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 Starr Hill Downtown at the Dairy Market in Charlottesville
Date & Time: Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Location: Starr Hill Downtown, 946 Grady Avenue, Suite 101, Charlottesville, VA
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, September 3, 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 James River EcoFest in Richmond
Date & Time: Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Location: James A. Buzzard River Education Center, 2825 Dock Street, Richmond, VA
Fee: $50.00
Join the James River Association for a rain barrel workshop as part of James River EcoFest at the James A. Buzzard River Education Center on Saturday, September 12, at 1:00 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 East End Branch Library in Richmond
Date & Time: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Location: East End Branch Library, 1200 N. 25th Street, Richmond, VA
Fee: $50.00
Join the James River Association for a rain barrel workshop at East End Branch Library in Richmond on Tuesday, September 15, at 12:00 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 North Park Library in Henrico County
Date & Time: Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Location: North Park Library, 8508 Franconia Road, Richmond, VA
Fee: $50.00
Join the James River Association for a rain barrel workshop at North Park Library in Henrico County on Thursday, September 24, 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 Sneed’s Nursery in Richmond
Date & Time: Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 9:30 am
Location: Sneed’s Nursery, 8756 W. Huguenot Road, Richmond, VA
Fee: $50.00
Join the James River Association for a rain barrel workshop at Sneed’s Nursery in Richmond on Saturday, September 26, at 9:30 am. 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: Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 10:00 am
Location: Lower James River Center, 1335 Colonial Parkway, Williamsburg, VA
Fee: $50.00
Join the James River Association for a rain barrel workshop at the Lower James River Education Center in Williamsburg on Saturday, September 26, at 10:00 am. 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 Cunningham Creek Winery in Fluvanna County
Date & Time: Thursday, October 8, 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, October 8, 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 Upper James River Center in Amherst County
Date & Time: Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Location: Upper James River Center, 150 Rocky Hill Road, Madison Heights, VA
Fee: $50.00
Join the James River Association for a rain barrel workshop at the Upper James River Education Center in Amherst County on Tuesday, October 13, 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 Belmont Branch Library in Richmond
Date & Time: Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Location: Belmont Branch Library, 3100 Ellwood Ave, Richmond VA
Fee: $50.00
Join the James River Association for a rain barrel workshop at Belmont Branch Library in Richmond on Wednesday, October 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 Hull Street Branch Library in Richmond
Date & Time: Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Location: Hull Street Branch Library, 1400 Hull Street, Richmond, VA
Fee: $50.00
Join the James River Association for a rain barrel workshop at Hull Street Branch Library in Richmond on Thursday, October 15, at 12:00 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 James River Brewery in Scottsville
Date & Time: Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Location: James River Brewery, 561 Valley Street, Scottsville, 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 James River Brewery in Scottsville on Thursday, October 22, 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.
Thanks to our partnerships with Coca-Cola Consolidated, Mount Olive Pickle Company, and local partners, the James River Association has thus far distributed 157 rain barrels at workshops held across the James River watershed through its River Hero Homes program in 2026! Click here to learn about our River Hero Homes program.
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.