Conserve Water at Home Using a Rain Barrel
Rain barrels are an easy and economical way to water plants and reduce stormwater runoff at home. Did you know that a single rain barrel can harvest hundreds, even thousands of gallons of rainwater annually? That’s A LOT of water conserved! They can save residents money on water bills and reduce stormwater utility fees in some localities too. If you don’t have a rain barrel and are interested in installing one at home, join us at one of the following rain barrel workshops offered by the James River Association and its partners.
Rain Barrel Workshop at Cunningham Creek Winery in Fluvanna County
Date & Time: Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Location: Cunningham Creek Winery, 3304 Ruritan Lake Rd, Palmyra, VA
Fee: $50.00
Join the James River Association, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, and the Thomas Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District for a rain barrel workshop at Cunningham Creek Winery on Thursday, April 9, at 6:00 pm. Staff members will instruct workshop participants on how to assemble and install rain barrels at home. The registration fee for the workshop is $50 and each registration comes with a 55-gallon drum, DIY rain barrel installation kit, and a beverage. Click here for more information.
Rain Barrel Workshop at West End Branch Library in Richmond
Date & Time: Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Location: West End Branch Library, 5420 Patterson Avenue, Richmond, Virginia
Fee: $50.00
Join the James River Association for a rain barrel workshop at West End Branch Library in Richmond on Tuesday, April 14, at 6:00 pm. Staff members will instruct workshop participants on how to assemble and install rain barrels at home. The registration fee for the workshop is $50 and each registration comes with a 55-gallon drum and DIY rain barrel installation kit. Click here for more information.
Rain Barrel Workshop at Broad Rock Branch Library in Richmond
Date & Time: Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Location: Broad Rock Branch Library, 4820 Old Warwick Road, Richmond, Virginia
Fee: $50.00
Join the James River Association for a rain barrel workshop at Broad Rock Branch Library in Richmond on Tuesday, April 21, at 6:00 pm. Staff members will instruct workshop participants on how to assemble and install rain barrels at home. The registration fee for the workshop is $50 and each registration comes with a 55-gallon drum and DIY rain barrel installation kit. Click here for more information.
Rain Barrel Workshop at Starr Hill Downtown at the Dairy Market in Charlottesville
Date & Time: Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Location: Starr Hill Downtown, 946 Grady Avenue, Suite 101, Charlottesville, Virginia
Fee: $50.00
Join the James River Association and Rivanna Stormwater Education Partnership for a rain barrel workshop at Starr Hill Downtown at the Dairy Market in Charlottesville on Thursday, April 23, at 6:00 pm. Staff members will instruct workshop participants on how to assemble and install rain barrels at home. The registration fee for the workshop is $50 and each registration comes with a 55-gallon drum, DIY rain barrel installation kit, and a beverage. Click here for more information.
Rain Barrel Workshop at North Avenue Branch Library in Richmond
Date & Time: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Location: North Avenue Branch Library, 2901 North Avenue, Richmond, Virginia
Fee: $50.00
Join the James River Association for a rain barrel workshop at North Avenue Branch Library in Richmond on Wednesday, May 6, at 6:00 pm. Staff members will instruct workshop participants on how to assemble and install rain barrels at home. The registration fee for the workshop is $50 and each registration comes with a 55-gallon drum and DIY rain barrel installation kit. Click here for more information.
Rain Barrel Workshop at Westover Hills Branch Library in Richmond
Date & Time: Monday, May 18, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Location: Westover Hills Branch Library, 1408 Westover Hills Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia
Fee: $50.00
Join the James River Association for a rain barrel workshop at Westover Hills Branch Library in Richmond on Wednesday, May 14, at 6:00 pm. Staff members will instruct workshop participants on how to assemble and install rain barrels at home. The registration fee for the workshop is $50 and each registration comes with a 55-gallon drum and DIY rain barrel installation kit. Click here for more information.
Rain Barrel Workshop at Lower James River Education Center in Williamsburg
Date & Time: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Location: Lower James River Center, 1335 Colonial Parkway, Williamsburg, Virginia
Fee: $50.00
Join the James River Association for a rain barrel workshop at the Lower James River Education Center on Wednesday, May 20, at 6:00 pm. Staff members will instruct workshop participants on how to assemble and install rain barrels at home. The registration fee for the workshop is $50 and each registration comes with a 55-gallon drum and DIY rain barrel installation kit. Click here for more information.
Rain Barrel Workshop at Blue Mountain Barrel House in Nelson County
Date & Time: Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Location: Blue Mountain Barrel House, 495 Cooperative Way, Arrington, Virginia
Fee: $50.00
Join the James River Association, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, and the Thomas Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District for a rain barrel workshop at the Blue Mountain Barrel House on Thursday, May 21, at 6:00 pm. Staff members will instruct workshop participants on how to assemble and install rain barrels at home. The registration fee for the workshop is $50 and each registration comes with a 55-gallon drum, DIY rain barrel installation kit, and a beverage. Click here for more information.
Thanks to our partnerships with Coca-Cola Consolidated, Mount Olive Pickle Company, and local partners, the James River Association distributed 268 rain barrels at workshops held across the James River watershed through its River Hero Homes program in 2025!
Did you know that conserving water by using a rain barrel and planting regionally native plants at home could qualify you for the James River Association’s River Hero Homes program!
River Hero Homes is a community of stewards that realize the first step to a cleaner James River starts at home. Residents of the James River’s 10,000 square-mile watershed take a pledge and commit to adopting a minimum of three of the five following river-friendly conservation actions that reduce stormwater runoff.
- Properly dispose of waste. Pick up trash in your community and properly dispose of waste, including pet waste, to reduce pollution.
- Use native plants. Use regionally native plants and remove invasive plants in gardens and landscapes, including riparian buffers and living shorelines.
- Reduce herbicide and pesticide use. Reduce or eliminate herbicide and pesticide use to promote a healthy ecosystem.
- Reduce fertilizer use. Reduce or eliminate the use of lawn fertilizers to reduce nutrient pollution entering our waterways and encourage healthy soil by using compost.
- Conserve water. Reduce household water use and consider installing a rain barrel to harvest rainwater for watering.
River Hero Homes would not be possible without generous support from Altria and DuPont Clear into the Future. Their support allows the James River Association to promote conservation and stewardship practices that support a healthy James River.