Purdue Extension offers more instruction on 'rainscaping'
July 30, 2015
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue Extension is continuing its "rainscaping" education program by offering another workshop for people interested in learning how to create attractive home or small-scale community rain gardens while minimizing runoff of pollution.
The workshop Sept. 17-18 at the IUPUC Campus Center, 4601 Central Ave. in Columbus, will teach community leaders how to promote community awareness and provide education for rain garden planning, installation and maintenance. It is structured specifically for Purdue master gardeners, personnel in conservation agencies and organizations, storm water professionals, and landscape professionals and consultants.
"Landscapes with rainscaping capture stormwater, which reduces polluted runoff from homes and communities," said Kara Salazar, sustainable communities Extension specialist. "When plants and soils of a rainscaped landscape absorb water from storms, they keep pollution from reaching streams, rivers and lakes."
The workshop is part of a pilot project of the Purdue Rainscaping Education Program, which conducted similar workshops in the spring.
The program will include instruction on how to select sites and plants for rain gardens and how to install and maintain them. There also will be a tour of a rain garden.
Organizers encourage participants to attend as a community team to support implementation of public education programs and provide technical assistance to homeowners upon completion of the training. Participants must attend all sessions to receive a certificate of completion.
Registration fee is $50 per person. Information on registration and hotel accommodations is available online at Purdue Extension's The Education Store at https://www.edustore.purdue.edu. Search for product code CW-FNR-9. Registration also is available by calling the store at 888-398-4636.
More information also is available by contacting Salazar at 765-496-1070 or by email at salazark@purdue.edu, or by calling the Bartholomew County office of Purdue Extension at 812-379-1665.
The Purdue Rainscaping Education Program has videos explaining rain gardens on its website at https://ag.purdue.edu/extension/rainscaping.
Writer: Keith Robinson, 765-494-2722, robins89@purdue.edu
Source: Kara Salazar, 765-496-1070, salazark@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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