Please join Stewardship Partners and WSU Extension for a hands-on classroom workshop on rain garden design and construction. We have several classes scheduled throughout King County and the Seattle Metro area beginning January 22nd in Bellevue. Additional classes are scheduled throughout Pierce and Thurston counties (see below). January 15th in Lacey.

A rain garden consists of native trees, shrubs, herbs, and grasses planted in composted-amended soils in a shallow depression and strategically placed to effectively capture rainwater and slowly infiltrate it into the ground. Rain gardens work like native forests by capturing and infiltrating stormwater from rooftops, driveways, and other hard surfaces. Rain gardens reduce localized flooding; help recharge groundwater aquifers; provide beneficial wildlife habitat; and filter oil, grease and toxic materials before they can pollute local waterways.

Workshop participants will receive a rain garden handbook and other useful materials. They will also be invited to participate in several full scale rain garden installation workshops scheduled later in the spring and summer.

Classes are from 6:30 to 8:30 PM

King County Rain Garden Classes:

Thursday, January 22: Bellevue, Bellevue City Hall
Thursday, February 12: Carnation, Carnation City Hall
Tuesday, March 3: Renton, Renton Technical College
Tuesday, March 17: Downtown Seattle, Seattle Aquarium
Thursday, March 26: Seattle Tilth in Wallingford
Thursday, April 23: South Seattle, NW Environmental Education Center

Thurston County Rain Garden Classes:

Thursday, January 15: Lacey
Thursday, April 2: Yelm
Thursday, April 16: Tumwater
Olympia: Date TBA

Pierce County Rain Garden Classes:

Thursday, February 5: Orting, Orting Library
Thursday, February 19: Tacoma, Snake Lake Nature Center
Thursday, March 5: Buckley, Multi Purpose Center
Thursday, March 19: Lakewood , Lakewood Water District HQ
Monday, April 20: University Place, City Hall
Thursday, April 30: Edgewood, Edgewood City Hall

Workshops are free and registration is required. Participants will be sent site-assessment instructions in advance to help maximize their learning at the workshops. Contact Becky Abbey at Stewardship Partners to register and for more details:

Call (206) 292-9875 or email ba@stewardshippartners.org and visit Stewardship Partners for more rain garden information.

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