9/15/24, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Collecting rainwater as a resource for gardening and sustaining life has been done for millennia. Rainwater Harvesting 101 will pull from this historical experience to get down and dirty with how to design and build a rainwater harvesting system that fits your needs. This is not just about rain barrels and how to make them. This partial-day class will educate students on how to generate a workable, feasible design of a rainwater harvesting system for your garden using both active and passive techniques. We will also discuss the basic elements that every rainwater harvesting system should have and the things to avoid.
Students will walk away with a solid understanding of rainwater harvesting systems for the PNW, how to calculate the amount of rain they can collect, and how to scale these systems to match the needs of their project. They will also leave with resources and information of the best type of rainwater harvesting equipment for the PNW, and where they can purchase these materials. We will also touch on how these systems can help reduce flooding, conserve groundwater aquifers, take pressure off your well system, and be an emergency resource after a disaster. This class is for any experience level, all physical abilities, and people over 12 years old.
CJ Huxford earned his bachelor’s degree in Planning and Environmental Policy with an emphasis in Risk Communication from the College of the Environment at Western Washington University. CJ has worked on several projects and publications researching disaster to infrastructure (particularly electricity and water) in Washington State, San Diego, CA, and Japan. CJ has worked with committees in Whatcom County, WA to explore Low Impact Development (LID) methods, including on-site rainwater harvesting and landscaping for stormwater management. CJ is an elected board member of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA).
