Why: Why else? To volunteer in the local community, combining environmental conservation and fun.
How: Come to Lafayette Park and watch the Norfolk Storm play against James River. After the game we will be cleaning the park with the rugby team as part of Keep Norfolk Beautiful and The Great American Clean Up. Then we’ll have our social at the rugby team’s sponsor bar, MJ’s Tavern, which is just across the street from the Park. The VolunBeers will be contributing to beer pitchers for all volunteers of age.
Honeysuckle is a popular plant to add to a garden or landscape. However, when the honeysuckle comes to mind most people will picture the yellow and white Japanese variety. As the name may give away, the Japanese Honeysuckle is an invasive species whose fast growth suffocates plants around it.
Virginia has a native honeysuckle with pink bells that bloom into orange flowers. If you’re considering the fragrant and beautiful honeysuckle in your garden this year, go local, go orange. Interestingly you can purchase this plant on Amazon, if local vendors do not carry it.
Spring is around the corner and it is time to plan for your garden. Whether you are working on landscaping, a vegetable garden, a rain garden, or even your perfectly manicured lawn one of the best things you can do is install a rain barrel.
What is a rain barrel?
A rain barrel is a large drum that collects rain water from your gutters and stores in an environmentally safe plastic container. Later the rain water is used to water your garden or lawn.
What are the benefits?
The most direct benefit of using a rain barrel is the financial savings. A typical 55 gallons rain barrel when properly installed can yield $38 savings* on your home water bill over the year. Additional or larger barrels can increase the savings.
You can also feel better about using less city water, thereby reducing your home’s environmental footprint. In addition, rain barrels can reduce the pollution that enters waterways from storm water runoff. Other great ways to reduce runoff are to install a rain garden or to wash your car on your lawn.
How much does it cost?
To make the rain barrel yourself you will be spending approximately $80 for parts. HGTV does a great installation overview in this Youtube Clip.
Here in the Hampton Roads area we are lucky to have many non-profit organizations that host rain barrel workshops throughout the year. These workshops cost $60 to $70 and will provide all materials and instruction.
Many of the non-profits will auction rain barrels throughout the year that are painted by local artists giving you the benefit of beauty along with practicality. Painted barrels can start at $80.
Is there any upkeep involved?
-For maximum efficiency ensure the barrel is empty when rain is expected.
-The spigot must be closed before a rainstorm.
-Algae may begin to grow in the barrel and can be killed using a capful of bleach, similar to how chorine works in a pool. After adding bleach wait a few days for it to dissipate naturally and use the water as before.
-Algae can be avoided by using your rain barrel regularly. Algae will not harm your garden but may cause the spigot to clog.
Where can I get a rain barrel?
On March 29th 2015 Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve in Portsmouth, VA will host the first rain barrel workshop of the year. Link is here. The cost is $60 for all materials and instruction. Registration is required. Keep a lookout on the Chesapeake Bay VolunBeer’s calendar for more rain barrel workshops as they are announced.
Elizabeth River Project will install a super 132 gallon rain barrel at your home for $75. There is an application process and you must be in the Elizabeth River watershed to apply. The details are in this link.
The Elizabeth River Project will have artist-made rain barrels up for bid at their River Fest in September.
The most basic 55 gallon drum at Home Depot and Lowes is a blue plastic industrial drum selling for $60. The barrel does not come with any fittings; those must be bought and installed separately. Home Depot has a variety of more aesthetic barrels at higher prices including this $50 gallon barrel which looks like a wine cask running at $138 with spigot already installed. Lowes has a number of multi colored 40 gallon barrels with spigot already installed, for $108.
There is also the option to turn your barrel into a work of art! Most of the rain barrel workshops and the standard Home Depot/Lowes options will be a solid Blue or Black barrel. You can paint your barrel using the instructions in this link.
Ok my rain barrel is installed what do I do now?
The VolunBeers suggest you relax with the Back Bay Oyster Stout. A portion of the proceeds go to the Lynnhaven River Now conservation group.
*The savings calculation was based on the water usage rate current as of March 2015. Water usage rates can be found by going to your public utilities website and clicking on ‘rates’. A $3.557 per ccf (100 cubic feet) rate was found by going to the Newport News, Virginia Beach and Portsmouth public utilities websites.
The rainwater estimate was made using average rainfall data for Norfolk, VA. Each time you completely fill and use your barrel, there is a savings of 25 cents.
Chesapeake Bay VolunBeers 