Rain Barrel Making in Rolla

Katrina Thomas and Pam Venable show drilling the intake area.

Photographed by Mark Premont.

We had a fairly busy month here in Columbia in May, the event that stuck out the most in my mind was a rain barrel workshop that we conducted in Rolla, MO. After about an hour and half trip, we arrived at our workshop location, the Marguerite Bray Conservation Area. This 132-acre conservation area is open only to those who have the proper hiking permit, but on that day we were free to roam around. After guessing all of the "Who Was Here" tracks that I could find and splashing in the beautiful unnamed creek (Katrina), we were finally met by some of the people in charge the workshop, Connie Schmiedeskamp who actually works at the Marguerite Bray Conservation Area and Susan Wrasmann, the organizer of the event.

Finally, after washing off a few barrels (they had been sitting in muddy field after all) we got started with Katrina speaking briefly about the AmeriCorps program in general, since it was AmeriCorps week. Then it was time to start the rain barrel making. After demonstrating how to make a rain barrel (drilling the holes for and installing the top piece, overflow, and faucet) we got the attendees started on making their own barrels. In the end, everyone had a great time and kept commenting on how nice it was to have an easy project to do. After all, making a rain barrel is a really easy thing to do. After that we packed up our drills and grabbed our half-sandwiches from Panera provided by Susan and headed back to Columbia.

Connie Schmiedeskamp, Matt Morgart, and Pat Perry drill for an overflow valve.

Photographed by Mark Premont

As some of you may know, there was a lady in attendance that was going to write up an article for a local newspaper about the event. She also made a couple of rain barrels herself. In any case, if you haven't read it, then check it out. Rain Barrel article. Until July!