Found: Flower at the Factory

May 31, 2010

Black-Eyed Susan pops up at Evergreen Brick Works (photo: Geoff Cape)

A note from Geoff Cape, Evergreen’s executive director.

In an urban environment, nature can be found in the most unusual places. Artist Ferruccio Sardella has toyed with this concept in his 15 years of work with Evergreen and made a big statement during this past Doors Open weekend. His installation, a particularly large Black-Eyed Susan, bursts from an abandoned warehouse. Measuring 16 feet across and facing south across the lower Don River, this native plant smiles upon downtown Toronto. It is the first in a series of nearly 20 window installations that will populate the site later this year.

Sardella’s work brilliantly celebrates the idea of nature in the city and speaks playfully about how it will find its way through cracks in the pavement, and in third story windows. Stop by the site any time to see it for yourself.

Learn more about art at Evergreen Brick Works.

2 Comments | Art, Evergreen Brick Works, News, Toronto | Permalink
Posted by Aurelia from Operations

Native Plant Profile: New Jersey Tea

May 31, 2010

New Jersey Tea flowers (Photo: ©Jim Stasz. United States, MD, USDA @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database)

Also known as red root, Ceanothus americanus is a drought-tolerant shrub native to Ontario and Quebec, that can grow on rocky bluffs, woodland edges, savannah and even on urban rooftops.

Attractive to birds and butterflies with creamy white flowers in spring, it makes an excellent tea. It has been used medicinally and to produce dyes. What more could you ask for in a plant?

Learn more about New Jersey tea and other native shrubs in Evergreen’s Native Plant Database.

Hey Toronto! Find this plant at Evergreen Gardens, our new, mission-driven retail garden center at Evergreen Brick Works.

Comments Off | Gardening, Green Tips, Native Species, Stewardship and Planting | Permalink
Posted by Christine from Volunteering

Doors Open at Evergreen Brick Works this Weekend

May 28, 2010


Hope to see you there!

Comments Off | Events, Evergreen Brick Works, Toronto | Permalink
Posted by Erin from Communications

Environment is On Fire at UofT. Literally.

May 27, 2010

A prescribed burn in progress at UTM campus (Photo: Kim Sellers)

The environmental community is so hot at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) campus that it actually set the campus on fire!

Well, sort of.

On Sunday, April 18, UTM and Evergreen held a very exciting and very safe prescribed burn led by consultants Lands and Forests, as part of the Old Field Habitat Restoration Project.
Read the rest of this entry »

1 Comment | In the Field, Issues, Toronto | Permalink
Posted by Colin from Common Grounds

Cure for Spring Fever: Make Your Own Art

May 26, 2010

Agnew H. Johnston Public School, Thunder Bay, ON (left); Alex Ferguson School, Calgary, AB (right).

If you’re like me, you have an excess of energy for spring DIY projects. I’m always looking for easy ways to make my space feel fresh and revived after a long winter. One of the easiest things you can do to renew your outdoor space on a budget is to incorporate art.

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2 Comments | Art, Gardening, Green Tips, School Ground Greening | Permalink
Posted by Anne from Learning Grounds

Don’t Fence Us In! Video Saves B.C. School Garden

May 19, 2010

How does your garden grow? (Photo: Evergreen)

Creating a school ground garden is no walk in the park. Here in in Evergreen’s Learning Grounds program we are inspired by ways that students take it upon themselves to overcome obstacles and green their grounds. In the case of one Vancouver school, determination and an inspiring student-made video had the power to change board policy and bring a veggie garden to life.

Prince of Wales School in Vancouver hit a roadblock in their garden project when they learned about a Vancouver School Board (VSB) policy that required the school to construct a chain-link fence around their small vegetable garden. The cost: thousands of dollars. The garden budget: $300. Having to build a fence became an huge barrier.

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1 Comment | Issues, School Ground Greening, Vancouver | Permalink
Posted by Sarah from Learning Grounds

Our First Customer at Evergreen Gardens

May 13, 2010

First customer of Evergreen Gardens. (Photo credit: Nancy MacPhee)

There’s something going on down in the valley – the native plants have been organized and are now on sale at Evergreen Gardens, a new retail garden centre at Evergreen Brick Works. Pictured here is Evergreen’s Board Member and Evergreen Brick Works Committee member Leith Moore, our very first customer!

The shop opened on Friday, May 7, with eight staff members who battled the wind, rain and cold all weekend and did well in spite of it all.  Come out and pick up your native plants and edibles at Evergreen Brick Works, located at 550 Bayview Road, Toronto, ON, M4W 3X8.

Evergreen Gardens is open every day from 10am–7pm and is a social enterprise benefiting Evergreen, an environmental charity.  All revenues will be re-invested to support Evergreen’s programs and mission-based activities.

Comments Off | Evergreen Brick Works, Gardening, Toronto | Permalink
Posted by Aurelia from Operations

Tree Tactics at Downsview Park

May 12, 2010

Thanks in large part to the generosity of volunteers, a decommissioned military base is turning into an urban oasis. (Photo: Evergreen)

Over the last four years, as Evergreen volunteers have been working to steward various sites within Toronto’s Downsview Park, crews around us were excavating a nine-acre stormwater pond called the Great Lake. Meanwhile, FoodCycle’s urban farm took root, and this spring, we’re set to launch the Evergreen community tree nursery.  A former decommissioned military base is being transformed into a vibrant community green space thanks to the dedication of local volunteers and collaboration between many different groups.

Read the rest of this entry »

1 Comment | Stewardship and Planting, Toronto | Permalink
Posted by Colin from Common Grounds

Native Plant Profile:Trembling Aspen

May 10, 2010

Leaves of a trembling aspen. (Photo: ©J.S. Peterson. USDA @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database)

This fast-growing member of the willow family, Populus tremuloides, is a pioneer species, often used in the first phase of restoration projects.  Tolerant of a wide range of soil and moisture conditions and found in every province and territory of Canada, it appears to be trembling or quaking when the wind blows, hence it’s name.  Growing 12 to 25 m high, this native tree attracts insects, birds and browsing wildlife. It sends up suckers from spreading roots, producing groups of genetically identical trees that can include thousands of trees covering areas up to 80 ha. Because of this some consider it the world’s largest living organism.

Learn more about trembling aspen and other native trees in Evergreen’s Native Plant Database.

1 Comment | Gardening, Native Species | Permalink
Posted by Erin from Communications

Ryan Wheeler is Greening his City

May 10, 2010

Ryan Wheeler is a busy guy. He is is an environmental emergencies officer with Environment Canada and about to be a first-time dad. Despite his full plate he still finds time to make his city a greener place.

How it all began: A few years ago, a friend of mine in the environmental sector asked me, “Where do you volunteer?”  I didn’t have an answer. I realized I was missing something, so signed up to be a Farmers’ Market Assistant at Evergreen Brick Works  I’ve been hooked ever since.

Why volunteer? It is a wonderful escape from work.  I’m learning all the time and I especially like the people – my network has expanded, I’ve made new friends and feel like a real part of the team.

Inspiration: I loved helping out with the children’s garden in 2008 – harvesting vegetables and watching children learn where their food really comes from. I’m actually growing some purple beans I collected from the garden two years ago!

My other life: As an environmental emergencies officer I help research, prepare for and respond to incidents.  I love the outdoors and going up north, playing hockey and riding my bike.

Sound like fun? Join Ryan and volunteer to make your city more livable. Learn how you can get involved.

Comments Off | Evergreen Brick Works, Toronto, Volunteer | Permalink
Posted by Erin from Communications

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