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Painting Your Rain Barrel When it comes to being creative, you're only limited by your imagination! Painting your rain barrel is not only a fun project, but it will help to protect the surface of the barrel from breaking down due to the harsh effects of the sun. There are several methods you can use to paint your barrel. There are also several types of paint available -- and endless colors to choose from -- in retail stores. Outdoors acrylics and spray paint work well, but the barrel must first be primed so that these materials adhere properly to the surface. A newer product on the marke is a spray paint desinged specifically for outdoor plactic furniture, but it will work on almost any plastic surface. The benefit to this product is that the barrel does not have to be primed before appliation of the spray paint. Regardless of what type of paint with witch you choose to decorate your barrel it is a good idea to apply a couple coasts of polyurethane to protect your work.  To prime your barrel: 1. Thoroughly clean the exterior surface of the barrel by wiping away excess dirt and grime with a clean rag soaked in a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water. 2. Using a fine to medium grade sandpaper, "rough up" the surace of the barrel. 3. With a dry cloth, wipe the barrel again to get ride of any fine plastic shavings. 4. Apply one coat of outdoor primer. Primer is typicall white, but it can be mixed with another paint color or tinted to match the final design color of the barrel. Allow the primer to dry, according to the directions on the container.  Now the barrel can be painted any way you like - by stencil, a pattern, freehand, etc. You can even use some leftower exterior paint to make it match the walls of your house! Allow the paint to dry completely before applying 1 to 2 coats of polyurethane. Allow the polyurethane to dry inbetween coats. Tip: This is a great project for children. Take care of all the prep work (cleaning, sanding and priming) for them, and then let their creative juices flow! You will be surprised with the final product! The Nell Coe Award (Two Year Award) is revised each administration. The Donors of this award are Clubs of District IV and Joan Ochs, FFGC President, Winter Park. This award honors Nell Coe. The Nell Coe Tray will remain on permanent display at Headquarters. $25 each class (Total o $75) is offered during 2005-2007. The activity selected for 2005-2007 by Joan Ochs, President, is: Youth Rain Barrell Project. An award of $25 is offered in each of three classes for the best Rain Barrell Project (Water Conservation) presented by a Youth Unit in Florida during the 2005-2007 administration. A. $25 to a Junior Gardener Group B. $25 to an Intermediate Gardener Group C. $25 to a High School Gardener Group For additional information about rainbarrels, visit Rain Barrel for you Libby Curnow |
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