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With Father’s Day (Sunday, June 15th) just around the corner, it is time to start thinking about that perfect gift for the dad who has everything.

When I told my dad about RainBarrel.ca and how they re-purposed food grade containers into rain barrels, he thought that it was a great thing to be doing. Then I told him that they then partnered with non-profit groups to host truckload fundraising rain barrel sales and he thought that was an even greater thing to be doing.

Your dad may or may not garden but I bet he has a car he likes to wash from time to time, or a deck and outdoor furniture that could use a spray down. He might even have some tools that could benefit from a good soak. I bet your dad also likes to save money, which can happen when you use rainwater instead of municipal or well water sources. My dad likes all those things!

Consider helping the environment and a non-profit group by purchasing a rain barrel for Father’s Day. We recommend pre-ordering so that your rain barrel is guaranteed available. You will be given the option to pay now or pay when you pickup.

Our upcoming rain barrel sale dates and locations are listed below:

AMHERSTBURG, ON | June 14, 2014
General Amherst High School

BLAINVILLE, QC | June 21, 2014
Pionniers du 17e groupe scout

BURK’S FALLS, ON | July 12, 2014
Armour Ryerson & Burk’s Falls Agricultural Society

BURLINGTON, ON | June 14, 2014
HALTON REGION ANNUAL RAIN BARREL SALE

BELLEVILLE, ON | June 13, 2014
Georges Vanier School

COLD LAKE, AB | July 8, 2014
Lakeland Centre for FASD

DOUGLAS, ON | June 20 & 21, 2014
Opeongo Minor Soccer

ETOBICOKE, ON | June 21, 2014
Etobicoke Children’s Centre & CMCC

FLIN FLON, MB | June 21, 2014
The Kinsmen Club of Flin Flon

HAMILTON, ON | June 22, 29 2014
Hamilton Mountain Kidz

MEFORD, ON | June 14, 2014
The Kinsmen Club of Meaford

NEWMARKET, ON | June26, 2014
Sir William Mulock Secondary School

KANATA, ON | June 21, 2014
7th Kanata Scouts Group

LaSALLE, ON | June 14, 2014
St. Andrew’s Anglican Church

MINDEN, ON | July 5, 2014
Friends of Ecological and Environmental Learning 

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON | June 12, 2014
St. Basil Secondary School

SCARBOROUGH, ON | June 14, 2014
Brookside Public School

SCUGOG, ON | June 20, 2014
Prince Albert Public School

TIMMINS, ON | July 5, 2014
Kinsmen Club of Timmins

Can’t find an upcoming sale in your area?
CLICK HERE for a complete list of our 2014 sales.

 

 

 

You know it has been a busy season when we have not had enough time to tell you what makes the partners we work with so awesome! Sarah from Ottawa’s Carlington Community Association shared this great information with us:

Rain Barrels Sale Builds Community in Ottawa

Ottawa’s Carlington neighbourhood is known for its spectacular gardens and vibrant community. That is why the Carlington Community Association (CCA) selected Rainbarrel.ca as the ideal partner for its first major fundraising venture.

The CCA is a volunteer-powered not-for-profit dedicated to building a greener, safer, better Carlington. CCA members care about what happens in their community and in Ottawa.

As home to some of Ottawa’s most diverse neighbourhoods, Carlington faces many challenges in building community spirit. The CCA works to bring neighbors together through key events and partnerships.

Every year, the CCA organizes several annual events including the Carlington Cup shinny hockey tournament, the Victoria Day Weekend Family Fun Day and BBQ, and the Yard and Plant Sale (this year featuring the Rain Barrel sale!). All events are free to the community – something that is key to nurturing the inclusive spirit of Carlington.

In addition to organizing events, the CCA has adopted Alexander Park. Twice yearly clean-ups, ongoing maintenance and the planting of flower beds has helped to create a safe and happy space for Carlington’s children to play and grow.

Thanks to the support of local sponsors Bowman’s Bar & Grill, Cake Café, Realtor Angie Zarysky, and City Councillor Maria McRae and fundraising efforts like the rain barrel sale, the CCA plans to continue to expand its community-building activities. The CCA is fortunate to have a dedicated group of volunteers who are tireless in their efforts and make Carlington a wonderful place to live.

The CCA’s rain barrel sale takes place Saturday, June 7th from 9:00AM to 12:00PM. Rain barrels are $55 each and can be pre-ordered online at www.RainBarrel.ca/CCA.
Contact R[email protected] if you have any questions.

To find out more or to join the CCA visit www.CarlingtonCommunity.org.

This is 11-year-old Jacob Tallman. He saved up his $5 a week allowance to buy a rain barrel for his garden. You can read the original article written by the Wall Street Journal by clicking here or see below in this post.

Do you know any young gardeners? Share a picture of them using a rain barrel (or just helping in the garden) and it could be featured in one of our upcoming blog posts!

You can email your picture* with a short description to [email protected].

*By submitting your photo you are agreeing to allow us to use your picture in an upcoming post. Those chosen will be notified.

 

The Wall Street Journal article:

How an 11-Year-old Spent His Allowance

Jacob Tallman saved the $5 a week he earns doing yard chores and bought a rain barrel

With a little extra yard work, Jacob Tallman earned enough money to splurge on a treat that doesn’t show up on many 11-year-olds’ wish lists—a rain barrel for his backyard vegetable patch.

