Join us for these fun, inspirational events in 2008.
Meijer Gardens Class: Rain Gardens: Taking West Michigan by Storm!
Grow a rain garden. Patricia will show you how to get started, from design to construction, and reveal which plants are most suitable. Preregistration and prepayment required. www.meijergardens.org
April 17, 7:15-8:45 p.m.
1000 East Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49525
616-957-1580
Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, April 29 Tuesday, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Patricia Pennell is back by popular demand to discuss the benefits of adding a rain garden to your landscape, and to answer your questions on designing one for your backyard. To register, download and fill out the application form (click here).
2685 East C Avenue, Augusta, Michigan 49021
269-671-2510 birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu
Ecofriendly Garden Day at WMEAC!
Spring Rain Garden Workshop, WMEAC offices, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Saturday, June 7, 9-Noon - $25
At the offices of West Michigan Environmental Action Council,
1007 Lake Drive SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
$25 fee goes to support the rain garden program.
Pre-registration required! You may pay at the door.
9 a.m.-10 a.m., rain garden presentation; learn about rain gardens, how to construct one, the beautiful native plants to use and where to get them, and more. We will serve coffee and snacks.
10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m., tour the beautiful Center of the Universe rain garden at our office and see our green roof.
11 a.m. to noon, help prepare and plant a NEW small rain garden next to our office. Rain or shine! Mud or drought! Call 616-451-3051 ext. 29 to register, or use our contact form.
Afternoon workshops: 1-3:30 p.m. FREE! (donation appreciated)
1 pm-2pm: (FREE-please pre-register)
Master Composter Juliette Cowall will share her expertise in composting. Learn how to turn your household waste into free black gold to feed your garden.
2:30pm-3:30pm: (FREE-please pre-register)
Duane DeVries of the Izaak Walton League will demonstrate how to make your own rain barrels from recycled and inexpensive materials. Learn how to save your rain for a sunny day, save money on your water bill, and protect our water resources in just one hour!
Download registration form by clicking here!
The Saturday Morning Gardener, July 19 2008, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan. Rain Gardens, 9-11 a.m. Learn the real story about rain gardens and why they make sense in our concrete, urban environments. Rain garden plants will be available for purchase!
This class counts as 2 hours of Master Gardener continuing education credit. Cost: $25. For more information, www.hrt.msu.edu/outreach/SMG120.htm or call Ann Hancock, 517-355-5191 ext. 1348.
Need an exhibit?
We have posters for your table-top exhibit. Order them here.
Presentations and Site Consultations
Our Rain Garden presentations are tailored to your watershed. We also have green roof (rain gardens on the roof!), naturescaping, wetlands, lakescaping, and other presentations. Patricia is not always available, but we often know of other speakers who can meet your needs.
The Michigan Groundwater Stewardship representative is also in our offices, and can offer several fascinating presentations on groundwater, naturescaping, and riparian landscaping. Call 616-451-3051 and ask for Rachel Hacket. Rachel works in Ottawa and Kent Counties.
Our mission is to educate people about stormwater issues and solutions, rain gardens, and the values of landscaping with native plants.
We sometimes have requests for presentations outside of West Michigan. If time permits, we enjoy participating in such events.
We charge $75 per hour for site consultation and presentations, and other expenses as necessary.
If you are interested in having a presentation and/or exhibit brought to your event, please contact our offices.
Rain Gardens of West Michigan
West Michigan Environmental Action Council
1007 Lake Dr. SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506
616-454-RAIN
or 616-451-3051 Ext. 29