DATE: April 14, 2009

CONTACT: Marguerite Porter, 864-878-1394 ext. 111
marguer@clemson.edu

WRITER: Peter Hull, 843-554-7226, ext. 118
phull@clemson.edu

Build your own rain barrel – and take it home

PICKENS – Carolina Clear, a stormwater education and awareness program of the Clemson University Restoration Institute, will host a rain barrel workshop April 24 at the Pickens County Extension office.

Homeowners and Master Gardeners will learn how to build their own rain barrels – and then take them home.

The Pickens County Extension office is at 222 W. Main St. in Pickens.

The class, which includes lunch and all rain barrel materials, costs $45 per person and is limited to 20 participants. Rain barrels typically cost about $100.

To register, contact Marguerite Porter at 864-878-1394, ext. 111 or marguer@clemson.edu. Payment, in cash or check made out to Clemson University, is required in advance.

The workshop is hosted jointly with Clemson Extension and sponsored by Pickens County Stormwater and Carolina Clear.

Rain barrels utilize an age-old concept of reusing rainwater to irrigate gardens and lawns. Last year’s drought and excessive heat, particularly in the Upstate, underscored the importance of water conservation and use.

Half of a typical homeowners’ water usage is outside the home. Rain barrels not only conserve water, but save money.

On the Web
To learn more about stormwater pollution prevention, visit the Carolina Clear Web site at http://carolinaclear.clemson.edu/.

For Clemson Extension, visit http://www.clemson.edu/extension/.

For information about Pickens County, visit http://www.co.pickens.sc.us/.