With more than three months of earnings from clearing weeds, gathering fallen sticks and taking out the dog, Jacob was able to buy a $120 rain barrel. The barrel, made by Circle City Rain Barrels, in Indianapolis, holds 55 gallons of water and was delivered and installed last week.

Jacob financed the purchase with $70 in allowance savings and about $50 of birthday money. The rain barrel gives the young gardener, a fifth-grader at Center Grove Elementary School in Greenwood, Ind., some ecological street-cred.

His parents, Heather and Matt Tallman, a freelance food writer and a radiology engineer, have helped fuel Jacob’s interest in gardening. In April, Mr. Tallman, 40 years old, built a raised bed, 3 feet by 6 feet, where Jacob has planted herbs, tomatoes and squash.

Earlier this month, Ms. Tallman, 37, took Jacob to a garden show, where he noticed rain barrels for sale. “I thought it would be cool to use rain to water my plants,” Jacob says. He told his mom he wanted to buy one with his savings and ordered it at the show.

Jacob earns $5 a week doing chores. The Tallmans say they are careful in what they assign. “We don’t reward him for things that he should be doing on his own anyway,” she adds—things like picking up his room, folding his own laundry and cleaning up the bathroom.
            
The Tallmans live on a woodsy, 2½-acre property in a suburb of Indianapolis. His assigned chores usually involve yardwork. No matter the season, “there is always something outdoors to do,” Ms. Tallman says. That means clearing snow in wintertime, sweeping the deck in the spring and picking up buckets of acorns in the fall. “It helps alleviate the work my husband and I have had to do all these years,” Ms. Tallman says. Jacob keeps his money in a clear-plastic coin-counting container. Friday is payday.
            
If a job was particularly well done, or if Jacob had a good week at school and was generally cooperative at home, Ms. Tallman says, she contributes an additional $5 to an iTunes account. Jacob purchases books to read on his iPad, such as those in the “Percy Jackson & the Olympians” series by Rick Riordan, or tunes like “Chasing Pavements” by Adele. But that bonus is also “a privilege I can—and have—taken away,” Ms. Tallman says, whether for not listening or resisting doing his homework.

Jacob saves the vast majority of his earnings. Over the Christmas break, he was able to buy a Dell Inspiron desktop computer for his bedroom for $400. As a result of the rain-barrel acquisition, his savings are currently down to $20. But Jacob is already thinking ahead. “Next I’ll probably save up for a car or start a college fund,” he says.

With rain barrels starting at $50 NOW is the time to order yours!
Complete your garden with a rain barrel, downspout diverter, rain barrel stand and flower pots.

1. CLICK HERE to find a sale in your area.
2. PRE-ORDER your rain barrel and/or accessories.
3. PICK UP your rain barrel and/or accessories on distribution day.

Remember that when you purchase a rain barrel, downspout diverter, stand or flower pot from one of our non-profit partners; not only are you helping them to reach their fundraising goals but you are also helping our environment!

DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO ORDER!

Below is a list of sales that will be closing soon.
For a full list of sales CLICK HERE.

BARRY’S BAY, ON – Madawaska Valley Lions Club 

BOWMANVILLE, ON – Clarington Central Secondary School

CRYSLER, ON – Crysler Citizen Committee

DRYDEN, ON – Dryden & District Horticultural Society

FLIN FLON, MB – Flin Flon Kinsmen Club

GATINEAU, QC – Aylmer United Church

LASALLE, ON – St Andrews Anglican Church

MISSISSAUGA, ON – Gordon Graydon Memorial Secondary School

NORTH BAY, ON – Greening Nipissing

NORTH BAY, ON – Widdifield Lions Club

OAKVILLE, ON – HALTON REGION RAIN BARREL SALE

RUSSELL, ON – Russell and District Horticultural Society

SCARBOROUGH, ON – Blessed Cardinal Newman High School

SCUGOG, ON – Prince Albert Public School

STRATFORD, ON – The Local Community Food Centre

TORONTO, ON – Gifted People Services

WINNIPEG, MB – Sage Creek Residents’ Association

For a full list of sales CLICK HERE.

HELP US HELP OUR NON-PROFIT PARTNERS!
Please consider sharing this information with your friends, family, co-workers, neighbours, etc.

Not sure what to get for mom this Mother’s Day?

You are in luck because RainBarrel.ca has teamed up with TWO non-profit groups who are hosting sales this Saturday, May 10th.

For $55 you can purchase mom her very own rain barrel while also supporting the Calvary United Church OR the London Optimist Club with their fundraising efforts. Downspout diverters, flower pots and rain barrel stands will also be available.

Click here to pre-order from the Calvary United Church: Pickup will be Saturday, May 10th from 1:00PM to 3:00PM at the Calvary United Church parking lot, 290 Ridout Street South, London, ON 

Click here to pre-order from the London Optimist Club: Pickup will be Saturday, May 10th from 10:00AM – 12:00PM at the London Optimist Club parking lot, 682 Southdale Road West, London, ON

See what the City of London has to say about rain barrels by clicking here.