The ongoing drought is a reminder of when rain finally comes in Texas that it's a real good idea to be ready to capture some of it.
An educational rainwater harvesting seminar, complete with a hands-on installation demonstration, has been scheduled for July 28 in Clarendon, according to Leonard Haynes, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agent for Donley County.
The seminar will begin with registration from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at the home of Sarah Sorelle, 507 W. 5th Street. Sorelle, who is helping sponsor the event, has offered her home as a demonstration location due to her interest in conserving water.
HARVEST RAIN. A hands-on rainwater harvesting seminar is July 28 at Clarendon, Texas.
"The hands-on installation demonstration will be led by the world-renowned rainwater harvesting expert, Billy Kniffen, who has presented this topic at several locations across the United States," Haynes says.
Kniffen is the Texas AgriLife Extension Service state rainwater harvesting specialist.
Following the hands-on portion of the program, a meal will be provided along with an educational program at the Donley County Activity Center, 4437 N. State Highway 70. The program will end at about 3 p.m., Haynes says.
There will be a $10 registration fee per person. Checks should be made payable to Donley County Texas AgriLife Extension and mailed to Box 682, Clarendon, Texas 79226.
Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by July 25 to the AgriLife Extension office in Donley County at 806-874-2141 or 806-282-7680. You also can call those same phone numbers for more information on the seminar or directions.
Haynes says this rainwater harvesting seminar is a joint effort between the Greenbelt Water Authority, City of Clarendon, Sorelle and AgriLife Extension, and targets the communities within the Greenbelt Water Authority—Clarendon, Hedley, Memphis, Childress, Quanah, and Crowell—but it is open to anyone, as well.
The idea is to use rainwater harvesting to capture, divert, and store rainwater for later use.