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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2014-05-07, Page 2424 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, May 7, 2014 To thrive, a farm also needs the right financial conditions. Dave Maddocks Relationship Manager TD Agriculture Services 519-527-1460, ext. 245 519-955-3800 (cell) david.maddocks@td.com Visit a branch or tdcanadatrust.com/agriculture TD is committed to helping farmers build for the future. Our Agriculture Specialists are helping farmers succeed. Just ask the Franke brothers. They relied on our personalized approach and understanding of agricultural finance to meet their goals. And so can you. ® The TD logo and other trade -marks are the properly of The Toronto -Dominion Bank. Banking can be this comfortable. Rain barrel sales a booming success Tim Cumming Special to the Expositor It was an idea that came from the com- munity and one that is becoming reality thanks to the community. People who were part of the commu- nity advisory committee for the Main Bayfield Watershed Plan recommended rain barrels as a simple and effective way local residents and landowners could reduce erosion and runoff and protect water quality by harvesting rainwater. Three area schools and three other local community organizations got behind the idea through rain barrel sales. Local people then supported their efforts by purchasing and picking up more than 320 rain barrels. The three schools that took part in the recent rain barrel blitz and truckload sale were: Goderich District Collegiate Insti- tute (GDCI) Green Industries Class; South Huron District High School (SHDHS) Eco Team, Exeter; and Seaforth Public School. The three other commu- nity organizations to take part were: Brucefield Community United Church; Bayfield River Valley Trail Association (BRVTA); and Vanastra Recreation Centre. The idea for improving water quality through increased use of rain barrels grew out of the work of the Main Bayfield Watershed Plan Community Advisory Committee. "This community effort started with the local community advisory committee that developed the Main Bayfield Water- shed Plan," said Hope Brock, healthy watersheds technician with Ausable Bay- field Conservation. "The committee rec- ommended ways to protect and improve water quality in the area. One of their ideas was to get more people to use rain barrels:' Once rain barrels are installed, they can hold up to 220 litres of rainwater per storm event. This water can then be used to water gardens, plants, lawns, and trees. Capturing rainwater helps to conserve clean water, protect water quality, and can help save homeowners money. This is very important during the hot summer months when water consumption can increase by 50 per cent. "A rain barrel is a simple and effective way for a landowner to harvest rainwater;" Brock said. "A rain barrel can help people to meet increased water demands with- out adding extra pressure to municipal drinldng water systems or private wells:' One of the many benefits of a rain bar- rel is that water captured inside is not running off of land. Less runoff during a storm means less erosion, less topsoil loss, and less pollution reaching a storm sewer, creek, river, or lake. The community's work to develop and implement the Main Bayfield Watershed Plan is made possible thanks to financial support from The Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation as well as minis- tries of the governments of Ontario and Canada. For information on the Main Bayfield Watershed Plan visit: www.abca.on.ca/ page.php?page=bayfield-main For information on rain barrels visit: www.abca.on.ca/page.php?page=rain- barrels Seaforth Public School (SPS) Principal Cindy Hamather was at the school on Saturday, April 26 for rain barrel pickup day. SPS was one of three schools, in addition to three community organizations, that were part of an effort to get more people to use rain barrels to limit soil erosion and protect water quality by capturing rainwater for later use. The rain barrel sales were a school fundraiser but also part of a community effort to protect water quality and quantity in the area. More than 320 local people purchase rain barrels from one of the six community organizations during the Bayfield and Lake Huron rain barrel blitz and truckload sale.