Alexandria Melchior, the property owner at the business/residence property at the corner of California and Juneau, the location for a West Seattle rain garden. In the background is Aven Frey, Sustainable Seattle staff person. Rain Garden workshops are planned for White Center and West Seattle in November.
The idea of thinking globally but acting locally has probably never been more important in terms of taking care of what is closest to you, given a weakened economy. The idea which has its roots in the desire to take care of the environment can be expressed in many ways but here in Seattle it takes on a more pertinent meaning given our relationship with rain.
Building a rain garden can provide benefits that really do save the planet. What is a rain garden? A rain garden is a shallow depression that is planted with deep-rooted native plants and grasses. It's best to put it near a runoff source like a downspout, driveway or sump pump to capture rainwater runoff so it can stop the water from reaching the sewer system.
Five rain gardens are installed in four different neighborhoods in Seattle and workshops are being offered to share what has been done, provide some training for those who want to install rain gardens, and make available a scholarship for a few more rain gardens to go in.
Using Sustainable West Seattle's Russell-funded stomwater and Puget Sound presentation, Stacey Gianas from Stewardship Parnters will present the training on building rain gardens for most of the workshops, while Central District resident and expert Paul Crane will be doing that training for the Central District.
The local workshops will be:
West Seattle -
November 9, 6:30-8:30pm
C&P Coffee Company
5612 California Ave SW 98136
White Center –
November 16, 6:30-8:30pm
Big Al Brewery
9832 14th Ave SW 98106
What will happen at each free workshop:
• There will be coffee and food!
• Locally produced presentation on stormwater pollution, the
Puget Sound, and what you can do
• Training on how to build your own rain garden from
Stewardship Partners
• Pictures and stories from Sustainable Rain; rain garden
projects at Seattle businesses and organizations in each
neighborhood
• Information on funding available for a business or residential
rain garden
Sponsored by: Sustainable Rain project of Sustainable Seattle
For more information on Rain Gardens check out the Stewardship Partners FAQ page.
