It's not easy being green

Bein' Green - Joe Raposo

One of the things that I love about the city I live in is the environmental consciousness of our city council and citizens.   We live and work in a beautiful place and it's so important that we not take that for granted.    So there are always opportunities to jump on the wagon or incentives to encourage the somewhat hesitant to get on the bus - literally, get out of their cars on the bus.

So, a couple weeks ago our city ran a campaign to subsidize the purchase of rain barrels.    I'm more than willing to jump in when someone else is paying half.   I know, my taxes are paying part of the cost but then so are the taxes of the water hogs so I'm happy with that part.    I decided to get two barrels.  As my brother said, if you've got two downspouts, why not.  And he should know because he's our water conscious expert.  

I manhandled the two larger than me barrels into the car.   I left them there for a couple of days until one of my daughter's taller and stronger friends was around to pull them out.   I then put off installing them.    There were only a few small steps but I knew it wasn't going to be that easy.     Finally I sat down with the instructions.  Only 5 steps - no problem.  

Step 1 - cut the downspout.    For those who have never really looked at a downspout, that means cutting metal.   Kitchen shears won't work.    There's an art to this whole thing and let's just say, that I didn't take that class.    I had done some forethought and had bought the right tool to do the cutting so I was able to make a rough attempt at looking like I knew what I was doing.    In my mind I was entertaining the whole neighbourhood with my attempt at this whole project as they stood their with their hoses watering their grass.   I mean, why water grass - you just have to mow it!!!    

Step 2 - attach a curved piece of downspout to direct water to the rainbarrel.    In the store it looks easy.  The pieces all fit together perfectly, like lego.   But once you get an amateur hacking away at the end to cut the metal, the whole adventure begins.   You have to cut more, bend, hammer, pry and squeeze with your bare hands to marry the two pieces together - praying that they will stay.   I'm sure that there are a few relationships built on that same process.

Step 3 - screw the spout to the pre-drilled hole in the barrel.   Piece of cake right?   Well, if the hole is located 3 feet deep into the barrel and your arm is only 2.75 feet, then there's a problem.    Plyers don't make up the difference.   Before I was enlightened and enlisted the help of my long armed son, I could be seen straddling the barrel with my arms outstretched one on the inside and one on the outside while trying to screw and fasten the bolt around the spout.   If my head wasn't already in the barrel then I'm sure I would have heard the roars of laughter from the neighbourhood.

Step 4 - attach the overflow hose to either side but first break open the plastic disc protecting the opening.   Not like popping off the seal on a bottle of fresh juice.  No, this involved a screwdriver and a dozen good wacks with a hammer.   Then the hose had to be attached to the overflow spout.   Attached is putting it mildly - forced is scratching the surface.

Step 5- screw on the lid.   I have to say that it was the most refreshing part of the whole process.  They left the easiest for last I expect as a reward for a committing yourself to sticking it out to the finish.      I was done!  Yes!!    Now, on to barrel number two.   Arrrggghhh!

Now  Let it Rain, (Let it Rain -Eric Clapton).