Sign of Spring! Northfield To Hold Workshop About Rain Gardens

NORTHFIELD, MN —Though snow is still on the ground, it's never too early to start thinking about spring, specifically about creating a rain garden.

On March. 18, the Cannon River Watershed Partnership and the City of Northfield will be hosting a class about the benefits having a rain garden and how residents can plan and install their own rain garden. The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Northfield High School. Cloth face coverings are required and there is enough space in the classroom to allow for social distancing.

Participants in the program will learn where to place a rain garden, how to choose the right plants and about city and county cost-share programs that help people pay for rain gardens.

"Rain gardens have multiple benefits for our communities," said Cole Johnson, Northfield's water quality manager. "They brake and capture rainwater before it can run into the street. They remove fertilizers and other impurities from rainwater and they allow more rainwater to penetrate into the ground, which is good for the owners and for our rivers and lakes."

Those interested in signing up for the program can do so on the Northfield Public Schools website. Participants are asked to enter the high school at door 39, just to the right of the main entrance. Attendees also should bring digital or print photos of their property, in order to help with rain garden planning.

The hosts of this event remind participants that if the Northfield School District decides an in-person event is no longer safe, this workshop will shift to a Zoom class.