quality, a balance among recreation, wildlife, and economic activity, and an educated community that takes action to restore and maintain the health of the watershed.
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