Rain Barrel Workshop – Saturday, June 3

DESCRIPTION:
Come learn how harvesting rainwater can help reduce pollution from stormwater runoff and provide a supply of free, non-chlorinated, pH-neutral water for your garden, prize orchids, potted plants, and much more! The workshop is free to attend and recycled plastic 60-gallon food-grade drums (rain barrels) are available for purchase at $40.00 each. You may purchase rain barrels online through registration with a credit card. Rain barrels can be purchased at the workshop with a check or money order only. Cash is not accepted.

Miami-Dade County residents will also be able to exchange three (3) old light bulbs for energy saving compact fluorescent light bulbs and exchange up to two (2) water-wasting showerheads for water-efficient models. Quantities are limited.

WHEN: Saturday, June 3, 2017
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

WHERE: Tropical Audubon Society- Doc Thomas House
5530 Sunset Drive, Miami, FL 33143

RSVP (attendance is FREE) &/or to purchase a rain barrel ($40) at Eventbrite

ORGANIZERUF/IFAS Extension Service Miami-Dade County- Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program
The UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County’s Florida Yards & Neighborhoods (FYN) program provides education on the 9 Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles throughout Miami-Dade County to homeowners, property managers, municipalities, and other groups. We partner with Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department to educate residents on water conservation in the landscape through workshops, outreach events, presentations, and an irrigation rebate program.

Barbara McAdam, of the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program, talking about rain barrels at the Tropical Audubon Society Doc Thomas House in South Miami (photo credit: Theo Karantsalis of the Miami Herald)

As part of Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department’s water conservation initiatives, the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program offer rainwater harvesting workshops to educate Miami-Dade County residents on how to capture rainwater, why it can be beneficial, and how to install a rain barrel in the landscape.

 

Florida receives an average of 56 inches of rainfall per year. An inch of rainfall over a 1000sq.ft. area yields in excess of 600 gallons of water. A rain barrel is an inexpensive means of capturing and storing some of this water for later use. By installing a rain barrel you will not only help reduce pollution from stormwater runoff, but also have a supply of free non-chlorinated Ph neutral water for watering your prize orchids, potted plants and much more!

 

Learn about water conservation issues and how to construct and install your very own rain barrel.

Miami-Dade County Helps Turn Your Backyard Green – Rain Barrel Workshop

Did you know that Florida receives an average of 56 inches of rainfall per year? And just a quarter- inch of rainfall over a 1000 square foot area (like your roof) can yield around 150 gallons of water. By placing rain barrels at your gutter downspouts, you can quickly fill a 50 gallon barrel with naturally pure water free of chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals to keep your flower beds, garden and houseplants well watered.


The Miami-Dade County Cooperative Extension Service, in cooperation with the University of Florida, is offering a series of Rain Barrel Workshops this year. The workshops are FREE to residents of Miami-Dade County; providing information about important water conservation issues plus instructions on how to construct and install a rain barrel yourself. And for those attending the workshop, you will also be able to purchase a 50 gallon rain barrel for just $40.


All rain barrel workshops also include a showerhead and light bulb exchange courtesy of Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department.

Plan to attend a workshop this Saturday, May 7th, from 10:00 – 11:00 at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139. For more information, contact Lize Luna at 305-248-3311 ext. 242 or Barbara McAdam  at ext. 245 or email Barbara at bmcadam@ufl.edu.

And for more information about real estate and environmental issues in Miami-Dade, visit my web page at http://www.melaniesellsmiami.com/