City of Hilliard residents can join us at our Earth Day Celebration on Saturday April 15, 2023 at 9am-11am at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in downtown Hilliard for a special Community Backyards workshop where the first 30 pre-registrants can receive a rain barrel and diverter kit.

Register for the workshop in advance because space is limited! Register here.

In partnership with City of Hilliard, Keep Hilliard Beautiful, Hilliard Arts Commission, and Franklin Soil and Water, City of Hilliard residents can attend the workshop to learn about rain barrels and paint their rain barrel at the workshop with the help of a local art teacher and stencils made by local art students. Attendees will learn about stormwater runoff, water quality and all about rain barrels. 

Learn more about rain barrels here.

Here’s what you need to know for this workshop:

• You must pre-register. Space is limited. Once registration is full, it will automatically close. If you register and can’t make it, please let us know, so we can open your spot to another Hilliard resident.
• This event is completely OUTDOORS. If there is inclement weather (especially rain), it may have to be rescheduled. Any rescheduling will be communicated via email as soon as possible. Add CommunityBackyards@franklinswcd.org to your contacts list!
  
• You will be physically painting the rain barrel with cans of spray paint at the workshop. A variety of colors and stencils will be available.
  • Wear clothes appropriate for the weather and clothes you don’t mind possibly getting paint on.
  • You might want to bring a mask due to the paint fumes.
  • Artists will be available during the workshop to help you paint.
  • You aren’t super artistic? That’s okay! Stencils will be available, made by local Hilliard City Schools art students.
  • Gloves and wipes will be available for clean up.
• After the painting, you will learn about rain barrels and how to install your rain barrel from Franklin Soil and Water.
  • If you don’t want to stand for an hour learning about rain barrels, please bring your own chair. There will NOT be chairs available on site.
• The painted barrels should take approximately 1-2 hours to dry. They will hopefully be dry by the end of the rain barrel lesson, but they must be taken home on the same day by 1 pm on Saturday April 15. The barrels cannot stay after 1pm due to other things going on at the fairgrounds. More entertainment at the Fairgrounds after the rain barrel session includes a Recycling Drop-off hosted by Hilliard’s Environmental Sustainability Commission, and a Walk and Serve hosted by 4-H.
• Make sure you can transport the barrel home by 1pm Saturday April 15. The drums are approximately 55 gallons and 35 inches tall, 24 inches in diameter. You might have to fold some seats down or go in through the trunk. We suggest putting a tarp or blanket down just in case the paint isn’t completely dry yet.
• The barrels are donated by Coca-Cola. The paint is donated by Hilliard businesses. The diverter kits are provided by the City of Hilliard and Franklin Soil and Water. This workshop counts as your one Community Backyards rebate for the year (used on the diverter kit). As a reminder, you can only receive one Community Backyards rebate per year.
• You must live within the City of Hilliard (per the Franklin County Auditor’s site) in order to qualify and attend. Please note, your mailing address or school district is sometimes different than your actual municipality and tax district.