Workshop Descriptions

Raingarden Workshop (Part A) - $10

Rusty Schmidt has presented this workshop for Metro Blooms since 2007. During the presentation, Rusty will explain what makes up a watershed, how pollution affects a watershed, and how residents can improve water quality. Rusty will cover healthier lawn care practices including less-toxic lawn care, using rainbarrels, and using native plants, trees and shrubs. Rusty will present the basics of raingarden design, installation, and maintenance, including where to install a rain garden, how to measure infiltration, how to size a raingarden, how to prepare soil, how to redirect downspouts, and how to choose suitable native plants. Participants will receive a packet of supporting materials including a homework assignment to guide the planning of their own rain garden. Available in Bloomington, Minneapolis, Plymouth, and Saint Louis Park.

Raingarden Design Studio (Part B) - $10

For a second year, Part B Workshops will be led by Michael Keenan. Part B is designed to follow Part A with more detailed assistance in smaller groups. Before attending Workshop B, participants complete homework assignments from Workshop A. Participants arrive at Workshop B with a sketch and some basic information about the raingarden site. The workshop is split into small groups, each working with a Landscape Design Assistant and a Master Gardener. Groups address tasks like choosing plants for sun or shade, finding the best place to put a raingarden, and deciding how deep to dig. Available in Bloomington, Minneapolis, Plymouth, and Saint Louis Park.

Raingarden Workshop and Design Studio (A & B Combined) -$10

This workshop combines Part A and Part B into a fast-paced and focused three-hour format designed to move participants quickly from an overview of rain gardens and their benefits to a completed raingarden design for their property. Before attending participants complete a homework assignments and will arrive with basic information about a proposed raingarden project. Available in Blue Earth, Champlin, Chanhassen, Chaska, Crystal, Eden Prairie, Fairmont, Robbinsdale, Savage, Shorewood, and Wayzata.

 

Consultation and Design Services

Some of our workshop attendees want more support in planning a raingarden project, and so we have made the following low-cost consultation services available.

On-Site Consultations – $50

Workshop attendees are eligible to sign-up for a $50 On-Site Consultation. In this one-hour session, a Landscape Design Assistant visits your property and assists with identifying stormwater issues on the property, with taking measurements, with determining the size and location of a raingarden, and with plant selection. Consultations are advisory only – Landscape Design Assistants won’t be digging or assisting with installation.

Raingarden Design – $50

For an additional $50 fee, our Landscape Design Assistant will supplement an onsite consultation with a raingarden design. The customized raingarden design will include design features and specifications including measurements, plant selections, and installation notes.