water Archives - Bluegrass Greensource

Rain Gardens: Beneficial & Beautiful!

March 22, 2016By BGGS Admin0 comment

Rain gardens are an excellent and proven way to limit run off from entering our storm sewers and streams. In addition to helping reduce nonpoint source pollution such as litter, fertilizer, and animal waste (from pets or livestock) from entering our waterways, rain gardens can be an attractive way to address these challenges, particularly where urban-related runoff is a problem.

For the past decade, Bluegrass Greensource has been educating Central Kentucky homeowners about the benefits of rain gardens, in addition to providing the technical and financial resources needed to install them. Our goal is to increase awareness of water pollution, how it happens, and how to clean it up, especially when it comes to sources of pollution that average person has some control over. Our approach is to educate residents on how to select an appropriate site for the garden, how to construct it, and what plants are suited for a rain garden. In the time that we have worked to increase the installation of rain gardens, we have learned that most people also need information on how to renovate, maintain, and care for a rain garden once it is has been established.

In the past few years, we have worked with the Kentucky Division of Water on a grant program designed to greatly increase the number of gardens throughout Central Kentucky. Our efforts have been very successful, with more than 50 rain gardens installed or renovated in the past two years. This particular project focused on homeowners in the six counties that border Fayette: Bourbon, Clark, Jessamine, Madison, Scott and Woodford, in addition to extending the program to Fayette County in the second year of the grant. In this program, we reached more than 350 people through 22 workshops, three rain garden tours, eight community festivals, and outreach to various schools and scout groups.

With spring finally here, it’s a great time to get started on installing your own rain garden. If you are interested, but aren’t sure where to start, we’ve got you covered. You can visit a dedicated page on our website. Once there, you can access a very popular Rain Garden Manual that we produced to help residents better understand the how’s and why’s of installing a garden. Additionally, if you’re looking for inspiration and want to see some cool examples of existing gardens, we have created an interactive map that provides a guide and brief profile of area rain gardens.

So get inspired, find the resources you need, and join us in creating sites that are beautiful and help reduce pollution!

Volunteers Needed for Kentucky River Clean Sweep

June 12, 2014By BGGS Admin0 comment

Interested in spending a day on the Kentucky River and improving our environment? You can do both by volunteering for the annual Kentucky River Clean Sweep on Saturday, June 21.

While few of us Lexingtonians see the Kentucky River on a daily basis, 12 miles of it runs through our community and is our drinking water source. This small section of the Kentucky River that touches Fayette County is a tributary of the Ohio River, making it part of the 3000 mile long, multi-state Ohio River Cleanup that runs from Pennsylvania to Illinois.

For the last 25 years, volunteers have cleaned thousands of tons of trash from the river. You can be part of this effort by volunteering on June 21.

The Kentucky River Clean Sweep begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Clays Ferry Dock off Highway 25 (Old Richmond Road), under the I-75 overpass. Volunteers should wear sunscreen, close-toed shoes and clothes that can get muddy. All volunteers will receive lunch and our gratitude.

All volunteers can register online at www.riversweep2014.eventbrite.com.

It’s hard work, but it’s worth it to keep our water clean!

‘Is there really anything we can do about water?’ Yes – and then some!

May 29, 2014By BGGS Admin0 comment

Through our work with the city’s LiveGreenLexington Program – a program that recognizes and assists with the sustainability efforts of local businesses, places of worship and apartment complexes – I spend a lot of time talking to my fellow Lexingtonians about going green in the workplace. The one thing that always trips people up is water; from large offices to mom-and-pop shops, the most common response is, “Is there really anything we can do about that?”

The answer is yes – even small changes that might not seem like much can make a big impact on a business’ water consumption and the quality of the water supply we rely on! To share some ideas and insight, offer some inspiration, and get our business community involved in water quality and conservation, Bluegrass Greensource is hosting a series of events during the first week of June.

Storm drain stenciling is one of Bluegrass Greensource’s Water Week activities.

