Rain barrels & composters to area families from “Live Green, Save Green”
This in via e-mail from the office of Lucas County Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak:
WOZNIAK & THE ANDERSONS HELP LOCAL HOMES STAY ‘GREEN’ THIS SUMMER
Donation of Rain Barrels, Composters Will Help Families Save Money
Lucas County Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak and Jeff Grabarkiewicz, Chair of the Toledo-Lucas County Sustainability Commission, will deliver rain barrels and composters to area families today as part of the summer “Live Green, Save Green” program.
A news conference will be held at one resident’s home on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. at 5741 Summit Street in Sylvania, where Wozniak will discuss the program and a rain barrel and composter will be installed.
The program brings together local businesses and organizations to demonstrate the financial and environmental benefits of going green outside your home. Five families from throughout Lucas County were chosen last fall, and all have previously received donations to make their home ‘green’ during the winter months.
“During our warm summer months, there’s lots of opportunity for growing and gardening. With a rain barrel, a family can capture rainwater that would otherwise run into the storm sewer and use it for their garden. It’s easy, it’s a huge cost savings, and it doesn’t waste a drop of water,” said Commissioner Wozniak.
In addition, thanks to a generous donation by The Andersons, three of the families will receive low-cost, high-quality composters, which can be purchased at any Andersons location in the area.
Wozniak and others will also remind the public that all of these materials will be available for the public to purchase at the Frogtown Fair – Promoting Green Living on Saturday, August 8th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Erie Street Market.
For more information about ‘Live Green, Save Green’ or the Sustainability Commission, visit www.LucasCountyGreen.com
WHO: Wozniak, The Andersons Help Lucas County Family Stay ‘Green’ This Summer
WHEN: Wednesday, August 5, 2009 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Home of Jean Hobling, Sylvania-area senior citizen
I’ve been thinking about composting. It’s just where to keep the container in the yard, keeping pests out of it, and then just keeping it up.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:52 amI have been composting for 6 years. We put grass clippings, fruit and vegetable waste. No meat or pet refuse. We have it 10′ from our back door – no odor, no insects, no problem. To be honest, I have never used the compost for anything and have never even emptied it. This fall, I will put it on our garden.
My point is that it really is no trouble, and it is amazing how such large volumes of material practically reduce to nothing. If I can do it, anyone can.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:35 pmFor clarification, the rain barrels were donated by the Rain Garden Initiative of Toledo – Lucas County (www.raingardeninitiative.org). They are a great idea for stormwater management at your home.
I once had one woman tell me that she emptied the water from her barrel into buckets to use over the winter for her indoor plants. She never had to use the water from her faucet.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:38 pmKatie, thanks for that clarification, that is a very important one to note.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:47 pmAs a reformed Buckeye (born, raised, married,& raised a family in Columbus, Ohio. Late husband was Deputy Chief of the Columbus, Ohio Police Department, way back in the early 70’s. Part of my family still lives in Toledo and Sandusky. I’m now retired in sunny Florida and after 70 years I’m still harvesting rainwater via my rain barrels, as my mama did and my granny did many, many years ago.
August 5th, 2009 at 7:27 pmThis has remained a part of our sustainability for over three generations, actually going on five generations now, as my grandson (age 27) participates and does his part in water conservation.
Don’t forget, those of you who use your rain gutters as the system to channel water into rain barrels or cistern, gutters must be kept very clean. Clogged gutters causes damage to your roof, fascia, and foundation of your home from rain water overflow. Packed leaves and debris in gutters, enhances the chance of mosquitoes breeding, in wet soggy stagnant water, that may carry West Nile Virus. Other bugs, i.e. roaches carry over 33 different infectious diseases and love to tunnel under the wet leaves in gutters.
So, stay well and keep those rain gutters clean and save yourself money and a lot of energy. How??? Visit a website I found on-line at http://www.gutterclutterbuster.com and see if this might be an easier, faster, cleaner, and safer way to clean your gutters. I love my new gutter cleaning tool and it saves me time and lots of energy. Your not supposed to work to hard in the heat, right? So, use your brain instead of your brawn.
Great idea your friend had to empty her rain barrel into buckets that she could use indoors during the winter months to water her plants. Don’t forget you can flush the toilet with it as well, as save even more money.
Stay Safe, Stay Well, and Best Wishes In Saving Our Water Supply…..its priceless!
Aquarium water (freshwater of course, not salt water) is superb for watering plants. I save the water I pump out for aquarium water changes (about 30 gals. wk.)for both indoor and outdoor plant watering.
I’ve been composting for over 20 years. I do it the slow way. Just let it rot. All non diseased garden waste and some leaves – no pet waste, meats, fats or oils. I’ve never had an odor or a pest problem.
All our gutter water is diverted into our old septic tank and dispersed through the old leach bed. When sanitary sewers were installed in the early ’80s we filled the old spetic tank 2/3 with large stone (with the blessing of the County Inspector) and ran soil pipe from each downspout to the tank. Not a drop is ever wasted. Been working flawlessly for 20 yrs.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:15 pm