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I had a great time yesterday afternoon when the sun was out and it almost felt hot in my house. I went outside and took the garden hose attached to my rain barrel to the front of the house to care for my new garden. We had added a number of new plants for a Mother’s Day activity (I always make my kids do something with me they’d not usually do!) and we even have a section with a tomato plant, some cukes and peppers.

I don’t have my barrel raised on a platform (note to self: do it next time it is empty) so I was worried about pressure. Also, my hose is extremely long and I was concerned about the water getting through it all. When I opened the spigot and removed the hose kinks, I was surprised at the flow of soft rain water!

I filled up a watering can and set the hose down beside my new baby fig tree. While the hose watered the tree, I went to work on the new plants that were looking thirsty.

It took me about 30 minutes to get everything I wanted watered. And the rain barrel was left half full. I was “exercising” with all that bending over and reaching. And my garden is happy. All in all, a satisfying experience.

I help sell thousands of barrels each year but have only owned mine for a year so far. The first couple of times I used it, I left the spigot open and drained the whole thing! It wasn’t so bad when it was at a new shrub that needed care but I sure felt silly when it drained itself right beside itself!!

It’s obviously a learning process and I’m soon able to consider myself leaving the neophyte stage.

Take a chance on a rain barrel – good for you, good for your plants – and your garden will be happy!

Ottawa sales are tipping toward 2400 barrels sold. One site remains on hold for orders and we hope this will be lifted soon. More sales are coming to Ottawa next week. Please continue to monitor our Ottawa site for updates!

Over 1300 barrels have been preordered by individual customers at our 5 sales scheduled for May 7 in Ottawa. Guaranteed barrels if ordered in advance through our special Ottawa link.

Rain Barrels Fund Local Non-Profit Organizations

For Immediate Release

OTTAWA, April 30, 2011 – Several Ottawa non-profit groups will host truckload sales of rain barrels on Saturday May 7th at various locations. Rain barrels will be sold for $55 each and funds raised will support the participating non-profit organizations.

In response to the recent city watering ban these sales have been put in place to assist local residents with their watering needs. Rain barrels capture and store rain water collected from roofs through downspouts. They provide chlorine-free and fluoride-free water which is ideal for flowers, vegetables, lawns, shrubs and trees. Rain barrels divert clean water from sewer systems and can provide cost savings for homeowners who currently pay to have water trucked in or who have a water meter installed.

Three sale sites have been confirmed for May 7 from 9 AM to 1 PM – organized by Chapel Ridge Free Methodist Church to be held at Fallowfield Park and Ride, by The Manotick Village and Community Association at the Centennial Arena and by Kanata St. Anne Catholic School and Kanata-March Horticultural Society at Earl Armstrong Park and Ride. Rain barrels must be preordered online at www.RainBarrel.ca

Each rain barrel available through these sales is 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. These environmentally friendly products were once used to import fruits and vegetables and have been refurbished and repurposed to offer years of reliable service as rain barrels. They are available in terracotta, a colour similar to clay pottery. All orders must be placed online in advance at www.RainBarrel.ca or by calling 905-545-5577.

Eligible Ottawa residents may apply for a $50 rebate to help cover the cost of their rain barrel (see eligibility at www.ottawa.ca). These barrels meet all City of Ottawa rebate criteria.

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About RainBarrel.ca – RainBarrel.ca reclaims food grade barrels previously used to import fruits and vegetables to be reused as rain barrels. Partnerships with local non-profit organizations result in fundraising truckload sales events for dozens of communities in Ontario including Ottawa. For more information, please contact Larry Pomerantz, [email protected], call 905-545-5577 or visit www.RainBarrel.ca.

RainBarrel.ca is pleased to partner with the Chapel Ridge Free Methodist Church in bringing rain barrels to the Ottawa area in response to the recently announced Ottawa area water restrictions and related rain barrel subsidy program.

Visit the sale website for more information.

More sales will be added soon!