Our Water Week schedule:

Tuesday, June 3: Lunch-and-Learn on Water
Quality and Conservation in the Workplace
12 – 1 p.m. in the Plantory (560 E. Third Street) Conference Room
Eliminate waste, reduce your water bill and help make Kentucky’s streams a little cleaner with these simple tips on water quality and conservation. We’ll focus on easy, practical fixes – indoors and out – to help your business use water more efficiently, even if your space is leased and you don’t have as much control over the big picture as you would like. Lunch from Stella’s Kentucky Deli and Magic Beans coffee are on us (bring your own mug if you have one). Please RSVP by 2 p.m. on Friday, May 30 so that we can ensure there’s a lunch waiting for you.

Wednesday, June 4: Tour of the Town
Branch Waste Water Treatment Plant
10 – 11 a.m. at the Town Branch Administrative Building (301 Lisle Industrial Avenue)
Where does the water you use wind up once it goes down the drain? Sixty percent of Lexington’s wastewater (up to 64 million gallons a day) runs through the Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how the water you use at home and at work is cleaned and treated before being discharged back into the water system.

Thursday, June 5: Stream Cleanupp
2-4 p.m. at the Park Hills Shopping Center (3120 Pimlico Parkway)
We don’t always think of litter as a water quality issue, but it is; nothing makes that more apparent than seeing just how much litter washes directly into streams through our storm sewer system. Help us clean up the stream behind the Bluegrass Greensource office in the Park Hills Shopping Center; we’ll provide gloves, bags and litter pickers. Be sure to wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothes that you don’t mind getting wet (just in case…we won’t ask you to dive in). Sign-in runs from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Bluegrass Greensource office – stay as long as you like!

Friday, June 6: Storm Drain Stenciling
2-4 p.m. on National Avenue (Corner of National and Walton)
Storm drains carry pollutants and litter straight into our streams every time it rains, without filtration or cleaning. Remind your fellow Lexingtonians to respect our water by marking storm drains along National Avenue with the city’s “No Dumping – Drains to Stream” stencils. If you’ve always wanted to do a little graffiti for a good cause, this is your chance. Sign-in runs from 2-3:30 p.m. at the corner of National and Walton – stay as long as you like.

A free lunch, a behind-the-scenes tour, a 100 percent legal excuse to spray paint on the street…there’s a lot to love about Water Week. If you’re interested in representing your workplace at any of our Water Week events, all you need to do is email and let us know you’re coming. Water Week is designed for our LiveGreenLexington Partners, but these events are free and open to any Lexington business interested in becoming more sustainable (and saving a little money on water bills).

Beth Oleson is an Outreach Specialist with Bluegrass Greensource.

This article appeared in KY Forward on May 29, 2014.

Before summer’s heat sets in, plan ways to reduce your water consumption

May 28, 2014By BGGS Admin0 comment

Can you believe it? Summer is almost here. My plants are in the garden; my lawn is green; and best of all, no more snow!

Summer living is great, but it’s not always easy on the planet. Americans use more water than anyone else in the world, and that water use increases dramatically over the summer. So before summer is in full swing and it gets too hot, plan to reduce your and your family’s water consumption this year.

Here are a few ways you can have fun while conserving water:

Make saving water a game

Get the kids involved in saving water around the house. The habits children develop at an early age are more likely to stay with them throughout their lives. Rewarding children for conserving water is a great way to reinforce good habits. Give a sticker if you see your child turning off the water while brushing his/her teeth.

Letting children play in the sprinkler when you water the lawn is one way to get creative while conserving water.

If you have a teenager, you know that they love having some extra spending money. Why not drop some money in a jar everytime he/she remembers to take a short shower (five minutes or less) or uses the same water glass all day? These little habits will save thousands of gallons of water over their lifetimes.

Send kids out on a hunt for leaks. Kentucky American Water has a great online guide for leak detection at home. Challenge the family to not use any water for two hours. During that time, have the kids check the water meter. If the dial moves at all, have them check all the faucets, spigots, under sinks, etc. for any signs of a leak. Give a prize to anyone who finds a leaky faucet or a drip under the sink. Fix these leaks ASAP.

When the weather isn’t conducive to outside activities, check out the water education games that are available online. Wateruseitwisely.com has some great games for kids that teach them about many different water quality and water conservation topics.

Creatively water your lawn

Some of the largest wastes of water are from irrigation and watering our lawns and gardens, but we all know that there are times when the lawn NEEDS to be watered. When it’s time to water the lawn, here are some creative ways to multitask and reduce your water usage.

Let the kids play in the sprinkler. Allow kids to play water games in the yard. Just make sure to rotate the fun, so that one spot does not get over saturated.

Wash the dog outside. Fill up a kiddie pool or bucket outside. Give the dog a good wash. Then you can distribute the water you just used to wash the dog on the lawn.

Rain barrels collect soft rainwater, which plants love.

Wash your car on the lawn. By pulling the car into the grass before washing it, you are conserving water and helping to keep soap and grease from your vehicle out of the storm drains.

Install a rain barrel

Rain barrels collect soft rainwater, which plants love, and best of all, it’s free. The water saved in rain barrels can be used for watering flowers, gardens and lawns all through the summer, even in times of drought. However, the water should not be used for drinking or human consumption.

Installing a rain barrel benefits the environment and you. Using rainwater for watering will reduce your use of municipal water supplies, saving you money. For more information about rain barrels or to attend an upcoming Rain Barrel Workshop, check out our website.

If you want some more tips and ways to conserve water, check out the Bluegrass Greensource website or the Kentucky American Water website.

Ashley Bryant Cheney is the green jobs coordinator for Bluegrass Greensource, connecting green businesses with a young workforce and preparing students for green careers in the Bluegrass. From Knoxville, she’s worked in volunteer and program management at various nonprofits. She has a bachelor’s in Psychology from Carson-Newman University and a master’s in Urban Studies and Community Development from Eastern University.

This article appeared in KY Forward on May 22, 2014.

Water Week Activities to be Held June 3 – 6, 2014

May 14, 2014By BGGS Admin0 comment

Grab your goggles, LiveGreenLexington Partners, because we’re diving into Water Week from June 3^rd – 6^th! The water stewardship season of this year’s LiveGreenLexington Games runs through June 30^th, so there’s still plenty of time to sign up and work on your scorecard. If you’re getting a late start (or just really want that water stewardship award), Water Week is the perfect opportunity to earn a little extra credit.

Water Week activities include:

Lunch-and-Learn on Water Conservation in the Workplace – Tuesday, June 3^rd, 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Eliminate waste, reduce your water bill, and help make Kentucky’s streams a little cleaner with these simple tips on water quality and conservation. We’ll be focusing on easy, practical fixes – indoors and out – to help your business use water more efficiently, even if you lease your space and you don’t have as much control over the big picture as you would like. Lunch and coffee are on us! This event will take place in the Plantory’s conference room at 560 E Third Street. Please RSVP to Beth@bgGreensource.org by Friday, May 30^th to ensure there’s a lunch waiting for you.

Tour of the Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant – Wednesday, June 4^th, 10:00 – 11:00 am
Where does the water you use wind up once it goes down the drain? 60% of Lexington’s wastewater (up to 64 million gallons per day) runs through the Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how the water you use at home and at work is cleaned and treated before being discharged back into our streams.

Stream Clean-Up at the Park Hills Shopping Center – Thursday, June 5^th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
We don’t always think of litter as a water quality issue, but it is, and nothing makes that more apparent than seeing just how much litter washes directly into streams through our storm sewer system. Help us clean up the stream behind the Bluegrass Greensource office in the Park Hills Shopping Center at 3120 Pimlico Parkway; we’ll provide gloves, bags, and litter pickers. Be sure to wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothes that you don’t mind getting wet (just in case…we won’t ask you to dive in). Sign-in runs from 2:00-3:30 pm.

