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

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

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

Raising Time

March 22, 2010

Becky Lamb & Christine Martin, Volunteer Development Department

This past weekend Evergreen went speed-dating for volunteerism.  Timeraiser matches would-be volunteers with positions at local organizations, including Evergreen, who successfully found 50 volunteers at the 7th annual Timeraiser auction.  Over 600 young professionals looking to give back to the community packed themselves into the Fermenting Cellar in the Distillery District to bid their time, not money, on artwork created by local artists.  People can give up to a maximum of 125 hours to secure their piece, and the winning recipient has to fulfill their hours over the course of 12 months before they can begin positioning the artwork in their homes.

Out of almost 40 agencies, Evergreen is one of the few environmental organizations that participates in Timeraiser. Lots of people were fascinated by the broad mandate, programs and opportunities, particularly with Evergreen Brick Works set to open this spring.

Said Christine Martin, Manager, Volunteer Development; “Timeraiser is an opportunity to connect with people who haven’t thought about volunteering.  We give them a chance to get outside, away from their desks.”

The positions promoted would indeed suit just that – from urban greening opportunities, to helping out at the seasonal farmers’ market; there’s something for everyone.

The season is just beginning, and the phone has already been ringing!

You can donate your time and energy too — check out our list of current volunteer opportunities!

Comments Off | Events, Staff, Toronto, Volunteer | Permalink
Posted by Aurelia from Operations

Did We Waste a Crisis?

March 12, 2010

In this short video, Geoff Cape, Evergreen’s executive director, reflects on his experience at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Did the world waste the opportunity presented by the economic crisis to make a radical shift toward sustainability? The moment isn’t lost, says Geoff. And Evergreen Brick Works is a step in the right direction.
Read the rest of this entry »

Comments Off | Issues, