What do rain barrels and a business making great beer have in common? Clean water for the Rogue River.

Rockford Brewing Company will once again be hosting a rain barrel workshop series to help protect the Rogue River. Trout Unlimited has been conducting rain barrel workshops at Rockford Brewing Company since 2013, successfully distributing 150 barrels to the local community.  Trout Unlimited is partnering with Plainfield Charter Township and the West Michigan Environmental Action Council to conduct these workshops, which will be held on Tuesdays at 6:30 on June 21, July 19, and August 16. 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.

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.