By Stacie Edick

Chenango Community Gardens Project Coordinator

NORWICH – The Headwaters Youth Conservation Corps recently installed a rain garden at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County (CCE Chenango). The leader and crew of 7 young adults designed the garden, removed existing vegetation, dug a shallow depression, built a small berm and planted water tolerant plants in front of the CCE building at 99 North Broad Street.

The HYCC Crew Leader Katie Rawluk visited the site, consulted with CCE Chenango staff about the best location for the garden, designed the layout and selected the plants. She did an excellent job of turning a trouble spot where several roofs merge and drop a lot of water into a lovely garden.

The rain garden utilizes and demonstrates one of the rain barrels that are available for purchase from CCE Chenango. These barrels hold 55 gallons of water, come with an integrated screen top to exclude mosquitos and debris, and a spigot ready for a garden hose to be attached. The overflow spouts make it possible to chain several rain barrels together if necessary.