Florida receives an average of 52 inches of rainfall per year. Most of this water washes over lawns and pavement carrying fertilizers and other chemicals into local waterways.

An inch of rainfall over a one thousand square-foot area yields in excess of 600 gallons of water. A rain barrel is an inexpensive means of capturing and storing some of this water for later use. By installing a rain barrel you'll not only help reduce pollution, but you'll also have a supply of free non-chlorinated soft water for irrigating your landscape!

The Miami-Dade County Cooperative Extension Service offers a series of Rain Barrel Workshops. These workshops give the residents of Miami-Dade County an opportunity to learn about important water conservation issues and teaches how to construct and install rain barrels. We also work with schools, homeowners associations, and garden clubs.

For more information on rain barrels and attending a Rain Barrel Workshop, visit the Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department website.

Saturday, November 14, 2009, from 10 a.m. to noon Rain Barrel Lecture & Workshop Deering Estate at Cutler auditorium 16701 SW 72 Ave. Miami, FL The cost is $45 for rain barrel and materials; $10 for workshop only. The deadline to register and pay for barrels is November 11, 2009. To register for this event, contact Lize Luna at 305-248-3311, ext. 242. View the flyer View the upcoming Rain Barrel workshops Learn more about the Rain Barrel workshops