Have you heard of rain gardens?
Rain gardens natural or dug shallow depressions designed to capture and soak up stormwater runoff from our roofs or other impervious areas around our homes, buildings, etc (like driveways, walkways, and even compacted lawn areas).
Currently, cities are paved: from roads to sidewalks. Homes tend to have lawns, which are not any good for water management. And rainwater? It just fall all over the place and has nowhere to go but running off (in the past, it was absorbed by the soil and used up or preserved in tree roots for later use and distribution)
With our climate changing, we will see more and more draughts during Lower Mainland summers and more erratic weather patterns.
Rain gardens can help us to manage these and other associated challenges as some of their benefits are:
- Filter runoff pollution
- Survive drought seasons (impact on edible plants and our food!)
- Reduce potential of home flooding
- Recharge local groundwater (important sources of water for our local farms!)
- Conserve water
- Improve water quality
- Protect rivers and streams
- Remove standing water in your yard
- Reduce mosquito breeding
- Increase beneficial insects that eliminate pest insects
- Create habitat for birds & butterflies
- Reduce garden maintenance
- Enhance sidewalk appeal
- Increase garden enjoyment
Deborah Jones, the Rain Gardens Coordinator for Cougar Creek Streamkeepers, will explain the “what, why and how” of Rain Gardens, a simple and effective use of landscaping to protect salmon streams, reduce ocean pollution, conserve water, enhance wildlife habitat and address drainage problems with an aesthetic and ecologically sound method. The slide presentation features numerous examples of local rain gardens large and small, followed by discussion and a short video. The workshop is free and takes place at the City Centre Library, Dr. Ambedkar Room on Wednesday, February 18, 6:30-8:30.
(organized under the umbrella of Village Surrey in Transition)