rain gardens and inspiring the next generation

Derick Smith, Restoration Corps crew member

Hi, I’m Derick and I am a Restoration Corp Crew Member here at the American Littoral Society. I am stationed at the office in South Jersey over in Millville. I have worked here for 3 years now. This little blog blurb will teach you all about rain gardens and why they’re so important. ​

Rain Gardens:

​I typically describe rain gardens to the kids as, “bowls of soil with native plants that help us save water.” In reality they do much more. First it is important to discuss gray and green water infrastructure. Gray water infrastructure is the use of man made materials such as steel and concrete to direct water away from areas where we don’t want water collecting. Green water infrastructure, like our rain gardens, directs water using natural means such as stones and moats. Gray water infrastructure goes out into the street and down a storm drain, essentially wasting potentially potable water. Green water infrastructure does the opposite.

Here is how a rain garden works:

​Rain falls from the sky and lands on the roof of a large building, typically a school or public library. Then the water falls down the gutters and into our downspouts, which feeds directly into the rain garden. The water then pools inside the rain garden, providing water for flora and fauna as well as stopping it from flowing into roads and sidewalks. Eventually that remaining water infiltrates the sandy soil in the garden and feeds our local aquifer.

photo credit: Paxton Creek Watershed & Education Association

By refilling our aquifer, these gardens give us potable water for cooking and drinking. The Kirkwood Cohansey Aquifer is the largest aquifer in New Jersey. It is roughly 3,000 square miles and holds about 17 trillion gallons of water. This water comes from the glacier that sat on top of New Jersey that melted during the end of the Ice Age.

Inspiring the next generation:

​We have rain gardens like these all over Cumberland County across different schools and libraries. We also have students participate in the planting and weeding of rain gardens. This simple connection with wildlife is enough to spark a life long interest in caring for our planet. For me it was a simple visit to the Philadelphia Zoo at 3 years old, for these kids, it's as easy as planting a flower. This spark is especially important for kids who may not have the opportunity to do stuff outside in their personal lives..I intend to spend the rest of my life working with wildlife and inspiring the next generation to care, just like how I was inspired over 2 decades ago.