Storm Drain Stenciling – Friday, June 6^th, 2:00 – 4:00 pmStorm drains carry pollutants and litter straight into our streams every time it rains. Remind your fellow Lexingtonians to respect our water by marking storm drains along National Avenue with the city’s “No Dumping – Drains to Stream” stencils. If you’ve always wanted to do a little graffiti for a good cause, this is your chance!

For businesses participating in the water stewardship season of the Games, each activity will earn you one extra point; if your business is represented at all four activities, you’ll earn an additional point (for a total of five possible points). Water Week activities are free and open to all LiveGreenLexington Partners, even if you’re not participating in the Games. Email Beth Oleson with any questions, to register for any of our Water Week activities, or to find out how your workplace can become a Partner!

So, what’s your watershed? Find out, then work to keep pollutants out

April 28, 2014By BGGS Admin0 comment

Several years ago while attending a conference, I chose a session on rain gardens. As a horticulturist with a penchant for native and heirloom plants, I found the concept intriguing.

(Graphic from EPA.gov)

To my surprise, the presenter started out by asking if we could identify our watershed. “My what?” This led into an unexpected but undeniably interesting talk about stormwater runoff, storm drains emptying directly into our streams, and “best management practices” for handling this runoff – finally, we were talking about rain gardens.

Little did I realize that a few years later I would be planning watershed festivals in three nearby counties and using the Watershed Enviroscape model as an educational tool in classrooms throughout Central and Eastern Kentucky. Now I am the one asking students “So what’s a watershed?” (and no, it is not a shack by the water).

Now I know that a watershed is the land area that drains (or sheds) rainwater runoff into a common water body (and that land use within that area affects the quality of the water). In Kentucky, with our Karst topography, this affects both surface and underground water.

Ironically, when using the Watershed Enviroscape, the kids’ favorite part of the demonstration is watching the water with red food coloring pour out of the factory and into the stream (indicating “point source” pollution). But as educators, we focus more on “non point source” or “runoff” pollutants that are carried in rainwater runoff, and what we, as conscientious citizens, can do to prevent that pollution.

The easiest of all these “best management” practices is don’t litter. Take personal responsibility, recycle and make sure that your bins have secure lids.

Next, use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly, opting for composting yard and kitchen waste and choosing other ways of deterring pests, like companion planting.

Install a rain garden to capture runoff in your yard and/or a rain barrel to catch rooftop runoff and conserve water.

Plant native flowers, grasses and trees, with deep roots, to prevent erosion and reduce topical watering. This is especially important near waterways, creating a “riparian” buffer to filter out pollutants.

Pick up after your pets, and if you farm, keep livestock out of the streams to prevent erosion and large amounts of waste from entering our watershed.

Maintain your septic system.

Maintain vehicles to prevent leakage of oil, gas and other fluids.

And remember, our storm drains lead directly into our streams, so don’t sweep contaminants into the street or down storm drains.

I participate in volunteer water sampling for Kentucky River Watershed Watch in my local watershed, the Mock’s Branch/Spears Creek sub-watershed of the Dix River. I find that identifying my watershed and participating in testing gives me a personal investment in the quality of the water that flows behind my home.

Want to find out about your watershed? If you live in Lexington, click here. Outside Lexington, visit Surf Your Watershed here or Kentucky River Watershed Watch here.

Deborah Larkin joined Greensource in 2010 as an environmental educator. She works with numerous schools in Fayette County as part of Greensource’s partnership with LFUCG and is responsible for outreach activities in Boyle, Clark, Garrard and Lincoln counties. She received her bachelor’s in horticulture from the University of Kentucky. Before coming to Greensource, Larkin worked for 27 years at the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, near Harrodsburg, where she researched and re-established the 19th century apple orchard, herb garden and heirloom seed industry.

This article appeared in KY Forward on April 24, 2014.

