Community improvement ideas for Richmond, Indiana, USA

Waste Barrel Caveat - Caution should be used in using waste barrels from industrial neigbors in that the barrels often contained materials that are toxic to life (human and non-human). One way around this is to find a business that use SIMPLE GREEN cleaners -- ask them for their empties!  Simple green comes in 55 Gallon drums and is safe around edible and non edible plantings  Simple Green is not only biodegradable, it is readily biodegradable.  By laboratory testing standard, Simple Green completely breaks down to elemental form (hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and mineral) within 65 days. Simple Green is (1) free rinsing, and (2) non-toxic regarding human ingestion, you are able to use the used 55-gallon Simple Green drums to catch rain water and use the resulting water to water your edible and non-edible plants. For more information including USDA Non-Food Compound rating letters  contact: Carol Chapin Senior Director, Research & Development Sunshine Makers, Inc. / SIMPLE GREEN (800) 228-0709  cchapin@simplegreen.com   http://www.simplegreen.com/about_us_history.php    

Rain Barrel Making!!   Get ready for April Showers with the Friends of Candler Park! This year we've got some great activities planned including a rain barrel making workshop in March (just in time for April showers!). Join your neighbors and build friendships and a rain barrel. Neighbor Rebecca Frye will be guiding us through the process which she completed last spring. Along with your enthusiasm please bring the following materials (we'll have the tools): * 55 gallon food grade barrel (can be found usually on Craigslist on internet sites that sell barrels - $20 plus shipping from http://www.arizonabarrels.com/) * 3/4 inch water faucet with washer and ring * 1.25 inch PVC pipe for overflow * Gutter cap, hose clamp and window screening for the intake * Flexible gutter connector to connect the gutter to the rain barrel The materials (barrel plus the above) should be about $30 tops. The Ace in VA Highlands has all the materials and have been very helpful for Rebecca. For more information and pics of the process check out Rebecca's website greenvilleamerica.com/rainbarrels.htm   http://friendsofcandlerpark.blogspot.com/

As a way to start here in Richmond, we could schedule a "water barrel tour."  Several people (including me) already have water barrel systems and could share their experiences with them, how they set them up, and what they could have done better. Water barrels can quickly become overpriced, so hopefully we can pull our resources as a community.  Lastly, $20 is too much for a 55 gallon barrel.  There is a farmer (I believe in Centerville) who sells them for $5 each.  He advertises them in the Palitem. If you have a water barrel system or would like to see one, please contact me at jdupeace (at) gmail (dot) com.

 We've got rainbarrels too! Two 50 gallon barrels hooked up to our high-volume downspouts -- then we use the collected rainwater to water our garden during the dry days. Count us in for the tour!