RAIN GARDEN WORKSHOP IN BOURBON COUNTY

October 16, 2013By 0 comment
An example of a rain garden, located at Spring House Gardens, Nicholasville, Ky.
An example of a rain garden, located at Spring House Gardens, Nicholasville, Ky.

Bluegrass Greensource is hosting the last rain garden workshop for the fall on October 19th at the Bourbon County Library in Paris.  The workshop is free and open to the public, thanks to the generous support of a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under §319(h) of the Clean Water Act.   If you are interested in attending, register at  https://bourboncoraingardenworkshop.eventbrite.com/.

“Bluegrass Greensource is so excited to host the rain garden workshop in Bourbon County,” said Kara Sayles, rain garden project coordinator, “and we are also offering a limited number of $250 grants to eligible residents for constructing their own rain garden.”  Only residents in Jessamine, Scott and Bourbon counties are eligible to apply for these grants.

A rain garden is a garden with a shallow depression which is strategically located on a property to capture stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces, such as rooftops, patios and driveways, before it enters the storm water system. The soil and plant roots use natural processes to improve water quality by filtering pollutants, the overall amount of stormwater runoff is reduced, and the groundwater supply is recharged.

The workshop is designed to educate homeowners about the benefits of installing a rain garden and improving water quality, and the best management practices for stormwater. Participants will learn how to determine the right location, how to build and maintain a rain garden, and what types of plants are most successful and environmentally beneficial. Additionally, the participants will have the opportunity to take part in planting native plants in a rain garden near the workshop.

“We are proud to educate Kentucky homeowners on the numerous benefits of rain gardens and to demonstrate that they’re a tool that virtually anyone can use to manage their property’s runoff,” Sayles said. Space is limited for workshops, so interested participants must register at https://bourboncoraingardenworkshop.eventbrite.com/.  Plans are in the works to offer additional rain garden workshops next fall in Woodford, Clark and Madison Counties.

This work was funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under §319(h) of the Clean Water Act. Bluegrass Greensource (formerly Bluegrasss PRIDE) is an environmental non-profit organization that offers resources and educational information to foster positive environmental change in their communities. Founded in 2001, Greensource provides outreach to schools, community groups, businesses, local government and the citizens in Central Kentucky.

 

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Garrard County Joined Us for a Septic Care Workshop

October 15, 2013By 0 comment

Septic Workshop photoHomeowners attended a free workshop about septic system care and maintenance, hosted by Bluegrass Greensource in partnership with the Garrard County Health Department on November 5th.  The workshop, held at Maywoods Environmental and Educational Laboratory, gave local residents an opportunity to learn about how the septic systems in their homes work, how to take care of them, how to tell if they’re not working properly, and what to do if a problem is suspected.  Additionally, Malissa McAlister of the Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute discussed the history of water quality sampling in the Dix River watershed and the impact failing septic systems have on human health and on the environment.  Following the workshop, participants were able to apply for financial assistance, including free pumpouts and cost-share grants for system repairs or installations.

The workshop was the first in a series of similar workshops to be held as part of a grant program funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act through the Kentucky Division of Water.  Bluegrass Greensource will offer a total of nine homeowner workshops over the next three years, as well as a series of watershed festival events in local communities and water-related activities in area Kindergarten – 12th grade classrooms.

The next free septic system workshop offered through this program is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, January 14th from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at McKinney Elementary in Lincoln County.  Only residents of the Dix River watershed in Boyle, Garrard, and Lincoln Counties who attend the workshop are eligible to apply for the financial assistance programs.  Please contact Sandy Bottoms at sandy@bggreensource.org or (859) 266-1572 for more information.

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Opportunities to learn about environment, how to take care of it, abound

October 3, 2013By 0 comment

A few weekends ago I was fortunate enough to attend the 37th annual Kentucky Association of Environmental Educators conference at the Lake Barkley Lodge down in the western part of the state. It was a fantastic time filled with educational workshops and set in a beautiful part of the state. (If you have never gotten the chance to visit Lake Barkley or Land Between the Lakes, I would highly recommend the long drive. Definitely worth it.)

It was equally exciting to spend time with so many people who understand the value of environmental education and the impact it can have on the lives of others. From professionals like myself, who get to focus on environmental education all the time, to volunteers and school teachers who might not get to spend as much time as they would like, it was great to come together and benefit from the experience of others.

It struck me as I was going from my different workshops and interacting with all of the different people who attended that there really is something for everyone in the environmental education field. As long as you have the desire to learn and teach about the environment as your base, you can take environmental education and plug it in anywhere.

It can be found in obvious places such as schools and with nonprofits, or in less obvious places such as works of art, sports and in businesses. For example, one of the workshops I had the opportunity to take was on eco-graffiti and how artists across the world have used a mixture of moss blended with water a few other materials and have created paintings on the side of brick and concrete surfaces that are alive and grow.

During my time there I enjoyed a trail run and got a chance to canoe, both experiences that offered an opportunity to learn about the environment through both signs and guides. And while networking, it was fascinating to hear about the different ways businesses are learning and interacting with the environment, which not only results in a healthier environment, but also is becoming a standard way to save money and increase profits.

No matter how you look at it, environmental education can be found anywhere and as more people embrace all that it has to offer, hopefully we will all get on the same page about its importance.

1 Ryan-Farley

Ryan Farley serves Bluegrass Greensource in a hybrid role, working as an environmental educator with several outreach specialist responsibilities. Ryan received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgetown College and a master’s in recreation and park administration from Eastern Kentucky University. He has worked at wildlife rescue and rehabilitation in Texas and with Kentucky 4-H in various roles. Farley provides educational programs to several Fayette County schools and works with downtown businesses and the greater Lexington community to educate and empower residents to become better environmental stewards.

This article appeared in KY Forward on October 3, 2013.

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Bluegrass Greensource Honored by KY Department of Environmental Protection

October 1, 2013By 0 comment

Lexington, KY – Bluegrass Greensource (formerly Bluegrass PRIDE) was presented with the Community Environmental Luminary Award for outstanding achievement in community-based environmental education and outreach by the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection. The annual Environmental Excellence Award ceremony took place during the 37th Governor’s Conference on Energy & the Environment held at the Lexington Convention Center.

“Bluegrass Greensource is truly honored to be recognized for our work in the Central Kentucky communities we serve,” said Amy Sohner, executive director of Bluegrass Greensource. “We take great pride in our efforts and to receive this award is very gratifying.”

Bluegrass Greensource’s Environmental Educators and Outreach Specialists cater to both youth and adult populations. They partner with schools and local government to provide programming on the natural environment and energy efficient initiatives.

“Bluegrass Greensource is thankful for the many supporters and volunteers that help make our work possible and we feel they share in this award. We are also fortunate to have partnerships throughout Central Kentucky, particularly with Lexington Fayette Urban County Government and Kentucky American Water,” Sohner continued. “We look forward to building on our success and continuing to encourage Central Kentuckians to work together for a more sustainable future.”

Bluegrass Greensource is an environmental non-profit organization that has offered resources and educational information to 19 Central Kentucky Counties since 2001. Greensource undertakes outreach to over 230 schools, 600 community groups, businesses, local governments and private citizens throughout Central Kentucky. Encouraging small changes in every day lives that make big differences, they foster positive environmental and economic impact throughout the region. For more information please visit www.bgGreensource.org.

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