Upcoming Festivals Will Celebrate Clean Water in Central Kentucky

April 14, 2014By BGGS Admin0 comment

The birds are chirping, the trees are in bloom, the weather is warming up – spring has sprung and it’s the perfect time to celebrate the Earth! Bluegrass Greensource is working with a variety of local partners to host three watershed festivals this spring in Boyle, Garrard, and Lincoln Counties.

The Boyle County Earth Day Festival, held in conjunction with Clarks Run Environmental and Educational Corporation, Boyle County Cooperative Extension, and Bluegrass Community and Technical College, will be held Saturday, April 26^th from 11:00 to 3:00 at BCTC’s Danville campus. The event features a 2K “fun hike” and 26K bicycle ride, children’s activities, a display of artwork by Junction City Elementary 5^th graders, live music, concessions by Lucky Dog BBQ, and environmentally-themed displays from local vendors such as Boyle County Solid Waste, Boyle County Public Library, Community Arts Center, Smart Growth Boyle, and more. Informational sessions will be offered about local water quality, septic system care, and home composting. Additionally, Boyle County Cooperative Extension will offer a two-part rain garden workshop beginning on Friday, April 25, during which participants can learn to design and build a rain garden using native plants.

For detailed information about the Boyle County Earth Day Festival, click here.

The Garrard County Earth Day/Watershed Festival will be held on Saturday, May 10^th from 10:00 to 4:00 at the Garrard County Extension office. The event is co-sponsored by Earth Angels, Garrard/Lincoln Solid Waste, and Garrard County Cooperative Extension and will feature children’s activities, a display of watershed posters by Paint Lick Elementary students, a display of Garrard County nature photography, vendors selling recycled and handmade items, concessions, nature walks on the Pleasant Retreat trail, a recycled fashion show, and environmentally-themed displays from local organizations. Informational sessions will be offered about local water quality, septic system care, monarch waystations, and Garrard County flora.

For detailed information about the Garrard County Earth Day/Watershed Festival, click here.

The Lincoln County Earth and Arts Festival will be held on Saturday, June 14^th from 10:00 to 3:00 at the First Southern Community Arts Center in Stanford. The event is co-sponsored by the Community Arts Center and Garrard/Lincoln Solid Waste, and will feature children’s activities, live music, food vendors, rain barrel sales, environmentally-themed displays from local organizations, and more.

For detailed information about the Lincoln County Earth & Arts Festival, click here.

The spring festivals are funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under §319(h) of the Clean Water Act. Bluegrass Greensource will work with local partners to host a total of nine Earth Day or watershed festival events over the next three years in Boyle, Garrard, and Lincoln Counties.

It’s not always easy being green with a puppy in the house, but it is important

February 14, 2014By BGGS Admin0 comment

My wife and I were fortunate enough back in November to adopt a beautiful golden retriever that we named Bailey. She just hit the four-month-old mark and is constantly keeping us on our toes as we have adapted our lives around her.

What was once an easy process of getting up and getting ready in the morning now includes an extra meal to be served, walks when the weather is nice and several trips outside to let her do her business. We can’t leave anything on the floor now as she loves to take socks and shoes into her mouth and prance right past us, as if to show off her new chew toys.

And as she grows, no food is safe, whether it’s on the coffee table, the dining room table or the counters in our kitchen. Basically everything we do around our house has to be thought about from a new perspective, which is: Can the puppy get to this and if so, will she either try to eat it or destroy it? Needless to say it has been quite an adventure.

As an environmental educator, though, it has also forced me to think about dog ownership from an environmental standpoint. One of the most common thoughts regarding dog ownership, especially with dogs, is their waste. Most people in Lexington are aware that it is law that you must clean up after your dogs on a walk and that you can be cited if you don’t.

What most don’t know is why this is so important. During a rain event, or perhaps through some other means, a lot of that waste ends up in our roads, which means that it eventually washes into our storm drains. Unfortunately, the water that ends up down these drains isn’t cleaned or filtered and, instead, flows directly into streams and creeks throughout the city.

