Learn More About
Rain Garden Course
Growing Greener Communities is proud to announce a new program available to residents in the Greater Philadelphia area! The GGC Rain Garden Course is a four week program that covers everything you need to design and install your own native rain garden. The course includes live class sessions, hands-on rain garden build experience, and individualized project support. There will be weekly assignments that guide participants through the rain garden design process, and access to a forum where participants can share resources, ask questions, and build a community of gardeners.
Upon completing the course, participants will receive native plants and tailored resources to help make their own rain garden project a success.
The GGC Rain Garden Course will be offered as a virtual program on Wednesday evenings from 7-8pm, starting April 22 and ending May 13. Registration is free, and we encourage residents of the Darby, Cobbs, and Schuylkill River watersheds to apply.
Not sure if you're eligible to participate? Use this map to check before before registering.
Questions? Contact Ryan at ryanr@prc.org or call 610 353-1555 x5
Course Schedule
Week 1: Introduction to Stormwater and Green Solutions (GSI)
This week introduces rain gardens as a solution to the various challenges that the Delaware River Watershed faces today. Topics include stormwater runoff and land development, climate change, and green vs grey stormwater infrastructure.
Week 2: Rain Garden Site Selection
This week teaches participants how to assess their property for an ideal rain garden location. Topics include identifying potential hazards in a location, soil composition, and moisture drainage. Participants will practice assessing a theoretical garden location, and begin the process of creating a plan for their own rain garden.
Week 3: Rain Garden Design and Planting
This week teaches participants how to fully design a rain garden after identifying an ideal location. Topics include drainage area and slope calculations, amending soil to fix size constraints, and native plant selection. Participants will practice calculating the ideal square footage of their rain garden, and learn to plan for what their garden will look like year round.
Week 4: Rain Garden Construction and Maintenance
This week completes the course and teaches participants the steps and techniques used during rain garden construction. Topics include construction, maintaining weeds and invasive species sustainably, and how to access watershed friendly landscaping resources in the Delaware River Watershed.
Week 5- Program Follow-up
This is a non-mandatory, in person session where participants can discuss bringing their planned rain garden to life, ask instructors more detailed questions about the watershed, or learn about further ways to get involved in community GSI initiatives.