by Penny Holtzmann
Treasurer, Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter
If you pay a monthly bill to Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD), you may be eligible to receive up to $3,000 toward the installation of a raingarden in your yard. The Small Garden Grants Program is a cooperative effort between MSD and Missouri Botanical Garden to combine plantings, water features, and other activities that manage stormwater as close as possible to where it falls; slowing it down so it can be absorbed by the soil and/or plants. There is a strong emphasis on using native plants which have deep root systems that help absorb water.
Even if you are not interested in applying for a grant, you may still enjoy checking out the resources for learning about gardening with native plants on the Rainscaping Small Garden Grants website.