Shirley Heinze Land Trust will be collecting rain water with the use of rain barrels, thanks to a grant offered by Porter County Recycling & Waste Reduction. The organization received upcycled rain barrels through the Community Rain Barrel Demonstration Grant. Not only will the barrels help Shirley Heinze Land Trust conserve water and enhance its environmental stewardship, but the barrels will serve as examples for others to learn about what they can do to make a difference in the environment.
“These rain barrels will provide critical water to our two native plant gardens,” said Sarah Barnes, education and land specialist. “The water will also be used for plants, trees and shrubs that are waiting to be installed at our preserves.”
Barnes said the organization currently uses well water and a hose to water its gardens.
“The water from the barrels may even be better, because wells can be rich in iron and other minerals, and rain water is more natural for them,” Barnes added. “It will also help to ensure that new plants have the best chance to survive and help to restore the natural habitat that we protect on our preserves.” The barrels will be installed at the Meadowbrook Nature Preserve, located at 109 W. 700 North in Valparaiso. The preserve has more than four miles of trails that are open from dawn to dusk for the public at no charge. More information on the 2,300 acres Shirley Heinze Land Trust protects in Lake, Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph Counties can be found on www.heinzetrust.org.
Porter County Recycling & Waste Reduction has met its 2017 rain barrel awards quota through the Community Rain Barrel Demonstration Grant, provided in part by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Lake Michigan Coastal Program. The district will offer the grant again in the spring. Schools and organizations interested in applying for rain barrels are invited to express interest on the district’s website, www.PorterCountyRecycling.org. For more information, contact Therese Haller, 465-3815. Porter County Recycling & Waste Reduction is an agency dedicated to improving the environment and quality of life by providing services and educational programs which help residents reduce, reuse, and recycle.