Program Objectives
Rainscaping is a combination of sustainable landscape design and management practices that prevents polluted runoff from reaching water bodies — directing stormwater to be absorbed by plants and soils.
The Purdue Rainscaping Education Program provides training and resources on rainscaping practices that can be installed in residential settings or small-scale public spaces projects.
Target Audiences
The program provides advanced training in rain garden planning, installation, and maintenance for:
- Purdue Extension Master Gardeners
- Conservation agencies and organizations
- Stormwater professionals
- Landscape companies and consultants
Participants are encouraged to attend as a community team to support implementation of public education programs and provide technical assistance to homeowners upon completion of the training.
Format
Our program consists of five modules (three hours each) in a workshop setting. Program modules include:
- Flipped classroom instruction
- Online learning opportunities
- Experiential training activities
- Field techniques
- Field trips to community examples of rainscaping projects
Participants also gain hands-on experience by creating a demonstration rain garden project with community members in a public space.
Resources
To learn more, please contact a member of the program team below.
John Orick, Purdue Master Gardener State Coordinator
orick@purdue.edu
Purdue Extension, Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture
Kara Salazar, AICP, PCED, LEED AP ND, Assistant Program Leader and Sustainable Communities Extension Specialist
salazark@purdue.edu
Purdue Extension, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
C. Eliana Brown, Extension Water Quality Specialist, MSEE LEED AP NGICP
brown12@illinois.edu
University of Illinois Extension, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
Contact for University of Illinois Extension Rainscaping Education program
Curt Emanuel, Extension Educator, ANR, CD & CED
cemanuel@purdue.edu
Purdue Extension, Boone County
Laura Esman, Managing Director, Indiana Water Resources Research Center and Research Associate & Lab Manager, Natural Resources Social Science Lab
lesman@purdue.edu
Purdue University, Department of Forestry & Natural Resources
Jane Frankenberger, Professor and Extension Water Quality Engineer
frankenb@purdue.edu
Purdue Extension, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Hans Schmitz, Extension Educator, ANR, CED
hschmitz@purdue.edu
Purdue Extension, Posey County
Nikky Witkowski, Extension Educator, ANR
nikky@purdue.edu
Purdue Extension, Porter County
Phillip Woolery, Extension Educator, ANR
pwoolery@purdue.edu
Purdue Extension, Pulaski, and Starke Counties