Rain barrel sale sells out early, as demand surges amid fears of summer drought
Rain barrel sale season kicked off Saturday morning with a splash.
Green Calgary launched its first of eight weekend rain barrel sales in the IKEA parking lot in southeast Calgary Saturday morning, where a long lineup that started at 8 a.m. left some shut out.
According to one prospective barrel buyer, the sale was supposed to start at 10 a.m., but by 8 a.m., people were already being turned away, except for those who had pre-purchased one for $78 plus GST and delivery.
Green Calgary executive director Lex van der Raadt said the turnout was greater than his organization originally anticipated.
“It was extremely busy,” van der Raadt said. “People started lining up at eight, so we did a count and then turned away people when we realized all the rain barrels were spoken for.”
People were turned away, he said, to prevent them from getting stuck in a lineup and then not getting a rain barrel.
Two hundred rain barrels were sold Saturday but van der Raadt said more are going to be available next Saturday, when the rain barrel sale moves to the Coop in Dalhousie.
“We had anticipated demand would increase by about 50 per cent (over 2023),” van dur Raadt said, “but it increased by 200 per cent.
“We were a bit blown away,” he added. At the moment, there is a posting on the Green Calgary website that says, "Pre-orders for pickup and delivery are currently sold out."
The organization has posted a rain barrel waitlist online.
“It’s good so many people want to save water,” said van der Raadt said.
Conserve water
"Rain barrels help conserve water by capturing rainwater that would otherwise be lost to runoff," officials said in a news release.
"By using collected rainwater to water your yard or garden, you're doing your part to help use water wisely, which is especially crucial when we’re experiencing drought conditions."
While many garden centres offer a variety of different types of rain barrels, Green Calgary's rain barrels can also be purchased at Golden Acres.
"Remember, every drop counts when it comes to water conservation. By incorporating a rain barrel into your outdoor routine, you're not only benefiting your yard but also contributing to a greener, more sustainable Calgary."
Green Calgary is a local charity that works to help Calgarians recognize their individual impact on the environment and climate.
More details about the organization can be found online.
Here’s a list of rain barrel sales taking place every weekend (except the May long weekend) through June 22:
- April 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., IKEA Calgary (8000 11 St. S.E.);
- May 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Calgary Co-Op Dalhousie (5505 Shaganappi Tr. N.W.);
- May 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Calgary Horticultural Society (2725 33 Ave. S.W.);
- May 25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Calgary Co-Op Deer Valley (1221 Canyon Meadows Dr. S.E.);
- June 1, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Genesis Centre (7555 Falconridge Blvd. N.E.);
- June 8, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Calgary Co-Op West Springs (917 85 St. S.W.);
- June 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Inglewood Community Garden (2297 17 St. S.E.); and
- June 22, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Community Natural Foods Chinook (202 61 Ave. S.W.).
With files from CTV Calgary's Michael Franklin
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What weather experts say to expect this summer in Canada
Get ready to feel the heat, Canada. Weather experts are predicting more sunshine and warmer temperatures for the summer.
New COVID-19 subvariants become the dominant strains in Canada
More than four years after COVID-19 effectively shut down the world, two new variants of COVID-19 have become the dominant strains of the novel coronavirus in Canada.
Israel sends tanks into Rafah on raids amid Gaza-wide offensive
Israeli tanks mounted raids across Rafah in defiance of the World Court for a second day on Wednesday, after Washington said the assault did not amount to a major ground operation in the southern Gazan city that U.S. officials have warned Israel to avoid.
Five more Ontario school boards join lawsuit against social media platforms
Five additional Ontario school boards and two independent private schools have joined a lawsuit against the owners of multiple social media platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook.
P.E.I. kiteboarder 'lucky to be alive' after shark attack in Turks and Caicos
A professional kiteboarder from P.E.I. says he has been seriously injured in a shark attack that occurred while he was snorkelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands last week.
'Unruly passenger' forces WestJet flight to make emergency landing in B.C.
A WestJet flight heading to Calgary had to make an emergency landing in northern B.C. Monday due to an incident involving an 'unruly passenger,' Mounties say.
In bizarre provocation, North Korea flies trash, manure balloons over the South
North Korea flew hundreds of balloons carrying trash and manure toward South Korea in one of its most bizarre provocations against its rival in years, prompting the South’s military to mobilize chemical and explosive response teams to recover objects and debris in different parts of the country.
Introducing peanut butter during infancy can help protect against a peanut allergy later on, new study finds
New evidence suggests that feeding children smooth peanut butter during infancy and early childhood can help reduce their risk of developing a peanut allergy even years later.
'It was hell': Israeli mother held hostage with her children describes 51 days in captivity
Hagar Brodutch, her three children and four-year-old neighbour were kidnapped by Hamas-led militants from their home in Kfar Aza, Israel on Oct. 7 and held for 51 days. They were released in November, but Brodutch says her thoughts are never far from those still being held in Gaza.