Rain barrel sales to help fund PECI student environmental bursary

County Sustainability Group (CSG ) and Pitch-In Prince Edward County (formerly known as Trash Bash) will host a truckload sale of rain barrels in support of CSG’s annual bursary presented every June to a PECI student furthering studies in the environmental field.
Orders are now being taken for the Saturday, April 21st pickup at the Picton fairgrounds (MacSteven Drive entrance) from 9 a.m. to 2p.m.  Only barrels ordered in advance online are guaranteed to be available.
Rain barrels will be sold for $55 each and 100 per cent of the profit from funds raised will go to support CSG’s annual PECI Environmental Bursary Fund, which provides cash awards to deserving local students graduating from high school into environmental fields of study . The sale is sponsored by the County Sustainability Group, Pitch-In Prince Edward County and all their local partners.

Rain barrels capture and store rain water collected from roofs through downspouts. They provide chlorine-free and fluoride-free water which is ideal for flowers, vegetables, lawns, shrubs and trees. Rain barrels divert clean water from sewer systems and can provide cost savings for homeowners who currently pay to have water trucked in or who have a water meter installed.

Each rain barrel available through CSG is equipped with a mosquito and leaf debris filter basket, an overflow hose, an outlet to join rain barrels together in series and a spigot at the bottom which can be connected to a standard garden hose. These environmentally friendly products were once used to import fruits and vegetables and have been refurbished and repurposed to offer years of reliable service as rain barrels. They are available in three colours including grey, terracotta and black. All orders must be placed online in advance at www.RainBarrel.ca/CSG  or by calling 613-476-8016 if you don’t have internet access.

The PECI  Environmental Bursary Fund was created in 2010 by the CSG, which was founded in 2005 by County citizens who inform and  encourage sustainable environmental behavior through “Local Action on Global Issues.”
The bursary provides cash awards each June to deserving students graduating from our local Picton high school, PECI, who are moving on to higher learning in an environmental field of study. For details, contact Don Ross, ecodonross@hotmail.com , call 613-476-8016 or visit www.countysustainability.ca.

Pitch-In Prince Edward County is a dedicated team of volunteers, business and municipal partners who have revived and enhanced the former Trash Bash held annually, in April, around Earth Day. Hundreds of local citizens join together to clean up refuse and litter tossed along our County roads and highways, and bring it to a central location in Picton to go to landfills and / or recycling. Education about waste reduction and management and citizen participation are key components of this event. To get involved, contact Sandy Latchford at 613-961-7920.

About RainBarrel.ca – RainBarrel.ca reclaims food grade barrels previously used to import fruits and vegetables to be reused as rain barrels. Partnerships with local non-profit organizations result in fundraising truckload sales events for dozens of communities in Ontario including Prince Edward County. RainBarrel.ca retails a variety of garden centre items from its Stoney Creek facility. For more information, please contact Larry Pomerantz, Larry@RainBarrel.ca, call 905-545-5577 or visit www.RainBarrel.ca.  You may also contact Don Ross locally if you prefer, at ecodonross@hotmail.com or 613-476-8016