Win-win with barrels

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By John Curry

EMC News - It's a win-win. You get to enjoy an affordable, environmentally friendly way to water your lawn and garden while also helping to support community events here in Stittsville.

It can all happen by supporting the truckload sale of rain barrels which is being held by the Stittsville Village Association (SVA).

"Rain barrels are an affordable and environmentally friendly way to keep gardens and lawns lush without ratcheting up your water bill," says SVA secretary and sale organizer Tanya Hein.

"And if, through this sale, we can also help support community events enjoyed by local residents, that makes it a truly win-win scenario," she adds.

Proceeds from the sale that accrue to the SVA will help pay for community events like the Canada Day celebration and the Christmas Parade of Lights.

Rain barrels capture and store rain water collected from roofs through downspouts. They provide chlorine and fluoride free water for watering lawns and gardens, ideal for organic vegetables as well as flowers, lawns, shrubs and trees. And way cheaper than metered tap water.

Each 220 litre (55 U.S. gallon) rain barrel available through this truckload sale being held by the SVA will come equipped with a mosquito and leaf debris filter basket, an overflow hose, an outlet to join rain barrels together in series and a spigot at the bottom which can be connected to a standard garden hose. The rain barrels even come in three colours: grey, terracotta and black.

Orders for these rain barrels, which cost $55 each, can be placed online now at http://rainbarrel.ca/stittsville. Orders can be placed right up until Friday, April 27, with pickup on Saturday, April 28 in the parking lot at Sobeys in Stittsville.

"Anyone who buys or reserves a barrel online is guaranteed to get one," Ms. Hein says. "We may have a few extras available for walk-up customers on distribution day, but we're really hoping for a sell out."

The Stittsville Village Association (SVA) was formed in 2001 to help preserve and promote the quality of life and community character of Stittsville following amalgamation with the city of Ottawa.

In addition to dealing with development and community issues, the SVA through its volunteers hosts a number of community events each year including Artists and Authors in the Park in May, Canada Day celebrations and the Christmas Parade of Lights on the last Saturday in November.