A product new to the Farmers Market has been introduced this year by two employees in the Community Connections division at Flint Hills Technical College.
Coordinator Rachael LeClear and information manager Amy Becker began making rain barrels after taking a barrel-making class in the Sustainable Living Center at FHTC. The popular class is offered once a year.
“That’s kind of how the seed was planted last year,” LeClear said.
The finished product allows people to collect rain water from their guttering systems and use it to water gardens, lawns, shrubs and other plants.
The rain water lacks the chemicals added to treated water and simultaneously saves consumers money that otherwise would be spent on gallonage fees and accompanying sewer charges.
Rain barrels also conserve a key natural resource by recycling it from the roof onto the garden.
“It’s a really easy thing to do, and that’s just got to be the easiest resource to retain,” Becker said.
“And your roof is already there for you,” LeClear added. “You’d be amazed at how fast 55 gallons fills up.”
The women build the rain barrels in their spare time, starting with 55-gallon containers purchased from the Hostess plant on Industrial Road. The translucent green plastic lets sunlight shine in, helping to control algae; the pleasant odor that wafts up when the barrel is opened confirms that the food-grade plastic once held vanilla to season the baked products. The odor lingers long after the vanilla has been scrubbed away.
“We wanted them to be safe to use in the garden,” Becker said.
The women made a hole about six inches in diameter in the lid of each barrel, then defined the hole with a tall plastic insert to funnel the water from the guttering into the container.
They recommended cutting off the downspout above the barrel to allow rain water to run in through the hole.
They also cut a hole in the side of the barrel, near the top, and attached a black corrugated hose to carry off water when the barrel is full.
“But what you can also do is attach that hose to another barrel and then another barrel and another,” LeClear said. Enough water can be collected, if needed, to water even large yards and gardens.
A bonus from the rain barrels is that the hoses can be used to route water away from home foundations, thus preventing possible structural damage.
The women recommend that the barrels be placed onto concrete blocks or other type of riser to increase the water pressure and speed of flow when the rain barrel is in use.
Two spigots also are installed near the bottom of the barrel, to be connected to garden hoses or opened to fill watering cans for plants or for pitchers that can be used to rinse shampoo from hair.
To some, the rain barrels may seem to be an innovative product. To others, like LeClear’s grandmother, Nadine Hopper, it’s an updated version of what she’s seen and used long before.
“My grandma collected rainwater,” LeClear said. “She said, ‘Well, we used to have those.’”
“This is not a new idea,” Becker said.
But it is an idea that is resurfacing as people more and more turn to green solutions for their problems. Customers who have purchased the barrels so far have ranged in age from approximately 30 to 60 years.
Becker and LeClear will be at the Farmers Market again today and expect to add Wednesday evenings to their vendors’ booth when the market goes to its twice-weekly schedule on June 16.
The rain barrels will be for sale for $70 each.
knute (anonymous) says...
Excellent idea. Seemed a little pricey initially but the savings on the chemical-laden city water might make this worth having more than just one barrel. Now if I could just get rid of the bird "donations" on the roof, the hair washing idea would be acceptable!
May 29, 2010 at 9:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )