BarrieToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected]. Please include your daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is was submitted by Andee Pelan of Living Green Barrie.
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There are so many good reasons to hook up a rain barrel, but let’s just start with the top three. They save you money, your lawn or garden will thrive, and you will be helping Lake Simcoe.
Rain barrels are hooked up at the base of your house’s downspout so you can collect rainwater off your roof. That water is free water. It can be used right away or stored for dry times during outdoor water restrictions to water your lawns, wash your car, clean your windows, or even start a water gun fight with the neighbourhood kids.
This free water is also chlorine-free water. Untreated ambient-temperature water is ideal for gardens, trees and lawns. Your zucchini plants will thank you.
Lake Simcoe will also thank you. The overflow hose pointed away from your house can direct any excess rain onto your yard letting it soak into the ground instead of becoming runoff water.
Once runoff flows onto the street, it ends up in the storm-drain system, which outlets into Lake Simcoe.
Along the way, it picks up cigarette butts, dog poo, plastics, road sand and salt; all things we want to keep out of our beautiful lake.
Rain barrels can be purchased from the city, from most hardware stores or from a local charity.
Living Green Barrie is hosting a composter and rain-barrel fundraiser to support their environmental education and tree planting programs. The rain barrels are re-purposed food-grade barrels, which means they are extremely sturdy, and no new plastic is created. They are delivered right to your home for $65 and include all hardware (mosquito filter, spigot/tap, overflow adapter and hose).
Living Green is also hosting a free webinar on Thursday, April 15 at 7 p.m., called Harvest the Rain; An Intro to Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels featuring advice and tips from a sustainable landscaping professional.
Andee Pelan
Living Green Barrie
www.livinggreenbarrie.com
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