Rain Garden Network Newsletter v4.4 - Early Summer

The Relationship between Rain Barrels and Rain Gardens

So your have a rain barrel . . . now what. Has it been installed? Does it capture all the rain from that area of your roof? Does it often overflow? If you find your rain barrel overflows often it might be beneficial to install a rain garden that will absorb the extra rainwater. 

Generally, rain barrels hold about 50-55 gallons of rainwater. Rainwater from a half inch rain will be much less than from a one inch rain. To determine the amount of water you will receive from a section of your roof connected to a rain barrel you will need to measure the area of your roof that drains to the rain barrel downspout (length x width) and then multiply that number by .312 for a half inch rain or .625 for a one inch rain.  

To determine the amount of rainwater you receive a year from that part of your roof multiple that number (from a one inch rain) by the amount of rain ( in inches) your area receives annually and you’ll begin to understand how much rain will flow to that rain barrel. 

Rain gardens can be sized to accommodate any amount of rain so it is smart to use rain barrels and rain gardens together!

Working on Three New Programs

Since 2003, Rain Garden Network has been helping individuals and communities understand the importance of rain gardens, rainwater harvesting and diversion of rainwater away from streets and sewers and assisting them with the installation and maintenance of their gardens and development of their programs. We offer step-by-step instructional documentation, personal consulting, training, installation and maintenance services. See our capabilities.

We plan to continue our efforts by adding new elements and programs whenever possible. Here are three new programs for homeowners, neighborhood groups, municipalities, contractors and people concerned about the state of water on Earth. More in depth information about these programs is coming soon.

Contact us if you have questions or would like to participate in these programs.

"Greening Your Neighborhood"

Designed for homeowners and neighborhood groups, this program focuses on simple sustainability practices and techniques in the areas of preserving and conserving water, reducing air, water and land pollution, creating habitat for birds, butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects and addressing some of the issues that will reduce an individual's contribution to climate change.

Elements include:

  Neighborhood Walking Workshops

  Personal Site Visits

  Public Presentations

  Mini-Greening Events

So contact your neighbors and friends and let’s walk your neighborhood. Available in Chicago and NW Suburban areas. info@raingardennetwork.com

"Educate and Infiltrate"

An information and outreach effort directed to municipal officials and their communities that will help citizens reduce or eliminate stormwater runoff by incorporating simple, proven and inexpensive green, on-site solutions.

Elements include:

  Municipal Presentations

  Municipal Education and Outreach

  Program Development and Assistance

  Resource and Contractor Education and Training  

"It's All About the Water"

An examination of water, specifically freshwater, with special attention to how we use it, how we need it and most importantly how we must protect it.

Elements include:

  Online facts and information

  Links to specific documents & websites

  Products to help you make better choices

Stimulus Money for Green Infrastructure

We recently sent an email out notifying everyone of the EPA webcast. Within 20 minutes of receiving the original email and sending our version out to you the webcast was full. We do, however, have a link to the webcast “Funding Green Stormwater Infrastructure Projects” and “How to Use Stimulus Funds to Finance Green Water Projects” on the homepage of our website. Enjoy.  

Remember: If a link is broken but includes the entire web address you can highlight the link, copy it (Control + C) and paste the link into your browser.

Plant Picking

Here are three plants that work well in and around a rain garden and require no municipal water to grow. Photos

Common Fox Sedge – Carex stipata, is a slender, 3-sided grass that grows in bunches and stands 2-3 feet tall. It has a cluster of brown seed heads that sit high on the stem. Fox sedge prefers moist soil and will tolerate being underwater for periods of time but will also grow in drier situations. It also tolerates anything from full sun to full shade.

Shooting Star – Dodecatheon meadia, has lance-shaped leaves and 1 to 4 sturdy, leafless, stems that are approx. 20" tall.  On top of each stem is are 8-20, nodding, 1" long flowers. Shooting Star enjoys average to medium wet, well-drained soil lives well in part shade to full shade. Shooting Star flowers in the early to mid Spring.

Goat’s Beard – Aruncus diocus, stands nearly 3-4’ tall and has feathery creamy, white flowers and good, strong green foliage of toothed oval leaflets. It also enjoys full sun to full shade and moist, rich soil.

Picture of the Month

Installation at Lewis & Clark Community College – After a training seminar given by Rain Garden Network the seminar participants, L&C sustainability director, lead horticulturist and grounds crew install a new rain garden.

Post your project

We have updated the "Join the Network" area so that it reflects your projects and offers resource assistance. We invite you to participate so be some of the first people to post your projects. http://www.raingardennetwork.com/network.htm

Questions or comments? Email us at info@raingardennetwork.com

Visit CitizenSolution.info

“Building Sustainable Neighborhoods”

This is a place where all people, no matter your community, no matter your profession, can learn tips and techniques that will improve your household and your neighborhood.

We think that being sustainable is more than just dealing with energy issues. Neighborhoods and households face challenges and want answers for common issues such as: everyday pollution in their streets, greening their landscape, conserving water, choosing transportation alternatives, planning for household recycling, waste reduction, eating well and where to shop locally.

We are looking for interested people and interesting stories. Please feel free to visit the site, post your videos and email your thoughts as they relate to your life as an environmental “expert”.

Questions or comments? Email us at info@citizensolution.info