We are the 1st Port Nelson/20th Burlington Venturer Scout Company. We are looking to raise funds so we would be able to perform a service project for a community. An example of a service our group would be interested in doing would be to build a school house or community centre.
To raise funds for this project we have decided to sell rain barrels. These barrels would collect rain water out of your house’s downspout allowing you to attach a hose to the barrel and use the rain water as a water supply for your plants and vegetables. The barrels being sold are food grade so they are safe to use on vegetable gardens.
By using rain water for your plants and vegetables, you are not only saving money that would otherwise be spent on tap water, you are also saving the environment because you will be using less processed water! The rain barrels come in a variety of sizes to best suit your water needs and they are a convenient supply of natural water. The rain barrels are stored outside so they would adjust to the natural temperature of the outdoors so you will not shock your plants with the water being too hot or cold like you could if using tap water.
How to order a Rain Barrel
How to Install a Rain Barrel…
• Construct a box frame with treated lumber and fill with gravel to serve as a raised base. The inside lengths of the box should equal the diameter of the barrel, at a minimum. A base can also consist of cinder or concrete blocks placed on leveled ground. Make sure your rain barrel is placed high enough to allow a bucket to be placed below the faucet.
• Level the ground, place base in position, and fill it level with gravel.
• Place rain barrel on the base and mark height on the downspout to determine cut location. Remove rain barrel from base.
• Shorten your downspout on the house using a hacksaw. Dull the cut edges with steel wool.
• Reinstall the elbow so that water is directed into the barrel.
• Secure the cover so it cannot be opened, and align the inlet hole with the downspout. Position the overflow hose to direct excess water away from your home.
• Periodically check your barrel to ensure that it remains in good working order.
• If your rain barrel appears to fill up quickly, consider connecting two barrels together.
FAQ's and Facts
Collecting rainwater has been done for thousands of years. Rain sometimes seems like an infinite resource, but it is truly missed when we are in a time of drought. If your water comes from a well, or a stressed aquifer then you are even more at risk, during a dry spell, of not having water to water your garden or lawn.
Using a rain barrel is a fantastic way to be less dependent on your cities water supply and to collect the rain water that freely falls from the sky. Rain barrels are not only a fantastic solution, but they also look great and show your neighbours that you really do care.
Why use a rain barrel?
The best reason to get a rain barrel is to save money! With a healthy rain fall you should be able to fill up a rain barrel per downspout in your home. That's 40 gallons of rain water per downspout! The other exciting thing is that rain water is naturally soft water.
The rain water you store can be used to water your garden and your lawn. This is where it is great to have soft water. Soft water is naturally devoid of minerals, chlorine, fluoride and other chemicals we put in our drinking water. For this reason your plants will thank you.
Why is rainwater better for your plants?
Since the water you will be collecting is collected off of your roof it picks up very little contamination. This is obviously dependent on what your roof is made from. When you water with tap water your are typically using hard water that is full of all sorts of chemicals. This is not ideal for your plants and produces an imbalance in your soil and will cause your plants to weaken and be susceptible to disease.
As many gardeners know, soil is the most important aspect of your garden and keeping it alive and teaming with beneficial microorganisms is critical. Using organic fertilizers, such as worm poop, is a start, but if you water your garden with tap water you'll be adding chlorine into your soil (the purpose of chlorine is to kill bugs) which is exactly the opposite of what you should be doing.
How much water can I collect?
For each inch of rain water that falls on a 1,000 square foot roof you will collect 500 imperial gallons of rain water. In a rain fall you should expect to be able to fill up your rain barrel at every downspout of your home!
How much water am I saving?
An average home will be able to cut its water bills in half, if rain barrels are used exclusively to water the lawn and garden.
• Level the ground, place base in position, and fill it level with gravel.
• Place rain barrel on the base and mark height on the downspout to determine cut location. Remove rain barrel from base.
• Shorten your downspout on the house using a hacksaw. Dull the cut edges with steel wool.
• Reinstall the elbow so that water is directed into the barrel.
• Secure the cover so it cannot be opened, and align the inlet hole with the downspout. Position the overflow hose to direct excess water away from your home.
• Periodically check your barrel to ensure that it remains in good working order.
• If your rain barrel appears to fill up quickly, consider connecting two barrels together.
FAQ's and Facts
Collecting rainwater has been done for thousands of years. Rain sometimes seems like an infinite resource, but it is truly missed when we are in a time of drought. If your water comes from a well, or a stressed aquifer then you are even more at risk, during a dry spell, of not having water to water your garden or lawn.
Using a rain barrel is a fantastic way to be less dependent on your cities water supply and to collect the rain water that freely falls from the sky. Rain barrels are not only a fantastic solution, but they also look great and show your neighbours that you really do care.
Why use a rain barrel?
The best reason to get a rain barrel is to save money! With a healthy rain fall you should be able to fill up a rain barrel per downspout in your home. That's 40 gallons of rain water per downspout! The other exciting thing is that rain water is naturally soft water.
The rain water you store can be used to water your garden and your lawn. This is where it is great to have soft water. Soft water is naturally devoid of minerals, chlorine, fluoride and other chemicals we put in our drinking water. For this reason your plants will thank you.
Why is rainwater better for your plants?
Since the water you will be collecting is collected off of your roof it picks up very little contamination. This is obviously dependent on what your roof is made from. When you water with tap water your are typically using hard water that is full of all sorts of chemicals. This is not ideal for your plants and produces an imbalance in your soil and will cause your plants to weaken and be susceptible to disease.
As many gardeners know, soil is the most important aspect of your garden and keeping it alive and teaming with beneficial microorganisms is critical. Using organic fertilizers, such as worm poop, is a start, but if you water your garden with tap water you'll be adding chlorine into your soil (the purpose of chlorine is to kill bugs) which is exactly the opposite of what you should be doing.
How much water can I collect?
For each inch of rain water that falls on a 1,000 square foot roof you will collect 500 imperial gallons of rain water. In a rain fall you should expect to be able to fill up your rain barrel at every downspout of your home!
How much water am I saving?
An average home will be able to cut its water bills in half, if rain barrels are used exclusively to water the lawn and garden.
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