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Information for Schools that want to get involved

A rain garden is an area of the ground engineered to accept the runoff water from roofs, parking lots, etc. This water is funneled into a certain area called a rain garden where native plants are planted to aid in the recharge of  local aquifers, which in turn diverts a portion of the communities runoff from having to be treated at a wastewater facility. This helps to reduce pollution and waste, and is also an attactive landscaping feature.


You can easily build one at home to help out the planet. Full directions are available in a powerpoint presentation.  This presentation gives good background, tips and directions of how to prepare and make your own rain garden. The basic steps are to:

1. Select a location. It should be relatively flat, receive good amounts of sunlight, and be in a location to catch runoff. It would probably be wise to put it about 10-15 feet away from your house. This way it will collect water from the downspout and roof.
2. Dig up and mix up the soil about a half foot down to create a soft soil bed for your rain garden. Use excess soil to create a berm (small raised earth mound) around the garden.
3. Pick out some local plants you would like to see in your garden and purchase the seeds at any farm supply store or look for other nearby plants which are in bloom and you can take their seeds for the garden.
4. Plant your seeds in the soft soil bed and let the growing begin.

Full engineering directions will be available soon in a regular web page. Step-by-step worksheets are available on the General Resources page.