Rain is precious in western Kansas.  A  rain barrel is the simplest way to collect and store rain water, which can then be used in gardens and the landscape.

Since 2009, Fort Hays State University agriculture students in Dr.  Jean Gleischner’s Home Horticulture class have helped build more than 3,500 rain barrels for the public. This week, they were at it again.

Gleischner gives her students a choice between writing a research paper about water conservation, or actually putting conservation into practice.  This year’s class also elected to do a a little bit of manual labor, while enjoying the outdoors at the KSU Agricultural Research Center where the barrels are constructed and distributed.

This student-learning project is in cooperation with Stacie Minson, the Smoky Hill River/ Kanopolis Lake Watershed Specialist from WaKeeney.  The 55-gallon barrels are donated by Coca-Cola once they’re empty of soda pop syrup.

Grant monies are used to purchase hardware to convert the barrels which are sold for $15.

Gleischner says the rain barrels also play a part in water quality.  Rain coming off a roof, through a down spout and directly into the barrels is free of  contaminants.