For the 6th consecutive year, we have served as the project manager for the partnership of Capital Region Kohls Go Green initiatives. Our nonprofit destination: The Franklin Community Center in Saratoga Springs. Last Saturday with the help of local businesses, Kohls AIA volunteers and Chips Water Garden Friends volunteers, we built a sustainable, habitat friendly, non-traditional rainwater garden. Using pollinator friendly all season plants, the garden will attract natures dying population of pollinators amidst our ever increasing brick and mortar square footage in Saratoga Srpings. This little slice of green will encourage nature to do what it does best for our earth. And hopefully, its presence will serve as a city green space for children to appreciate the delicate balance of nature.
The garden itself has the capacity to collect approximately 400 gallons of rainwater from the Center’s roof, and reuse it in a soothing water feature. There is much to be appreciated in the sounds of water flowing and nature. People pay good money for these sounds in bedside “noise machines”. Lets get real and create these spaces in our gardens. They provide a brief pause from the trials of f the day, a little slice of “health and wellness, nature style”
Although the work is heavy, and out of the ordinary physical scope for many volunteers, their joy in participation and experience of the outcome at the end of the day is remarkable. The smiles, side by side cooperative work and singing…yes singing Aretha Franklin RESPECT style made for a day to remember.
So if you happen to be on the west side of Saratoga Springs in the future..stop by the Franklin Community Center @ 10 Franklin St and see what a community of volunteers and small businesses can create in a day!
