What are rain barrels
and why should I use one?
Rain barrels are containers which collect and store rain water from rooftops for later use, conserving water while also minimizing storm water runoff which is frequently channeled to nearby streams carrying pollutants with it, or, into municipal storm sewers. The recovered rain can then be used for watering lawns and gardens without using (and paying for) municipal water.
Lawn and garden watering make up nearly 40% of total household water use during the summer. A rain barrel collects water and stores it for when you need it the most—during periods of drought. It provides an ample supply of free “soft water” to homeowners and contains no chlorine, lime, or calcium. This makes it ideal for watering gardens, flower pots, and car and window washing or topping off a swimming pool. Rainwater is a better source for plants and safer for the environment because they reduce water run-off. When it rains our roof water travels down our
gutters and runs off our lawns before it’s able to be absorbed. And sometimes our downspouts drain directly into the street. In these situations the water carries fertilizers and oils from our lawns and streets into our valuable waterways. By capturing rain and releasing it slowly it is returned to the ground at a more natural rate.
It only takes a small amount of rain, usually 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch, on an average sized house roof to fill up a rain barrel. Typically, for every inch of rain received on a 1000 square foot roof area, about 600 gallons of water will drain off!
You may choose to attach a gutter and downspout to a shed or other outbuilding to place your rain barrel as even a small roof will easily shed enough water to fill a 55 gallon barrel. Those 55 gallons will go a long way in saving a newly-planted tree or small garden. Need more water? Hook up a second or third rain barrel to capture more rain. Another added benefit to having a rain barrel is that you will now have an additional faucet to water with, maybe in an area that you may not have had one before.
The Conservation District is offering rain barrels for sale.
All of our rain barrels come from a company called “Upcycle Products.”
They are “Upcycled” and sanitized high density polyethylene plastic barrels formerly used for food product shipping. They are cleaned with rain water and Ph neutral soap and then modified into rain barrels.
The barrels come assembled with a spigot, linking fitting near the bottom, overflow fitting near the top, and a screen enclosure to keep out insects.
By purchasing one of our barrels, you are preventing it from entering a land fill thereby reducing waste in addition to saving water!
What is compost and why use a composter?
Composting is the transformation of organic material (plant matter) through decomposition into a soil-like material called compost. Invertebrates (insects and earthworms), and microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) help in transforming the material into compost. Composting is a natural form of recycling, which continually occurs in nature.
There are several different reasons why composting remains an invaluable practice. Yard and food wastes make up approximately 30% of the waste stream in the United States. Composting most of these waste streams would reduce the amount of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) requiring disposal by almost one fourth, while at the same time provide a nutrient-rich soil amendment. Compost added to gardens improves soil structure, texture, aeration, and water retention. When mixed with compost, clay soils are lightened, and sandy soils retain water better. Mixing compost with soil also contributes to erosion control, soil fertility, proper pH balance, and healthy root development in plants.
The standard means of disposal for most yard and food waste include landfilling and incineration. These practices are not as environmentally or economically sound as composting. Yard waste which is landfilled breaks down very slowly due to the lack of oxygen. As it decomposes, it produces methane gas and acidic leachate, which are both environmental problems
Landfilling organic wastes also takes up landfill space needed for other wastes. Incinerating moist organic waste is inefficient and results in poor combustion, which disrupts the energy generation of the facility and increases the pollutants that need to be removed by the pollution-control devices. Composting these wastes is a more effective and usually less expensive means of managing organic wastes. It can be done successfully on either a large or small scale, but the technique and equipment used differ.
Decomposition Decomposition occurs naturally anywhere plants grow. When a plant dies, its remains are attacked by microorganisms and invertebrates in the soil, and it is decomposed to humus. This is how nutrients are recycled in an ecosystem. This natural decomposition can be encouraged by creating ideal conditions. The microorganisms and invertebrates fundamental to the composting process require oxygen and water to successfully decompose the material. The end products of the process are soil-enriching compost, carbon dioxide, water, and heat.
Composting is a dynamic process which will occur quickly or slowly, depending on the process used and the skill with which it is executed. A neglected pile of organic waste will inevitably decompose, but slowly. This has been referred to as "passive composting," because little maintenance is performed. Fast or "active" composting can be completed in two to six weeks. This method requires three key activities; 1) "aeration," by turning the compost pile, 2) moisture, and 3) the proper carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio. Attention to these elements will raise the temperature to around 130o-140o, and ensure rapid decomposition. Leaves are a good source of carbon; fresh grass, manures and blood meal are sources of nitrogen.
The success with which the organic substances are composted depends on the organic material and the decomposer organisms involved. Some organic materials are broken down more easily than others. Different decomposers thrive on different materials as well as at different temperature ranges. Some microbes require oxygen, and others do not; those that require oxygen are preferable for composting.
A more diverse microbial community makes for a more efficient composting process. If the environment in the compost pile becomes inhospitable to a particular type of decomposer, it will die, become dormant, or move to a different part of the compost pile. The transforming conditions of the compost pile create a continually evolving ecosystem inside the pile.
The Conservation District offers a tumbling composter for sale through Upcycle products:
Eliminate back strain with this hip level composter. The best garden tools are those that fit your style. If you prefer to work at waist level, this elevated compost maker is perfect. It is made with recycled components, including a pre-used 55 gallon black barrel and 100% recycled lumber painted with water based exterior latex paint. The composter is an recycled food grade barrel. Using a rocking motion to build momentum, a compost tumbler is relatively easy to turn. However, the composting action will rapidly reduce the content of the barrel to less than half its starting volume.
Our composter is a tumbling style. It only requires a 3x4 foot area to use. The best position is in full sun or at a minimum partial sun. The barrel holds the heat in all night and does not allow it to cool down like an open bin or stacking bin. The black barrel will absorb heat all day. The center tube aerates the compost pile. The steel bars inside break up the compost and fluff it up for better aeration. Here in the Midwest we can completely compost the product in the barrel in about 4 to 6 weeks.
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