Compost Bins and Rain Barrels

It is time to put your rain barrels out as it will no longer be freezing(at least we're pretty sure of that)...rain water is great for your plants(and your hair I've heard) and a nice alternative to using your tap water. If you don't have a rain barrel, there are lots of pretty ones available at the garden centers, but if you don't care about the way that it looks the City of Calgary sells big blue ones for $60 at the Eco-Store. Actually, the eco-store is a neat place and you should check it out for sure. Compost bins there are subsidized year round for less than $25. If you are not from Calgary, check with your local government(their website will usually have the answer). Many provide these things at a reduced cost. Heck, in Okotoks, every new house gets a free fancy dancy rain barrel. It looks so pretty sitting next to my house :)

Here's the link to the eco-store for their hours of operation and address:

http://cleancalgary.org/index.php/store

Check it out! And, hey, for those people who were having problems with their compost bins being too wet this spring(I've actually had a few emails regarding this)...a neighbour of mine recommended torn up newspaper when you run out of leaves. I'm trying it in mine. Email me if you want to know how it went!