Our Rain Garden
Nayla manages the digging.
Volunteers planted three rain gardens at Maple City Health Care Center on Wednesday, May 26, 2010.
The rain gardens collect water during rain storms. The plants in the rain garden use the water. The rain gardens are not only beautiful, they also helps prevent storm water from overtaxing Goshen’s sewer system.
Maple City Health Care Center received a grant to help pay for the gardens. The grant came from the Federal Clean Water Act through the Elkhart River Restoration Association.
Eric, Ed, and Karen plan the garden in January 2010
Eric Kurtz from the Elkhart County Soil and Water Conservation District helped Maple City Health Care Center obtain the grant. Master naturalists Ed Farmwald and Karen Fairfield designed the gardens.
Stormwater runoff is one of the biggest causes of stream pollution. The more rain gardens in the community, the cleaner our rivers and streams will be.
The garden designers chose plants that are native to Indiana to use in the rain garden. They also chose plants that had some connection to medicine. Some of the plants were used by Native Americans. Some of the plants still have medicinal uses.
Volunteers plant the garden
The rain gardens help Maple City Health Care Center accomplish our mission to build a healthier community.