Newsletter v 2.2 - Spring 2007                                                                  v1.1, v2.1, v2.2, v3.1

Clean, Free and Delivered to Your Doorstep

Don’t touch that outdoor spigot! Don’t drag that hose!

Why use and pay for municipal water AND do the watering when your garden can do it for you … for free!

Ok, it’s a bit of an exaggeration but by directing rainwater from your roof, driveway or other hard surface to a rain garden, a trenched area in an existing garden or even your lawn you’ll have no need to use municipal water outdoors. This can cut your water bills and save precious groundwater, lake water and river water.

Over the last couple of years we have spoken to thousands of people engouraging and teaching them how to use the water from the sky because it is clean, free and delivered to your doorstep.

Rain Garden Assistance Program - The City of Chicago and

Rain Garden Network Team Up!

Help keep Chicago clean and green!  This summer Chicago residents have an

opportunity to learn how to create a rain garden and to receive rain garden plants at significantly discounted prices through a pilot Rain Garden Assistance Program,

supported by the Chicago Department of Environment, Department of Water Management and the Rain Garden Network.

Open to all residents of the City of Chicago.

Call 773-774-5333 or email (info@raingardennetwork.com) to receive an application.

Application deadline information is as follows:

Application Deadline: May 31, 2007
Valid applications will be reviewed for consideration in the 2007 pilot program.
Applications received after 5:00 PM on Thursday, May 31 will not be considered.
Applicants will be informed of their acceptance by 5:00 PM Thursday, June 14, 2007.

NOTE: If you do not hear from us within two days after requesting an application do not hesitate to contact us again!

Rain Gardens are the Smartest Thing to Do

Rain gardens have benefits beyond local stormwater management

Rainwater vs. Stormwater

We spend a lot of money transporting rainwater in pipes to be “treated”. We also spend a lot of money and resources cleaning relatively water that is contaminated by mixing with wastewater and street pollutants. Encouraging rainwater to flow to the sewer also puts extra pressure on smaller and older sewer systems, treatment plants and receiving rivers and lakes.

If we could find a way to treat rainwater right were it falls we would depend less on concrete pipes and street construction for newer and larger sewer systems. If we decided to take a certain percentage of rainwater out of the sewer system and use it more sensibly to water gardens and lawns we would save money and conserve water.

Well, there are things that can be done and homeowners are beginning to learn about them and municipalities are beginning to incorporate and promote them. These are simple, proven and green ways to keep the rainwater that falls on your property … on their property and thereby keeping large quantity or “clean” water out of the sewer system and reducing the need to use well or municipal water for landscape watering.

Use the water that falls … it’s clean, free and delivered to your doorstep.

Homeowners can:

Pick-up trash on their property

Look at the flow of rainwater from their property

Disconnect downspouts

Incorporate rain gardens and other simple infiltration systems

Add a rain barrel to capture a limited amount of water

Encourage neighbors and family to do the same

Start a neighborhood rainwater conservation program

Think about making a water audit of your property

Municipalities can:

Incorporate strategic curb cutting

Reduce building gardens on berms

Collect rainwater in parkways and center strips

Create public rain garden demonstration sites

Offer financial incentives for downspout disconnection and infiltration practices

Offer workshops and seminars for homeowners and landscape contractors

Ensure all the departments in the municipality understand and follow clean water practices

Building the Network

“This is exciting!” That’s what we hear from people we meet. We hear it from people at speaking engagements and exhibit halls. We hear it from long time gardeners and people who’ve never touched trowel. The people we meet understand the problem and love the solution. And they’re excited that they can participate.

Photo of the Month

Rain garden in Hawaii

On the Website

Rain garden studies

Municipal Sewer information

Visit the Rain Garden Photo Gallery

Rain garden articles Jan. - May 2007

Sign up a friend -Subscribe

Unsubscribe to newsletter - Put “unsubscribe” in subject line.

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