Rain Garden Network Newsletter v4.3 –   Mid Spring 2009

Hope you had a great Earth Day, Earth Week and Earth Month!

Even though we think everyday should be treated like Earth Day we love having the chance to really celebrate by giving presentations and attending Earth Day events in April.

The various exhibitors at the events remind us that Earth awareness (or “goin’ green”) is more, much more, than energy and climate change issues. Sustainability and making good, sustainable choices is so important to how we live on the Earth. That’s why we focus on water issue at Rain Garden Network and sustainable issues at Citizen Solution. All these issues are important and all these issues are related to each other.

Even though climate changes is our most immediate problem to solve, think outside the green energy box periodically and look into some of the other issues that make the world better, healthier, diverse and safe. Just a thought.

Walking in the Rain

When it rains most people stay in and look out. But the next time it rains, get dressed and go out. This is the best way to really know what the flow of water is on ... and off your property.

First, identify the flow from your downspouts. (We assume you have all disconnected your downspout.) Check that the rain flows on to your property and not to your neighbor’s property or foundation. Then check that the rainwater flowing from your downspouts doesn’t flow off your property to the street or sewer. As we have been saying for years – “The rainwater that falls on your property, should stay on your property and not flow to the street to become stormwater”. TM

If the rainwater flows to turf grass check that it doesn’t flow off the grass because turf can be nearly as impervious as concrete. Rainwater that flows to an existing garden or rain garden is a great thing. You can also add a rain barrel to one of your downspouts and capture 50-55 gallons for later use and allow the overflow to run to your garden or rain garden.

These are simple things you can do to keep our rivers and lakes clean and reduce stormwater pollution! We ask you to capture and “enjoy the rain . . .  it’s free, clean and delivered to your doorstep.” TM

Public Outreach and Education

Rain Garden Network will be starting a campaign of education and outreach to local municipalities and officials, environmental consulting and green businesses, schools and faith groups to help them plan education and outreach programs for their audiences. We’ll post more information online soon.

Plant Picking

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

Little Bluestem - Schizachyrium scoparium, is a native prairie grass that tolerates poor soils well. It grass grows in clumps of about 1’ in diameter and grows to a height of 3-4’. The stem and leaves have a bluish color in summer and a reddish-tan color in fall.

Blue Eyed Grass - Sisyrinchium montanum, is a small perennial, related to the iris family, that are only 4-6" tall with green, grass-like leaves. The small blue and yellow flowers appear in June and will last about a month before creating small, green seed pods that turn brown when fully formed.

Wild Columbine – Aquilegia canadensis, are 1-3’ tall with showy, nodding, flowers that are red and yellow in color and 1-2” in length. Columbine grow in partial shade and full shade conditions and tolerate dry and draught well. They grow best in the upper areas of rain gardens and require no municipal water to grow.

Join us at the Chicago Green Festival – May 16-17, 2009

We will be speaking at the Green Home Pavilion on Saturday, May 16 at 3:00pm. Come visit us and visit all the green vendors!

New links on Homepage

Watch Online - "Poisoned Water" by PBS

Rent the DVD or watch the Trailer for "Flow" the film

New links to Chicago Area Municipal Sewer Information

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

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