RainScapes Gazette for Landscape Professionals - Fall Edition 2011

[Howard Hartman]

Landscape Professionals RainScapes Gazette
Fall Edition 2011

IN THIS GAZETTE:

1. RainScapes Rewards Rebates
2. New products for bioretention use in Montgomery County
3. Montgomery County Green Business Certification for landscape-related businesses
4. Training Opportunities (both in and out county)
5. New books and websites of interest

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1. RainScapes Rewards Rebates are now submitted via our online application process
   RainScapes Rewards Rebates are fully funded for FY 2012 (fiscal year begins July 1 of each year). Designers can submit projects on behalf of clients but clients will be the ones to sign the property own agreements. Applications will be accepted throught November 15, 2011 and then resume being accepted Tuesday, January 3, 2012.
   REMINDER: Rebates are only available for projects at addressesin the county that are NOT in the municipal boundaries of the Cities of Rockville, Gaithersburg, or Takoma Park. These jurisdictions hav etheir own stormwater permits and programs.
   Rockville: http://www.rockvillemd.gov/environmenta/watersheds/rainscapes.html
   Gaithersburg: http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/poi/default.asp?POI_ID=1670
   
   

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2. New products for biorentation approved
   Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Permitting Services Approves Sorbtive®Filter to Protect the Chesapeake Bay from Sediment and Phosphorus 
   According to their press release: "SorbtiveFilter is an industry-leading, fully field-tested treatment system using SorbtiveMedia which captures high volumes of both Total Phosphorus, including high levels of Dissolved Phosphorus. Both SorbtiveFilter and SorbtiveMedia are approved stormwater treatment products by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE)."
   (Click on link below to read press release on PR Newswire)
   http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/montgomery-county-maryland-department-of-permitting-services-approves-sorbtivefilter-to-protect-the-chesapeake-bay-from-sediment-and-phosphorus-132140113.html
   
   

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3. Montgomery County Green Business Certification for Landscape-Related businesses
   The Green Business certification program has been working to develop a certification for landscape-related businesses. In order to do aid in the development of this certification, a survey has been created by Doug Weisburger, Manager of Montgomery County's Green Business Certification Program. A separate email will be sent out following this one, which will include more information and a link to this survey.  Please take some time and complete the survey when you get this email.
   
   

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4. Training Opportunities
   
   • RainScapes Program Overview (FREE)
     Date: Thursday, January 26, 2012
     Time: 1 - 5 p.m.
     Location: Rockville Regional Library, 21 Maryland Avenue,
     1st Floor Meeting Room
     Metro Accessible, Public Parking Available (Metered)
     An overview of all nine of the RainScapes techniques in the Rebate Program - this class will cover the amount of RainScapes' rebates, project requirements and the rebate application process. 
     
     
   • RainScapes Rain Garden Installation Class (FREE)
     (Must have attended Rain Garden Design Class or received approval to attend - registration is limited to 15 participants max)
     Date: April/May (Registration for this class will be open in February)
     Time: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
     Location: TBA
     For this field day, you will participate in building a rain garden at a community site in Montgomery County. The hole will be pre-dug, but after a review of the rain garden design concepts for siting and sizing, the group will determine finish elevations, install the soil media, build the berm, plant the plants and mulch the garden. Another email with more details will be sent out when registration for this class opens.
     
     
   • District Department of the Environment (District of Columbia) Training for District Area Landscaping Contractors (FREE)
     (TIME SENSITIVE - RSVP by Monday, October 31, 2011)
     Date: Wednesday, November 2, 2011
     Rain Date: Wednesday, November 9, 2011
     Time: 1200 First Street, NE, Room 719, Washington, DC
     The District Department of the Environment (DDOE) will hold a free, one-day training for local landscape designers and installers who are interested in installing rain gardens and BayScapes throught the River Smart Homes Program. RiverSmart Homes offers Disctrict residents grants of up to $1,200 to implement conservation landscape practices with the goal of reducing stormwater runoff into our local streams and rivers.
     For more information, contact Leah Lemoine at leah.lemoine@dc.gov or (202) 654-6131.
     
     
   • 2011 Turning a New Leaf Conference - Save the Date!
     Date: Friday, December 2, 2011
     Registration is Open Now for the 2011 Turning a Leaf Conference (early registration through November 1, 2011) This is the bi-annual sustainable landscaping conference of the Chesapeake Conservation Landscape Council. This year's conference will be in Lancaster, PA and has a terrific line-up of presentations. For more information and registration go to: http://www.chesapeakelandscape.org/
     
     
     The Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping council is a non-profit organization of landscape professionals dedicated to supporting landscape professionals to restore the Chesapeake Bay. http://www.chesapeakelandscape.org/
     
     

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5. New books or websites of interest
   
   • Good Weed Bad Weed: Who's Who, What to Do, and Why Some Deserve a Second Chance (All You Need to Know about the Weeds in Your Yar) [Spiral bound] By Nancy Gift PH.D. ISBN-10: 0981961568 ISBN-13: 978-0-9819615-6-9 Publisher: St. Lynn's Press; Pittsburgh, PA, Feb 1, 2011
     
     
   • Good Bug Bad Bug: Who's Who, What They Do, and How to Manage Them Organically (All you need to know about the insects in your garden) [Spiral-bound] By Jessica Walliser (Author) ISBN-10: 0981961592 ISBN-13: 978-0981961590 Publisher: St. Lynn's Press, Second Edition, New edition, updated edition (May 1, 2011)
     
     
   • Stormwater Made Beautiful - be inspired: http://www.artfulrainwaterdesign.net
     
     

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Have a wonderful Fall!

The RainScapes Staff
Email: rainscapes.application@montgomerycountymd.gov