This unique workshop for all Greater Cincinnati landscaping professionals will further their knowledge and skills on rain gardens, helping them offer custom solutions to both their residential & commercial clients. All aspects of designing & constructing, including details on siting, sizing, soil amendments, plant selection will be covered.
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Date: Monday, June 25, 2018

Cost: $25
​(includes lunch and refreshments)
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Location:
Sanitation District No. 1
1045 Eaton Dr
Ft. Wright, KY 41017

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All artists, including students and seasoned professionals, are invited to apply to be a part of the 6th annual Rain Barrel Art Project, an initiative designed to educate the community about water conservation and pollution caused by storm water runoff.
The Rain Barrel Art Project is a joint effort of Save Local Waters, its members and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. As part of this initiative, students and other community members throughout the Ohio River Valley are asked to submit artistic designs to beautify otherwise dull rain barrels that are then displayed at the Cincinnati Zoo and auctioned off to raise funds for conservation education.
“We are so grateful to the artists who’ve contributed to this project in the past. Their efforts to make otherwise plain rain barrels appealing to the eye have allowed us to raise awareness and encourage the use of rain barrels,” said John Nelson, a Save Local Waters representative and public relations specialist. “Rain barrels are a great tool for conserving water and saving money, and through the Rain Barrel Art Project we’ve so far been able to place about 250 beautiful rain barrels at homes and businesses throughout the Ohio River Valley area.”
Artists who wish to submit a design for consideration must do so by Jan. 22, 2018 through an online form at www.savelocalwaters.org, where additional instructions and submittal tips can be found. Designs will be selected and announced at the end of January. Artists whose designs are selected will be asked to attend an artist workshop on Feb. 10, 2018 to pick up their rain barrels and learn techniques for applying their design. Finished rain barrels must be returned between March 29 and 31. They will remain on display at the Cincinnati Zoo until April 19. The barrels will be made available to the public via an online auction between April 9 and 19.

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Stormwater, as defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency, is the runoff and drainage caused by precipitation, in any form including rainfall and snow melt, that flows over surfaces.
Stormwater runoff is typically recognized as the largest pollutant to our waterways in the United States, both rural and urban. Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky’s landscape being both rural and urban is greatly impacted by stormwater runoff. There are many federal, state and local regulations that help control storm water runoff, but each of us have the ability to save local waters by making small changes around our homes.
 
Slow it down & Soak it up
There are two simple ways that homeowners can help with stormwater runoff. One, by slowing the rate at which water flows. Fast moving water can erode soil and pick up other pollutants on its way to our local streams. You can help with this issue by detaining water during a rain event and then slowly releasing it afterwards. A rain barrel is a perfect example of how to detain water during a rain event. Rain barrels capture rain from your downspouts and let you use the rain water during a dry spell to irrigate your lawn or to wash your car, or both at the same time.
Apart from slowing it down, home owners can also soak up the water. The beauty of the natural world is its symbiotic nature. Given the proper conditions, your landscaping can soak up the rain water. In turn, this will prevent the stormwater from eroding the soil and carrying pollutants to streams. These conditions can be achieved by adding a rain garden to your property. Rain gardens can be a beautiful addition to your yard while also creating the perfect conditions to soak up all the excess rain water.
 
Be the difference
It is that simple! Use the links below to learn more about stormwater and how you can Slow it down & Soak it up to Save Local Waters!!!
 
Nonpoint Source Pollution : https://www.epa.gov/nps
What you can do: http://www.savelocalwaters.org/what-can-you-do1.html
Rain Barrels: https://goo.gl/5ckUSN
Rain Gardens: https://goo.gl/pg8aQF