A rain barrel has entered my life

Thanks to volunteer Jay Nelson

11/11/2009 0:11 AM

By Bonnie McGrath

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A few weeks ago one of my dreams came true. A rain barrel came into my life. It was dropped off, no charge, by a very nice young man who’d rented a Ryder truck, which he filled with rain barrels he was trying to find good homes for.

Jay Nelson contacted me via email--he is a fan of this blog--and told me if I came to the Greater South Loop Association meeting at the police station on State Street the following Saturday he had a rain barrel with my name written all over it.

There he was with the barrels when I arrived at the meeting--and he came through for me, following me into my alley shortly after the meeting, carrying my nice new black barrel, and laying it carefully over my wrought iron fence. He showed me the netting over the top that prevents mosquitos from being born in the rain water the barrel will collect--and he left me with tons of brochures on how to set it all up next spring--and why: to water my own lawn, as well as the garden in the alley that my homeowners association tries to make grow and thrive every summer.

Jay is a good guy who also invited me to his graduation as one of 45 conservation leaders Tuesday night. He will join a group of volunteers working in 45 Chicago wards on behalf of Chicago Conservation Corps’ mission, which is to improve the quality of life in Chicago’s neighborhoods and schools through environmental service projects. (I wish I knew which five wards have no CCC volunteers.)

It was a lovely ceremony at the Gallery 37 building on Randolph and Michigan, punctuated by great food: vibrant wraps--many vegan--pungent cheese and good wine. Trash was collected for compost.

With people like Jay Nelson around, pushing rain barrels, compost heaps and participating in other activities that protect our water, clean our air, restore our land and save our energy, the city has a chance to provide a very high quality of life in the future.

I will write more about the rain barrel in the spring when I set it up and see it work its magic. In the meantime, it will be in winter hibernation.


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By Apres Ski from Lakeview
Posted: 11/13/2009 12:39 PM

I haven't seen a rain barrel since I was 7 years old at my grandmother's!! LOL! WOW! They've come a long way from the photo. If I had a house now, I'd have to get them. However, isn't the rain contaminated with all the dirty air? How do you know if the rain is clean?