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In case you didn't know—Community Forklift accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover Card, debit cards, checks and good old-fashioned cash.
   






Did you know that Community Forklift has successfully completed Co-op America's screening process for socially and environmentally responsible green businesses? We are now in their National Green Pages™ directory!

Community Forklift's First Rain Barrel 101 Workshop

On April 6, 2008, Barry Chenkin (President of Aquabarrel) came to Community Forklift to instruct participants in the construction of simple rain barrels for their homes. Aquabarrel, a Co-Op America-approved company, is dedicated to supporting water conservation through the use of rain barrels.

After showing workshop attendees several accessories he invented to make using their rain barrels more efficient, Barry went through a few simple steps necessary to hook up their new rain barrels, or build more once they got home. The workshop fee included taking home a brand-new rain barrel, ready to install!

Rainbarrels allow you to collect rainwater from your rooftop for outdoor use, such as watering gardens and lawns, or washing cars and windows. Building a rain barrel at your home will reduce your water bill, prevent erosion along our streams, keep your garden green, recharge underground water, and help prevent many problems associated with storm-water runoff!

A huge thank-you to Barry and Aquabarrel for all your hard work!

    We often get questions at Community Forklift from people who are looking to install their own rain barrel set-up. Barry and Aquabarrel are a great local resource for purchasing ready-to-install kits. Here's some additional info we've gathered from customers who have gone the do-it-yourself route:

    Empty 55-gallon drums are available for purchase from the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company, located at:

    1526 Pepsi Place
    Cheverly, MD 20781

    It's an easy process to purchase the barrels--simply drive to the back gate and ask the security guard for the "Barrel guy" (Howard). You'll get to drive in to choose your own barrels.

    All sizes of barrel cost $10 apiece and they will only take checks....NO CASH or CHARGE. Don't forget your checkbook!

     You will want to choose barrels with a minimum of syrup residue, which should scrub out in a few minutes with some soapy water. The barrels are white with two 4-inch plastic screw caps on top for draining.

    Please call Howard Turk at 301-341-2326 for more info on picking up barrels from PepsiCo.

    The one thing that can be a problem with these barrels is that Barry says there are very few types of paint that will stick to this type of plastic and not peel off with changing seasons--he advises that since the barrels are white, you may have problems with algae growing in your water if you don't paint them.

    For more info on setting up your own rain barrel system, see the great page the DC Urban Gardeners group compiled!

    Rain barrel installations in Montgomery County may be eligible for a $50 rebate! Click here for the application. Please let us know of other counties that may add similar programs.



Call: 301-985-5180. To leave information about possible material donations: use extension 2
Email: To send us information and pictures of your possible donations use: donations@communityforklift.com,
for everything else use: info@communityforklift.com.
Visit: 4671 Tanglewood Drive, Edmonston, MD 20781   Directions: 5 minutes from DC in Prince George's County
Hours: Wednesday & Thursday 10am - 8pm, and Friday, Saturday, & Sunday 9am - 6 pm
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