As the waste builds up in these areas it starts to have a negative impact on our water. The waste can spread disease and bacteria as it sits in areas where it shouldn’t or as it flows in the water. That can have a negative impact on the quality of the water itself, putting additional material in the water that can throw off the different components that make up water quality.

Needless to say picking up after a pet is a fantastic way for dog lovers to have a direct impact on their local environment. Here are some other ideas on how to be a green pet owner:

When it’s warm out and you’re bathing your dog, rather than running the hose nonstop, fill up a bucket or kiddie pool.

If a toy has fallen out of favor, rather than throwing it away, try to find someone else to take it or donate it to a shelter.

Likewise, old blankets and towels are always needed at local animal shelters.

If you prefer to leave the TV on for the pet at home for the noise, either put it on a timer or try using a radio instead.

As we continue our journey as dog parents I am sure there will be many more lessons either taught or learned from experience, and I hope that finding new ways to limit our environmental impact is one of them.

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 February 13, 2014.

Bringing Water Conservation Education to Local Businesses

October 16, 2013By BGGS Admin0 comment

For the past two months, Kentucky American Water has been partnering with Bluegrass Greensource on water conservation and quality presentations throughout Bourbon, Clark, Owen, Scott, and Woodford counties. The presentations highlighted different ways people can conserve water at work, at home and in their yard.

Did you know the average dishwasher uses 40-55 gallons of water per cycle? Did you know that 13.7% of the water “used” in the average home actually comes from leaks?

Participants learned about average water usages in the home, including many common appliances. They learned ways to save water, including turning off the faucet as you brush your teeth or only washing dishes when the dishwasher is full. Out in the yard, utilizing rain barrels and rain gardens can not only capture water to utilize in your landscaping, but can also prevent runoff from collecting chemicals and litter and depositing it in the local streams. At work, it’s important to incorporate water conservation into new hire training, as it is not only good for the environment, but also can save the business money.

A wide variety of organizations and businesses participated, including: Scott County Extension, Full Circle Market in Winchester, Owen County Library, Life Adventure Center of the Bluegrass, Leadership Scott County, KCTCS, Bourbon County YMCA, Owen County Rotary Club, Woodford County Extension and the Woodford County Library.

Bluegrass Greensource offers many resources including water audit kits that can be used at home to identify potential wasted water. By working to conserve water, not only can businesses and individuals save money, but they can help the environment as well.

For more information and resources, contact Ryan Farley at ryan@bggreensource.org.

Explorations in Water

August 20, 2013By BGGS Admin0 comment

Our Water Quality Workshop for Teachers is coming September 18th. The workshop is designed to help teachers understand how water quality and water conservation can be taught in a variety of ways and across disciplines.

Water resources are of major environmental, social and economic value. We rely of water for our health, ecosystem, farming, fishing and mining, plus it contributes to recreation and tourism. If water quality becomes degraded, this resource will lose its value.

The workshop will include water quality indicators, performing water tests, stormwater mapping, planning a school rain garden and information on Kentucky Green and Healthy Schools Water Inventory. It is open to all teachers in Bourbon, Clark, Owen, Scott, and Woodford counties.

Special thanks to Kentucky American Water for funding this workshop and supporting area teachers.

Date: September 18, 2013

Time: 9:00 – 3:00

Location: Scott County Extension Office

1130 Cincinnati Road

Georgetown, KY 40324

For more information on the workshop and to register, please contact:

Pattie Stivender

Bluegrass Greensource

3120 Pimlico Parkway

Suite 126

Lexington, KY 40517

(859)266-1572

pattie@bgGreensource.org

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‘Is there really anything we can do about water?’ Yes – and then some!

Before summer’s heat sets in, plan ways to reduce your water consumption

Water Week Activities to be Held June 3 – 6, 2014

So, what’s your watershed? Find out, then work to keep pollutants out

Upcoming Festivals Will Celebrate Clean Water in Central Kentucky

It’s not always easy being green with a puppy in the house, but it is important

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