Take a step towards greening your yard this spring and supporting pollinators by purchasing a wildflower kit, rain barrel or backyard composter. Residents and non-residents can purchase a native wildflower kit, rain barrel and/or backyard composters at an affordable cost.
Rain Barrel & Backyard Composter
Sustainable Living Starts at Home!
Installing rain barrels and backyard composters is a simple yet powerful way for residents to contribute to a healthier environment. Rain barrels collect and store rainwater from rooftops, which can then be used to water gardens and lawns helping to reduce demand on municipal water systems and lowering water bills. This not only conserves a precious resource but also helps prevent stormwater runoff, which can carry pollutants into local waterways.
Backyard composters turn everyday kitchen scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich compost, perfect for enriching garden soil. Composting reduces the amount of organic waste sent to landfills, cutting down on methane emissions and promoting a circular, eco-friendly lifestyle. Together, these tools empower homeowners to reduce waste, conserve water, and create thriving, sustainable gardens all from your own backyard.
If you don’t have space for a backyard composter, consider purchasing a Foodcycler. To learn more visit King Township FoodCycler Program | Township Of King.
Rain Barrel: $75.00 + HST
Backyard Composter: $31.10 + HST Price offered through Green Yards Program
To purchase a rain barrel or backyard composter
Backyard Composter
Dimensions
Capacity: 11 cubic feet/311 litres
Size: 20.25 inch (51.43cm) diameter lid opening 33” high x 31” wide (83.8cm x 78,7cm)
Features: BPA Free, made from 100% recycled materials, twist locking lid, vertical and horizontal columnar ventilation, rodent resistant
Description
A compost bin is a container, specifically designed and engineered for the collection and processing of organic materials into nutrient rich compost or humus. The finished compost or humus harvested from a compost bin through the composting process of decomposition is an excellent soil amendment providing much needed enrichment for your soil. A compost bin has features that enhance the decomposition process and help make your commitment to composting more efficient. Backyard composting is an effective and economical organics diversion solution. Each Backyard Composter comes with 4 screw pegs and a backyard composting manual. The FreeGarden™ EARTH Compost Bin has many features that make it the composting tool of choice:
- Large capacity — 11 cubic feet/311 litres
- Convenient 12”x16” offset, front harvest door
- Twist locking lid
- Vertical and horizontal columnar ventilation
- Conical shape means nothing gets stuck in corners and also provides for ease of lifting off to access the entire pile
- Rodent resistant
- Easy, large access 20.25 inch (51.43 cm) diameter lid opening
- 33” high x 31” wide (83.8cm high x 78.7cm wide)
- Made of 100% recycled materials
Additional Resources
Rain Barrel
Dimensions
Capacity: 208 litres (55 gallons) 16 lbs
Size: 24" wide x 34" tall
Features: Easy multi-barrel installations, insect resistant stainless steel screen, made from recycled content, BPA free, higher spigot accommodates most watering cans
Description
The FreeGarden™ RAIN 55 gallon rain barrel is designed with the homeowner/gardener in mind; affordable, attractive, easy to move, easy to install, and easy to use. Each rain barrel comes with installation instructions, spigot, screws, overflow hose and clamp. The FreeGarden™ Rain has many features that make it the water conservation tool of choice:
- 55 gallon/208 litre rain barrel
- insect resistant stainless steel screen
- higher spigot accommodates most watering cans
- easy multi-barrel installations
- as many as 3 barrels fit in the back of a regular sedan
- 3 additional spigot mounting locations
- childproof lid and stable footprint
- square shape ideal for flush-to-wall and corner installations
- 34”h x 24”w x 24”d
- saves most homeowners 1,300 gallons of water each summer
- helps restore soil to ideal pH levels
- conserves water, protects the environment, and lowers water bills
Maintenance
During the summer check the screen to clean and ensure nothing is clogging the screen. Check around the rain barrel for erosion. The platform/support must remain level and stable at all times. Prior to temperatures dropping below freezing drain barrel and store in shed or garage. If left outside with freezing water inside, the rain barrel may crack.
Additional Resources
Wildflower Kits - Registration Closed
Take a step towards greening your yard and supporting pollinators by pre-ordering a perennial wildflower kit to help green your grounds.
The wildflower kits include 18 (10cm) potted perennial wildflowers,1 pack of native wildflower seeds and gardening resources to help you get started.
Species included Wild Bergamot, Cylindric Blazing Star, Lance Leaved Coreopsis, Black Eyed Susan, Pale Purple Coneflower and Common Milkweed. *Species may vary.
Registration is now closed for 2025, but you can still plant wildflowers!
Why Choose Native Plants?
Native plants are species that have naturally evolved in a specific region over thousands of years. Because they’re perfectly adapted to the local climate, soil, and wildlife, they offer a wide range of benefits for both gardeners and the environment.
Native plants are:
- Beautiful and diverse in color, shape, and texture
- Low maintenance, requiring less water, fertilizer, and care
- Cost-effective, saving time and resources in the long run
- Wildlife-friendly, providing essential food and shelter for birds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
They also play a crucial role in creating a healthy, balanced ecosystem. Native trees and shrubs offer the exact types of cover and nourishment that local wildlife need to thrive.
Whether you're planting a full garden or just adding a few native species to your yard, you’re helping to restore natural habitats and support biodiversity—right from your own backyard.
Check out the list resources below to learn about beneficial native plants you can add to your garden.