Buy Rain Barrel

Make use of all of the rain we've been getting, and catch some.- 11:00 pm

Make use of all of the rain we've been getting, and catch some.

If you have the tools, the time and the desire, make a rain barrel to collect rain water to use in the garden when the rains eventually go away.

There is no one right way to build a rain barrel. Use these steps as a guide. Too complicated? Buy a rain barrel at around $100 at home improvement and hardware stores.

Use food-quality containers for your rain barrel - they are the most economical. Use a container that held pickles or olives rather than one that held harsh chemicals. Rinse the inside of the barrel with a mixture of 1/8 cup of bleach and 5 gallons of water to wash away food or juice remnants.

Install a hose spigot. To install a 3/4-inch hose spigot, drill a 15/16-inch hole for the spigot threading just a few inches from the bottom of the barrel. This will provide a few inches of clearance for attaching a hose or filling a watering can and will allow for debris to settle below the outlet to reduce clogging.

The male parts of faucet assemblies fitted with rubber washers can be inserted from the inside of the barrel, and the faucet fixtures can be threaded on from the outside. Placing a rubber washer on the inside piece will ensure a watertight seal.

A screen filter prevents gutter debris from entering your barrel. Use a plastic or nylon screen so it doesn't rust. Also, the water will flow best from the barrel if it is raised off the ground since it operates on gravity.

Build a platform. Concrete cinder blocks provide a strong, stable and level platform for your rain barrel. If you use more than one layer of blocks, stack them in a crisscross pattern so they won't tip over.

Connect downspout to barrel. Position the barrel at its set height, and measure where you need to cut or disconnect your downspout. Often you can disassemble the downspout at the gutter by taking out screws or drilling out rivets. If you do have to cut it off, use a fine-toothed hacksaw blade or tin snips.

A flexible downspout extender makes an easy transition from the downspout to your barrel lid and eliminates the need for exact measurement because it bends and stretches to the length you need.

Cut barrel opening. Place the downspout connection in the barrel. If your barrel comes with a lid, or if it has a sealed top, you will need to cut a hole in it. To modify the downspout, separate sections of the downspout, or cut it with a hacksaw.

Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale Slated for June 25 | Baton Rouge News

From 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Memorial Stadium, located at 1702 Foss Street.  Those participating in the annual event should enter the stadium from Scenic Highway.

Compost bins that retail for $100 will be on sale for $30 and rain barrels that retail for $150 will be available for $45.  Nature’s Best Organics will offer free mulch, one scoop per pick-up truck or load-your-own container, while supplies last.

In all, a total of 1,300 compost bins and rain barrels will be available while supplies last in this city-subsidized program.  The “FreeGarden” compost bin is made of black recycled plastic, has an 11-cubic foot capacity, a 10-year warranty, and fits easily into an average sized sedan. The “FreeGarden” Rain Barrel has a 55-gallon capacity, is made of recycled plastic, and comes partially assembled. Those who wish to purchase both a compost bin and rain barrel should bring a four-door sedan, pickup truck, SUV or hatchback.

City-Parish Recycling Director Susan Hamilton said that a family can produce up to 1,000 pounds of yard waste annually.

“Keeping yard waste off the curb through composting, grass cycling, and mulching saves landfill space, valuable resources, and money,” Hamilton said.  “In as little as 10 minutes a  week, residents can convert leaves and grass into an abundant supply of organic matter  for use in gardens, as well as reduce their curbside trash output and their gardening water bills.”

According to Hamilton, the rain barrels also reduce household water bills and provide an excellent, chemical-free water source for lawns, plants and gardens.

During the June 25 event, the LSU Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and the East Baton Rouge Parish Recycling Office will offer an Education Expo to teach residents how to use the compost bins, as well as how to practice grass cycling and mulching.

The City-Parish Environmental Division will have information about storm water management activities. ExxonMobil ExC!TE volunteers will be on hand to distribute the bins and barrels, and AT&T Pioneers will act as cashiers.

Sponsors and partners for this event are the City-Parish Public Works Department and Recycling Office, Baton Rouge Police Department’s Traffic Division, the City-Parish Environmental Division, ExxonMobil ExC!TE, Nature’s Best Organics/Natural Resources Recovery Inc.,  the Recycling Foundation of Baton Rouge, WAFB-TV, Guaranty Broadcasting,  WRKF-FM, LSU Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners, Baton Rouge Coca Cola Bottling Company, the AT&T  Pioneers, and the East Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission.

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