Last fall, Toolshed and The Spark of Hudson teamed up to host a hands-on rainwater barrel workshop for teens from Hudson High School—a joyful, power tool-forward afternoon that brought together young people, educators, and climate-conscious community members to explore how small-scale systems can support big-picture change.
Rooted in our shared belief that skill-building and ecological literacy should be accessible to all, the team at Autonomous Energies, a local renewable energy contractor, guided teens through the process of building rain barrels from up-cycled materials while learning about water conservation and the impacts of climate change. It was practical, collaborative, and powered by curiosity.
“Rain Reclaim brought together young people, builders, and neighbors to take on a real climate challenge right here in Hudson. Now, with guides to help others replicate the system, we’re thrilled that the impact can extend far beyond our building and into the wider community.” – Caitie Hilverman, Executive Director, The Spark of Hudson
This kind of work is why Toolshed and Spark exist—to bring people together around shared knowledge, action, and care. After the workshop, we co-developed the Rainwater Barrel Guide, a step-by-step resource designed to help anyone build their own rain catchment system at home or in their community.
“This Rain Reclaim workshop was such a powerful way to show young people that climate action doesn’t start big. Collecting rainwater offers a hands-on way for people to connect with the environment and discover how they can make a difference locally. My hope is that this guidebook not only teaches how to build rain barrels, but also sparks a deeper commitment to caring for our community and environment.” – Fatema Rahman, Workforce Development Coordinator, The Spark of Hudson
The guide is now freely available online, part of our ongoing effort to make regenerative practices easier to access and implement. Whether you’re a teacher, a neighbor, or someone just curious about how to reuse rain, this is for you. People in the Hudson Valley can pick up a physical copy for FREE at three local locations:
- Toolshed Exchange (Saturdays 9 – 10 AM), 110 S. Front St, Hudson, NY
- The Spark of Hudson (open hours), 502 Union St, Hudson, NY
- Hudson Area Library (open hours), 51 N. 5th St, Hudson, NY
- Time and Space Limited (open hours), 434 Columbia St, Hudson, NY
This project is just one example of how collaboration between Toolshed and Spark of Hudson is helping address local climate action through creative education. Together, we’re helping the community build ecological skills and infrastructure to help our communities thrive.
→ Download the Rainwater Barrel Guide
→ Want to bring this workshop to your school or block? Email us at info@tool-shed.org—we’d love to collaborate.
