Incorporating rain gardens, rain barrels, and other types of on-site
rainwater management techniques on school property and within community gardens is inexpensive, environmentally sensible, and full of educational opportunities.
Schools
Schools are central to the community, those who are the beneficiaries of clean water and a healthy environment, especially for children and their parents.
A rain garden and the planning it takes to install one can be a valuable experience for students and teachers. Awareness of environmental issues, right in your neighborhood, are lesson that stays for a lifetime.
“Think Globally, Act Locally”.
The installation of rain gardens and other on-site stormwater alternatives on school property can make perfect classrooms. The property is usually large and contains a tremendous amount of impervious surfaces – rooftops, blacktops, sidewalks, compacted soil, etc.
Beyond the actual act of capturing and treating stormwater, a rain garden can offer many teaching and curriculum activities in math, poetry, history, composition and of course science.
Community Gardens
Community gardens can be magnets for members of the community interested
in water quality and pollution reduction. Captured rainwater from structures on the property can fill rain barrels or flow to healthy rain gardens.
Benefits
- Create a four-season space
Spring – early blooming plants
Summer – full growth and flowering plants, food &habitat for birds & beneficial insects
Autumn – tan, brown, and red coloring, habitat and seeds for migrating birds
Winter – winter interest and food & habitat for birds to us and the belief that the water available to us is infinite. It is not.
- Hands-on, in-the-field educational opportunities
- Sustainable through drought, flood, and the summer break
- Reduction of low, soggy spots and excess standing water
- Create habitat for local & migrating birds and beneficial insects, including butterflies
- Reduction in mosquito breeding
- Absorption of rainwater runoff from rooftops, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots and playgrounds
- On-site filtering of local polluted stormwater and improvement to water quality
- Reduction in the amount of runoff contribution to local rivers, streams, or municipal stormwater systems
- Enhance community awareness of stormwater issues
- Create a sense of community ownership of the solution to pollution issues
- Low cost of installation and maintenance
- Enhancement of the appearance of buildings