Monday, July 6, 2009

Discount Rain Barrels Available From FLOW To Speedy Columbus Residents

The Friends of the Lower Olengangy Watershed (FLOW) are once again offering subsidized rain barrels to Columbus residents. If you hurry and register for a rain barrel workshop, you can get a rain barrel for only $30.00.

As discussed in this month's FLOW newsletter, rain "barrels are a great way to conserve water and reduce your utility bills while at the same time helping to protect" our local water ways. "With funding from the City of Columbus, FLOW will once again offer our popular rain barrel workshops and cost share program. The two-hour workshops are free and open to the public. Columbus residents who attend a workshop will be eligible to purchase a rain barrel at a cost share price of $30. Residents of other municipalities [like Bexley] may participate in the workshop, but, due to funding restrictions, they will not be eligible to receive the cost share price. "

Due to the high demand in previous years, FLOW has "switched to a new registration system. Registrations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. We recommend registering as early as possible in the process, as space is limited and workshops will fill quickly. Please go to" the FLOW website at http://www.olentangywatershed.org/ to register by email or call 614-267-3386 and leave your name and telephone number.

Workshops are currently scheduled for July 14 (7-9 p.m.), August 13 (7-9 p.m.) and September 19 (10 a.m. to noon). Location to be announced.

You don't have to live in the Olentangy watershed to participate. Friends of Alum Creek Tributaries may also attend and purchase subsidized barrels as long as they live in Columbus.

If memory serves correctly, FLOW also covers the cost of the delivery of the barrel. But I'd ask first . . . . .

I attended a workshop like this three years ago, which is how I met the Rain Brothers and bought three barrels from them for my home. I also purchased a subsidized barrel last year for my community garden plot (before residency restrictions were formalized:)

Alternatively, FLOW is offering another option for Columbus residents to get a $30 rain barrel. You can attend a six-week course it is offering on Healthy Yards, Healthy Streams. According to FLOW, by attending this course, "you can learn how to protect our streams by making your own yard healthier, more beautiful and safer for your family. Topics will include rain barrels, rain gardens, composting, low-impact lawn care, and backyard habitat. " The program is subsidized by The Columbus Foundation.

Registrations started on June 30. The classes run on Monday evenings from 6:30 until 8:30 from July 20 through August 24. Again, registration is first-come-first served and space can be reserved on FLOW's website. The location of the seminar will be revealed when you register. Unlike the FREE rain barrel workshops, this course will cost you a whopping $15 to cover the demonstrations and written materials. Fees are due within two weeks of registration. FLOW promises that "participants who complete all six workshops will receive discount and cost share coupons with a value that exceeds the course fee. The cost share coupons may be applied to implementing any of the practices covered in the course (including rain barrels, rain gardens, composters, and native plantings)." This includes the $30 rain barrels for Columbus residents.

The brochure does not limit participation in the course to Columbus residents.

Good luck!

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