RAIN BARREL PROJECT SUPPORTS COMMUNITY!
Port Alberni – For the second year in a row, Five Acre Productions is teaming up with Social Root Consulting to go green.
Together they have set a goal of creating a more sustainable music festival. They started out slowly last year. Shaker organizer Lance Goddard and co-founder of Social Root Consulting Genevieve Huneault decided to decrease single-use plastics on site and decrease the amount of vehicle traffic to the McLean Mill for the festival.
The idea was to prepare for the environmental impact before the festival opens its gates so that they don’t have to deal with them after the music stops. These initiatives were so successful they will be continuing that again this year and building on those first steps.
“It is important to us that we create an event that respects the natural resources that surround us in the Alberni Valley,” Goddard explains. “It is important that people come and have a great time, but we also want them to act responsibly while they are here. If we can create a fun music festival that is sustainable then we will consider it a huge success.”
This year Huneault came up with the idea of a rain barrel water collection project. It was an opportunity to team up with the Shaker in a way that would promote sustainability in the community beyond the three-day music festival.
“We have to do what we can to protect our environment on a daily basis,” she says. “The rain barrels will give people a way to support local artists and collect rain water for a number of different uses, which is becoming increasingly important as our environment continues to change.”
The project is multi-faceted as it will highlight the arts community, give back to organizations that advocate for water sustainability, and continue to promote green initiatives. The cost of the barrels will go toward paying local artists to paint master pieces on the barrels, a donation will go to a local organization, and the remaining funds will support future green initiatives at the Shaker.
The 55-gallon barrels can be purchased by local organizations, businesses, or individuals. After that it is up to the owner where the barrel goes. Some may decide to keep the barrel, while others may donate it to a deserving group. The rain barrels will come retrofitted and ready for use.
“At the Shaker we will host a workshop to offer more education on rain water collection and best practices,” Huneault points out. “Before going to their final destination, the beautiful barrels will also be on display at the festival as an art installation.”
The workshop will be held by Louis Swann, who earned a certificate from the Rainwater Catchment Systems Association.
The barrels are available for purchase or sponsorship for $300. If you are interested in taking part in this project, contact [email protected]. You can also find out more on the Shaker website.
This year’s Five Acre Shaker is one you don’t want to miss with more than 30 different performers. It is sure to please any kind of music lover. Check out our website for tickets and details on the rain barrel project and what performers are in the lineup this year at: www.fiveacre.ca.
Tickets are on sale now and you can reserve your camping site at the Mill. Don’t delay tickets and sites are going fast.
| Contact: | Lance Goddard |
| Cell: | 250-720-6781 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| Website: | Fiveacre.ca |