Need some inspiration for your garden, but don’t know where to start? Want to learn how incorporating native plants into your garden can add amazing water quality benefits to your property? Looking to exercise your green thumb, but want advice on planting pollinator habitat? Knowledge gained through the Landscaping for Clean Water program will inform and empower you to create a raingarden, native pollinator garden, or shoreline planting that will bring beauty and great environmental benefits to your property this year and for many to come!

In 2022, the Landscaping for Clean Water program will celebrate its 16^th year of educating and assisting residents to install beautiful and low-maintenance plantings. Over the years, we have met with close to 5,200 landowners and installed over 660 projects in neighborhoods all around the county. This program is offered to residents through a partnership between the Dakota County SWCD, and local cities and watershed organizations.

This year’s suite of programming – Introduction to Clean Water Class, Design Course, and Maintenance Workshop – will provide skills and resources to landowners at every stage of their gardening journey.

The free Introduction to Clean Water class focuses on general water quality practices of raingardens, native gardens, and shoreline stabilizations. The classes provide an overview of local water quality challenges and provide beautiful and practical ways of reducing runoff pollutants that are causing issues. It also includes information on cost-share opportunities available to Dakota County residents.

After completing the Introduction to Clean Water class, you can enroll in the Landscaping for Clean Water Design Course. This course is a great for those interested in learning about garden planning from the experts, whether you want to know more about site design, plant selection, raingarden installation, or the best plants for our landscape. Participants walk away with a ready-to-install garden!

The Landscaping for Clean Water Maintenance Workshop provides season specific information on how to maintain and promote the health, performance, and beauty of your garden. Maintenance workshops apply to raingarden, native garden, or native shoreline restoration projects.

Need some inspiration for your garden, but don’t know where to start? Want to learn how incorporating native plants into your garden can add amazing water quality benefits to your property? Looking to exercise your green thumb, but want advice on planting pollinator habitat? Knowledge gained through the Landscaping for Clean Water program will inform and empower you to create a raingarden, native pollinator garden, or shoreline planting that will bring beauty and great environmental benefits to your property this year and for many to come!

In 2022, the Landscaping for Clean Water program will celebrate its 16^th year of educating and assisting residents to install beautiful and low-maintenance plantings. Over the years, we have met with close to 5,200 landowners and installed over 660 projects in neighborhoods all around the county. This program is offered to residents through a partnership between the Dakota County SWCD, and local cities and watershed organizations.

This year’s suite of programming – Introduction to Clean Water Class, Design Course, and Maintenance Workshop – will provide skills and resources to landowners at every stage of their gardening journey.

The free Introduction to Clean Water class focuses on general water quality practices of raingardens, native gardens, and shoreline stabilizations. The classes provide an overview of local water quality challenges and provide beautiful and practical ways of reducing runoff pollutants that are causing issues. It also includes information on cost-share opportunities available to Dakota County residents.

After completing the Introduction to Clean Water class, you can enroll in the Landscaping for Clean Water Design Course. This course is a great for those interested in learning about garden planning from the experts, whether you want to know more about site design, plant selection, raingarden installation, or the best plants for our landscape. Participants walk away with a ready-to-install garden!

The Landscaping for Clean Water Maintenance Workshop provides season specific information on how to maintain and promote the health, performance, and beauty of your garden. Maintenance workshops apply to raingarden, native garden, or native shoreline restoration projects.

Need some inspiration for your garden, but don’t know where to start? Want to learn how incorporating native plants into your garden can add amazing water quality benefits to your property? Looking to exercise your green thumb, but want advice on planting pollinator habitat? Knowledge gained through the Landscaping for Clean Water program will inform and empower you to create a raingarden, native pollinator garden, or shoreline planting that will bring beauty and great environmental benefits to your property this year and for many to come!

In 2022, the Landscaping for Clean Water program will celebrate its 16^th year of educating and assisting residents to install beautiful and low-maintenance plantings. Over the years, we have met with close to 5,200 landowners and installed over 660 projects in neighborhoods all around the county. This program is offered to residents through a partnership between the Dakota County SWCD, and local cities and watershed organizations.

This year’s suite of programming – Introduction to Clean Water Class, Design Course, and Maintenance Workshop – will provide skills and resources to landowners at every stage of their gardening journey.

The free Introduction to Clean Water class focuses on general water quality practices of raingardens, native gardens, and shoreline stabilizations. The classes provide an overview of local water quality challenges and provide beautiful and practical ways of reducing runoff pollutants that are causing issues. It also includes information on cost-share opportunities available to Dakota County residents.

After completing the Introduction to Clean Water class, you can enroll in the Landscaping for Clean Water Design Course. This course is a great for those interested in learning about garden planning from the experts, whether you want to know more about site design, plant selection, raingarden installation, or the best plants for our landscape. Participants walk away with a ready-to-install garden!

The Landscaping for Clean Water Maintenance Workshop provides season specific information on how to maintain and promote the health, performance, and beauty of your garden. Maintenance workshops apply to raingarden, native garden, or native shoreline restoration projects.

Join the Vermillion Stewards in distributing native seed and removing garlic mustard at Vermillion River Linear Park in Hastings. Friends of the Mississippi River staff will provide instructions. Please contact Sophie Downey to register. FMR requests limiting groups to 4 or fewer.

Collect and distribute native seed at Vermillion River Linear Park, a beautiful 60-acre park that’s part of a corridor of green space that runs through the heart of Hastings. Your contribution will mean a healthy, diverse array of plants are ready to grow next spring.

Join us for an open house celebrating of the work of Minnesota Water Steward volunteers!

Newly certified Stewards, seasoned Stewards, program partners, and supporters are all welcome!

Come explore the capstone projects of graduating stewards, share your own projects, network with your fellow Stewards, and spend the evening in the good company of others working to improve the health of our waters. This is a fun and casual event with speakers, best management practice tours, and a food truck, all to celebrate Stewards and their efforts.

This event is free, but capacity is somewhat limited so please RSVP on the Freshwater website.

Come learn what it takes to become a Water Steward! Along with submitting an application, all program applicants need to attend an information session. Anyone is welcome to attend any info session.

Information sessions for the 2023 program year (starting January 2023) are all virtual and listed below. Sessions run about 45 minutes to an hour long. You must register beforehand and you only need to attend one session.

Contact Alex Van Loh avanloh@freshwater.org with questions.

Tuesday, October 18, 2022, 12:00 pm

Tuesday, October 18, 2022, 5:00 pm

Tuesday, October 25, 2022, 12:00 pm

Tuesday, November 1, 2022, 5:00 pm 

Tuesday, November 15, 2022, 12:00 pm

Tuesday, November 29, 2022, 5:00 pm