Summer Project: Backyard Composting

July 30, 2010

Healthy food grows in healthy soil. (Photo: Melissa Yu)

Looking for a summer project that will have rewards all year-long? Start your own backyard composter!

We all know the benefits: Composting creates a nutritious soil supplement while reducing the amount of kitchen waste that goes into landfill or your green bin. But where to start?

There are all kinds of books, reports, and articles that provide abundant detail. To get you on your way, we’ve put together a quick and easy Guide to Backyard Composting (PDF, 451 kB) that will have you playing in the dirt in no time.

Comments Off | Green Tips, Vancouver | Permalink
Posted by Kim from Common Grounds

How To Create a Mosaic Garden Path

July 27, 2010

Pathways weave through Westwood's school ground. (Photo: Diane Sales)

Meandering pathways can bring a welcoming dimension to a green space. They can provide access to nooks and crannies that you may not otherwise notice–a secret haven!  But designing these features can be a daunting task. Where should they go? What type of materials should be used? Do we really need pathways? In this post we will attempt to give you the answers, ideas and detailed instructions to help you on your way.

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Comments Off | Green Tips, School Ground Greening, Vancouver | Permalink
Posted by Sarah from Learning Grounds

Be a Certified Seed Collector

July 22, 2010

Protect biodiversity by collecting seeds. (Photo: Evergreen)

Save your spot in our Seed Collecting Certification workshop on August 26 and 27.  For more information, visit Evergreen’s online event calendar or download our flyer.

Johnny Appleseed, American folk legend, may have had the right idea in collecting and planting apple seeds all across the landscape.  Today, certified seed collectors assist in tracking seed availability for future planting use. Information about seed availability, location, type and quantity enables these trained individuals  to collect and store seed and helps ensure that the appropriate stock is available to meet long term demands. Whether plants are for community restoration, outdoor classrooms or you own native plant backyard oasis, using plants sourced from certified seed grown in a local nursery is a great start to any project.

1 Comment | Events, Gardening, Green Tips, In the Field, Issues, Native Species, Stewardship and Planting, Toronto | Permalink
Posted by Kim from Common Grounds

TakeBAC is Back!

July 13, 2010
High Park

Youth planted trees in High Park during TakeBAC 2008 (Photo: Evergreen)

Last week was the official launch of TakeBAC 2010, a six week program for Toronto youth, ages 12 to 15.  In partnership with Toronto Community Housing and the City of Toronto, Evergreen’s Community Development team will oversee the progress of numerous greening projects around the GTA.  Formerly, the annual program was called “TakeBAC 13,” named for the 13 neighbourhoods involved.  This year, that number has expanded to 26!  That’s roughly 170 youth!
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1 Comment | Gardening, Toronto | Permalink
Posted by Stefan from Common Grounds

Still Creek Update

July 12, 2010

From dumping ground to urban habitat in 6 hours: Still Creek at 14th and Nootka Streets in Vancouver (Photos: Evergreen)

Think it takes a long time to make a difference? This summer a corporate volunteer group completely transformed a section of the Still Creek Corridor in less than 6 hours!

The Still Creek Watershed is one of the only creeks in Vancouver that isn’t completely diverted and covered by development, and many stakeholders, including the City of Vancouver, Metro Vancouver, stewardship groups and concerned neighbours are pitching in to protect it. In this case, Evergreen worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) who supported the project through volunteer work and by offsetting the costs of plants and materials.

Here is a breakdown of the day.  (Follow the pictures clockwise from the top left!)

10AM Removal begins! PWC volunteers tackle invasive Himalayan Blackberry and remove carelessly dumped garbage that has crowded this urban riparian zone and made it inaccessible to the community.

12PM We would have been happy to get through 6 cubic yards, but in less than two hours, 25 volunteers cleared more than 10 cubic yards of invasive plant material and garbage – all of which was generously taken away free of charge by NSD Disposal.

2PM Planting! In went more than 400 native plants, including Indian Plum, Red-Osier Dogwood, Sword Fern and Nootka Rose, all of which add much-needed biodiversity to the Still Creek corridor.

4PM The end of a transformative day: 25 volunteers, 6 hours of work, 10 cubic yards of material removed, 400 native species planted and a section of restored creekside – right in the middle of the city.

Join in the transformation! Find more information on the Still Creek Enhancement Plan and other restoration projects Evergreen is involved with in the Lower Mainland.

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

The Queen West Community Garden is nearly complete!

July 8, 2010

Queen West Garden in progress (Photo: Stefan Elsholtz)

The visitors of Queen West Community Health Centre (Richmond and Bathurst) will soon be enjoying a brand new community garden.  This photo was taken on day nine of construction: the garden beds are finally up, and the soil has been delivered!

The 600-square-foot space will consist of four large beds, called the “Forest Garden,” “Butterfly Garden,” “Food Garden,” and “Medicinal Garden.”   They will soon be home to a variety of native plant species, herbs, fruits, and vegetables.  Built entirely from natural, untreated cedar, the beds will last at least 12 years.

The Queen West Centre provides health services, advice, and support to many members of the community, and most have little experience with gardening.  The project was conceived, designed, and implemented by the Queen West staff and the Community Development staff at Evergreen, with the goal of turning a barren courtyard space into an urban oasis.  Once the beds are filled with soil and the plants are added, the Queen West Centre will independently provide all of the upkeep and maintenance of the garden.

This is one of many community garden projects that Evergreen has recently helped to instigate.  Community gardens not only beautify the city, but are good educational tools as well: they provide a means for community members to get together and learn about plants, gardening, and sustainability.  They can even inspire people to start gardens of their own!

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Posted by Stefan from Common Grounds

Lasting Outdoor Classrooms

July 1, 2010

Corn plants and shade trees are just part of Belgravia's Outdoor Classroom project. (Photo: Kathy Goble)

It’s one thing to start an Outdoor Classroom project, but how do you make it last? Here in the Toyota Evergreen Learning Grounds program, we sometimes hear from school teachers or parents who want to green their school grounds, but feel that once they or their kids leave the school, the maintenance and care required to keep the outdoor classroom growing will go with them.
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Comments Off | School Ground Greening, Video | Permalink
Posted by Sarah from Learning Grounds

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