Friends of the Rain Gardens are those who donate time, materials, resources, demonstration sites, funding, expertise and more to Rain Gardens of West Michigan.
These businesses, municipalities and individuals have helped make Rain Gardens of West Michigan a resounding success, and we thank you for adding so much to our project.
Interested in participating in our projects? See the "Opportunities" section of the site, under "About us".
American Rivers, Washington D.C.
American Rivers is a key project and website sponsor for raingardens.org, helping WMEAC to leverage funding to expand and enhance this resource for the benefit of everyone. American Rivers is also a key partner in producing and developing our popular, customizable rain garden communications materials. We produced our rain garden signs with them, and the "Butterfly Brochure". We look forward to enjoying a long, rewarding and creative relationship with this stellar national organization.
Master Gardeners and Master Naturalist Programs of Michigan State University
The MSU Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists have donated their expertise to our program to keep the rain gardens looking their best since 2002! Thanks so much; we could not do this without you. Look in the opportunities section; we still need you! We will always need you.
City of Grand Rapids Environmental Protection Services
The City of Grand Rapids completed our funding for phase one of our project by matching our challenge grant and making Rain Gardens of West Michigan part of the City of Grand Rapids Stormwater Education Program. The City also provides us with FREE nursery locations so we can propagate native plants--and rain gardens--throughout the region at a great cost savings. Thank you!
Kamps Pallets
Kamps, on Peach Ridge in Grand Rapids, donated some sturdy pallets for construction of our new compost bins and the Plaster Creek Native Plant Nursery. We have already generated about three yards of beautiful compost for feeding our native plants. Thanks!
Ron Dwelle
Ron Dwelle, Director of the Supplemental Writing Skills program at Grand Valley State University, kindly contributed his considerable gifts to writing part of the content for this website.
Spurt Industries
Tom Turner of SPURT Industries has donated (or provided at competitive cost) compost and mulch to our demonstration sites. SPURT industries is also providing key support funding to help upgrade and expand raingardens.org. Thank you!
JF New and associates
JF New has donated some of their lovely images to our project and has plans for a Great Lakes region demonstration site. Check out their great native plant catalog!
Michigan Native Plant Producers
Members of this organization have been very helpful with information about the use of native plants in the landscape.
Spruce Creek Rainsavers
Gave us two of their beautiful rain barrels for our project. We use one as a display at events. The other rain barrel is part of the stormwater education display at Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids, with the overflow going to their rain garden. We love Spruce Creek!
Gardeners Supply Company
Donated a rain barrel to one of our school projects. The school loves it! Thank you.
RiverMaid Designs
Rebecca has donated so many exquisite garden designs to Rain Gardens of West Michigan that this business deserves a unique water quality award. Saving the Great Lakes, one garden at a time.