Bluegrass Greensource is hosting the last rain garden workshop for the fall on October 19^th 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.