Our local rainwater collection company, RainSaucers, announced today that "In order to raise awareness of rainwater harvesting and promote the use of RainSaucers? as a tool for collecting rain, we are launching today our 1st Annual 'Saucers for Schools' Art Contest."
RainSaucers is located on Bollinger Canyon Road in San Ramon. The company is awarding three 59" RainSaucer kits valued at $85 each. A rain barrel is not included but can be converted from a 50 gal. plastic trash can or purchased from Home Depot or Lowes.
With the current drought in California, water agencies throughout the state are urging conservation. East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), the Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD), Zone 7 Water Agency, and Governor Jerry Brown are all calling for a 20% reduction in water use.
The recent rains provide a perfect opportunity for filling up a few barrels with water. What better way to save water than to catch it and store it in an accessible barrel.
The contest isn't limited to the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. "All students in grades 3-5 in an Elementary School in the United States (and territories) are eligible to win." Since RainSaucers is a local company, our local school district should certainly be represented.
Hopefully all of the elementary schools in San Ramon and Danville will encourage students to submit entries, or even make the entries into class projects. There will only be one winner per Grade, but as the saying goes, you can't win if you don't enter.
Entries must be postmarked by March 31, 2014, so there isn't much time to start working on your art work. Here are the requirements from the RainSaucers' website:
"? Entries must be on white 8 1/2" x 11" paper with the theme "Why collect rain?" The artwork must contain the image of an upside funnel of any size collecting rain and represent an application of collected rainwater (such as Gardening, Landscaping, Drinking, Water for Animals, Bathing, Washing, etc.)
? The artwork must be 2D, with nothing stuck to it.
? On the back, please include name (first and last), title of the artwork, name of school, school's address, student's grade (3-5), teacher's name and email address, parent's name and email address, and home address.
? Entries must be mailed to RainSaucers Inc., 11040 Bollinger Canyon Road, Suite E-170, San Ramon, CA 94582 with a postmark date no later than March 31, 2014.
? Results will be announced on our blog on April 10, 2014.
? There is no fee to enter."
So hurry, hurry, hurry, and get out those colored pencils, chalk, magic markers, or paint pots. Then look out the windows of your classroom and see where a rainbarrel could go and how it would be so nice to grow flowers and vegetables while saving water.
Pop a Bing Crosby record on the Victrola and sing along with Bing because, "Every time it rains, it rains Pennies from Heaven." I've been waiting for a way to fit that song into one of my blogs!
