In the Field for Planet Releaf

April 29, 2010

Youth taking action today for the forests of tomorrow. (Photo: Evergreen)

A dispatch from Evergreen Common Grounds’ Caitlin Langois:

I was recently reminded that Canadians are stewards to 10% of the world’s forests. I still grapple with the great responsibility and immense gift this represents to us.

This important fact came up during a recent workshop during which I met the world renown Dr. Jane Goodall, heard her infamous chimp call, and witnessed 50 enthusiastic youth from the Jane Goodall Institue’s Roots and Shoots program come together for a day of learning about forest issues and how to take action today for the forests of tomorrow.

Read the rest of this entry »

Comments Off | In the Field, Issues, Stewardship and Planting, Toronto, Vancouver | Permalink
Posted by Colin from Common Grounds

Our New (and Old) Websites

April 29, 2010

Our new websites

We’re counting down the days until the new season begins at Evergreen Brick Works, the new community environmental centre in Toronto’s Don Valley, and as we gear up for spring we’ve also been tuning up the brand new Evergreen Brick Works website. You may also have noticed that our national site, evergreen.ca, got a major overhaul in December. So we thought it might be fun to dig through the archives to see where we’ve been…

"Red, Hot & Green!" – The Evergreen Foundation's website in late 1996.

1996 – Ah, the Nineties. We were still known as the Evergreen Foundation back then, and on the web, bevelled buttons and textured backgrounds were all the rage. (Click the image to view the site at archive.org.) Read the rest of this entry »

2 Comments | Evergreen Brick Works, News | Permalink
Posted by Eli from Communications

Earth Month Evergreen Style!

April 28, 2010

A student from Charles Howett Public School stands proud and poised to plant. (Photo by: Mel Yu)

Earth Day celebrations have dotted the Evergreen landscape all month long. Our two largest events at Downsview Park in the GTA and Jericho Beach Park in Vancouver saw over 3,000 trees planted! Other stewardship sites in the Southern Ontario area saw more than 4,900 trees planted over two weeks!

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Comments Off | Events, Stewardship and Planting, Toronto, Vancouver, Volunteer | Permalink
Posted by Jenn from Communications

Climbing Poles and Risks Worth Taking

April 23, 2010

Climbing poles are a big hit for kids in Berlin! (Photo: Margaret MacKenzie)

When Learning Grounds Consultant, Margaret MacKenzie took part in a European school grounds study tour last June, she noticed something different in school ground greening design that she had not yet seen in Canada. Climbing poles!

“The children were absolutely attracted to them.  As soon as the recess bell rang, the children ran over to the poles and within seconds were sitting on top.   I think it is a pretty common desire among children to want to climb–and since it is often forbidden to climb trees in a school ground (in Germany this is mainly because they want to protect the trees), these poles provide the same sort of experience, ” says Margaret.

Read the rest of this entry »

7 Comments | School Ground Greening | Permalink
Posted by Sarah from Learning Grounds

Happy Earth Day!

April 22, 2010

Comments Off | Events, Stewardship and Planting | Permalink
Posted by Erin from Communications

Three Cheers for Volunteers

April 21, 2010

A stewardship and restoration volunteer digs in. (Photo by: Malga Sulowska)

It’s National Volunteer Week across Canada and Evergreen is celebrating. Volunteers are making a local difference that adds up to national impact. In 2009, more than 3,500 registered volunteers served in over 25 different roles with Evergreen! Whether working in the office, in the field, or from home, our volunteers have the skills, experience and enthusiasm to make a tremendous impact in making cities more livable.

Three cheers for volunteers!  You rock!

Join in! Become a volunteer, check out our roster of current opportunities or subscribe to Dig In!, our newsletter for volunteers.

Comments Off | Events, Volunteer | Permalink
Posted by Jenn from Communications

Apply Now for the Rebuilding Nature Grant

April 20, 2010

Help rebuild nature in your community. (Photo: Peter Thompson)

We are now accepting applications for the Rebuilding Nature Grant Program, supported by The Home Depot Foundation and led by Evergreen. These grants support environmental stewardship projects in communities across Canada. Grants are available in amounts of $1,000, $3,000 or $12,000 – plus $2,000 in The Home Depot gift cards – to cover the costs of tools and equipment, native plants and trees, and other expenses.

Deadline is May 21. To learn more and download an application form and guide, click here.

Comments Off | Funding, Stewardship and Planting | Permalink
Posted by Colin from Common Grounds

Spotlight on Pacific Bleeding Heart

April 19, 2010

Locket-shaped hearts of the Pacific bleeding heart. (Photo: Brother Alfred Brousseau @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database)

Native only to British Columbia in Canada, Dicentra formosa, or Pacific bleeding heart, is an excellent choice for any urban garden in BC. It thrives in moist environments with sun, partial shade or full shade and its purple/pink locket-shaped flowers are a major attraction for hummingbirds and other wildlife from May to June.

Learn more about Pacific bleeding heart and other native wildflowers from Evergreen’s Native Plant Database.

Comments Off | Gardening, Vancouver | Permalink
Posted by Allison from Evergreen British Columbia

Tuning Up for Spring

April 13, 2010

Shah Mohamed, Bike Educator, tuning up a staffer's bike. (Photo: Aurelia Dalinda)

Our new Bike Educator, Shah Mohamed, set up a bike clinic outside Evergreen’s offices on Tuesday to encourage all staff members to bike to work as often as possible, but the impetus came because of an upcoming staff off-site meeting at Evergreen Brick Works.  “We wanted everyone riding down to the site, and a tuned bike is one that will hit the road.”

The clinic was put on by BAM – Bicycle Assembly and Maintenance Program, run by the Learning Enrichment Foundation.  They train bicycle mechanics and get them ready to work at a bicycle shop.  Shah completed the course in order to solidify his bicycle mechanics skills and to gain more insight about the bicycling community in Toronto.

A general tune up takes a mechanic about 20 – 30 minutes, and would cost upwards of $50 at a bicycle shop, but for Evergreen staff, the BAM students offered us a deal: the cost of parts plus a donation for labour.  We hope to see full bicycle racks outside our offices this spring!

For those considering the bicycle commute, Shah advises:

  • A tuned bike is a safe bike; get a tune-up, and ensure that you keep your bike tuned.
  • Make sure you have good seat and handlebar height and your bike is adjusted to fit so you don’t strain yourself on your ride.
  • Get a tune-up on bicycle safety through CanBike.
  • Befriend your local bike shop, their advice, labour and help is well worth your ride.

Safe and happy cycling to everyone this spring!

1 Comment | Events, Green Tips, Staff, Toronto | Permalink
Posted by Aurelia from Operations

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