Sign up to create a rain barrel to store rainwater to water your plants and garden and keep stormwater out of the lakes and rivers.

Rain barrel workshops on tap

What do rain barrels and a business making great beer have in common? Clean water for the Rogue River. A rain barrel is a system that collects and stores rainwater (stormwater) from your roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to storm drains and streams. Stormwater is the leading source of water pollution in West Michigan. The average rain barrel will keep 1,815 gallons of stormwater out of our lakes and rivers each year. Saving water not only helps protect the environment, it saves you money and energy. A rain barrel collects water and stores it for when you need it most—during periods of drought—to water plants, your garden, or wash your car. Additionally, rainwater is naturally soft and devoid of minerals, chlorine and other chemicals found in city water, so it is a better alternative for your plants.

This year, Trout Unlimited is working with Rockford Brewing Company and Cedar Springs Brewing Company to host a rain barrel workshop series—Barrels and Brews—to help protect the Rogue River. Trout Unlimited has been conducting rain barrel workshops in the Rogue River watershed since 2013, successfully distributing around 250 barrels to the local community. Trout Unlimited is partnering with Plainfield Charter Township, the Cedar Springs Community Building Development Team, and the West Michigan Environmental Action Council to conduct these workshops. All workshops include everything you need to set up your barrel and take around 45 minutes. Rain barrels are $30 apiece and you must sign-up for a workshop at rainbarrels.wmeac.org.

Rain barrel workshops will be held at:

Rockford Brewing – Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. on: May 10, June 21, July 19, August 16 (12 E. Bridge St., Rockford)

Cedar Springs Brewing – Monday, May 23 at 6:30 p.m. (corner of Main and Maple, Cedar Springs)

We look forward to seeing you there!