[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=uFt0Oj3YvSw” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_color=”#063f79″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
by Cole Sikes<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_text_color=”#063f79″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. \u2014 Jean Szabo leads a group of senior gardeners at the Crump Community Center in Montgomery, Alabama. Known as the Alabama Herb Society, their garden provides vegetables, fruit, flowers and enough memories to last a lifetime. Not too long ago, their community space did not appear as it does today. After working with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, their garden is now prosperous and anticipating an exciting addition.<\/p>\n Szabo first learned about Alabama Extension after enrolling in the Alabama Master Gardener (AMG) program<\/a> in 2016. As an avid fan of gardening, the program supplied her with the knowledge needed to effectively grow many different plants. Now, she helps lead the Alabama Herb Society meetings at the community center, where they tend to the center\u2019s garden and implement gardening practices.<\/p>\n The AMG program opened Szabo\u2019s eyes to other Extension programs that the herb society could utilize \u2013 one of which was the Alabama Watershed Stewards (AWS) program<\/a>. This science-based outreach program promotes healthy watersheds in Alabama through educational workshops across the state. Participating organizations and local decision makers are educated by AWS to implement water management strategies that benefit communities, the economy and the environment. After learning about this program, the herb society invited Laura Cooley<\/a>, Alabama Extension’s director of AWS, to conduct a workshop at the community center about rain gardens<\/a> and other water resources.<\/p>\n \u201cAlabama Watershed Stewards hosts several types of trainings,” Cooley said. “Each one promotes healthy watersheds, fosters community conversations and provides people with the tools they need to prevent and resolve local watershed issues.”<\/p>\n The Crump Community Center is affected by heavy rains that consistently move debris and pollutants across the property. After the workshop, Szabo and Cooley explored opportunities to improve the existing bones of their community staple.<\/p>\n To improve their garden, the herb society members had interest in constructing a rain garden. These shallow, vegetated structures act as buffers that slow down stormwater pollutants and infiltrate soils instead of communal water bodies.<\/p>\n Creating a rain garden takes time and money as well as certain equipment and machinery. This task would prove daunting for the herb society to undertake on their own. Luckily, Cooley and Alabama Extension provided resources that will soon transform their beloved garden. To relieve the financial and technical burden of installing environmental measures, Szabo said they learned a lot about grant funding from Cooley. They worked together to identify how to secure grants and which organizations offer them.<\/p>\nA Helping Hand<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The Solution<\/strong><\/h2>\n