Genesis Wins County Award for Rain Garden Leadership
Washtenaw County recognized Genesis of Ann Arbor with a 2026 Environmental Excellence Award for Rain Garden Leadership, honoring the work of our Grounds Committee and its many volunteers. Grounds Committee co-chair Phil Barr accepted the award at the county's October 28 ceremony at Weber's in Ann Arbor.
In recognizing Genesis for Rain Garden Leadership, the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's Office emphasized the breadth of our environmental efforts, the innovation of our water and energy conservation measures, and the efforts of the diverse community of volunteers who maintain our grounds.
The office also recognized that our rain garden is part of a broader landscape that puts our grounds to productive use, including the vegetable garden we share with Food Gatherers, which supplies fresh produce for food assistance.
The rain garden began as a practical response to a serious problem. In 2012, a torrential storm dumped more than 18,000 gallons of water onto the Genesis property in just ten hours, flooding parts of the building's lower level. Drainage problems persisted despite subsequent grading work. With guidance from the county's Rain Gardens Program and design expertise from Grounds Committee co-chair Sarah Weiss, volunteers reshaped the landscape, installed drainage infrastructure, redirected downspouts, and planted thousands of deep-rooted native plants.
Those plants are as functional as they are attractive. Their deep roots help absorb and filter stormwater, reducing runoff and keeping water away from the building. The native flowers and grasses also provide food and habitat for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
In September 2025, Genesis had an opportunity to show off the results when about 50 local gardening enthusiasts, including Susan Bryan of the county's Master Rain Gardener program, came for a public tour.
Visitors explored the rain garden, the new Michigan Native Plant Garden along Eastover, the Food and Faith Vegetable Garden, and the contemplation garden. Phil and Sarah took the opportunity to highlight Genesis's broader environmental initiatives, including the expansion of our solar panel array and improvements in building energy and water efficiency.
In the days leading up to the tour, Bonnie Monash spearheaded a major cleanup effort. Bonnie, Jeremy Tieking, Mark Davis-Craig, Annette Fisch, Phil Barr, and other volunteers worked many hours to make sure the garden looked at its best.
Even a skunk helped out. Shortly before the tour, volunteers had discovered an underground yellow jacket nest dangerously close to the garden path. Before they could remove it, a resident skunk—later dubbed “Tilly”—obligingly dug up and ate the nest. Tilly’s contribution earned a special mention at the awards ceremony.
The rain garden is only part of the Grounds Committee's ongoing work. Volunteers tend the sanctuary planters and flower beds, maintain the chapel and entry gardens, and continue expanding the Michigan Native Plant Garden, which gained five new beds this year. The vegetable garden supplied more than 300 pounds of tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic, and other produce to the food pantry this growing season. Volunteers are also developing plant labels, collecting seeds, and preparing gardens for winter.
Genesis shares this year's Rain Garden Leadership distinction with Gretchen's House–Stadium, recognized for incorporating a rain garden into its preschool playground and inspiring other Gretchen's House locations to follow suit. Other county awards recognized achievements in water quality protection, recycling, pollution prevention, and environmental education.
The honor adds to Genesis's recent environmental awards, including recognition for reducing energy consumption and advancing toward carbon neutrality. The Green Team leads much of that broader sustainability work, while the Grounds Committee keeps the gardens growing. Both depend on volunteers willing to spend time both brainstorming ideas and getting dirty.
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