Garden Challenge


If you are growing vegetables for food in either your yard or on a farm we challenge you to reduce the amount of polluted stormwater that runs off your garden plot. Find something about the way you grow your vegetables that can be improved so that you reduce the amount of run-off that is polluted by things like:
Design a way to improve the way in which you are managing your garden plot, and document the steps that you take to implement your plan. The most important part of the challenge will be to compare what your project is like before and after your improvements, and tell us how you have reduced pollution entering streams in your area.

You can document improvements with:
  • A map of your project area (location of your vegetable plot, the source of water, any outlet for run-off such as storm drains, any buffer or project to reduce run-off, the location of the nearest stream)
  • Photographs documenting the conditions before and after your project
  • Results of any water or soil testing you conducted

It may take a little time before you see improvements that you can measure, so don't worry if things aren't better right away-- tell us what you did, what you think will happen when there's been enough time, and how you are measuring improvements. Often times you can see improvements just by looking at and smelling the water, and you may find that you are getting the same yield with less fertilizer and chemical use (which will save money as well as help the environment)-- those are good things to keep track of and report.

Click Here for help with designing your project


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