Our Commitment to Rain Barrels and the Environment
This is our third year selling rain barrels, and we love it! Each year our numbers have grown. Recently we have expanded our relationships with environmental advocacy groups, like the Sierra Club Great Lakes Program, with community gardens like Project Grow (Ann Arbor), as well as with numerous schools.
On April 14, 2012, we are working with the Sierra Club Great Lakes Program and The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy to sponsor Rain Barrels on the Riverfront, the first ever rain Barrel workshop and sale on the Riverwalk. We will be donating two rain barrels to be installed on site as well, demonstrating how to disconnect your downspout and install your rain barrel. On April 23, 2012 we are attending Family Science Night at Anchor Bay Middle School North in New Baltimore. Here we will have a chance to talk to Middle School children and their parents about the benefits of rainwater harvesting and our rain barrels. These benefits include:
- Reducing the large volume of water flowing to the sewer treatment facility
- Lowers the percentage of roof top rainfall thus reducing urban stormwater runoff
- Backup source of water during times of drought or between rain showers
- Helps to keep our Great Lakes (beaches, creeks, rivers etc.) clean
- Naturally soft water – ideal for delicate houseplants, auto cleaning and washing your hair
- Saves you money by lowering your water bill
- Reduces the need for additional tax dollars earmarked for sewer expansion
- Chlorine-free water helps maintain a healthy biotic community in the soil
- Educational tool for teaching residents about water conservation
We do a lot of events to promote the use of our rain barrels, working with schools is my personal favorite. As I have seen with my own children, if you learn about protecting the environment as a child, you will probably be an adult who embraces a green life style. If you know of a school that has a need for a rain barrel or a composter, who is interested in creating a curriculum that includes composting and rain water harvesting, please give me a call at 313.891.3880 or email.
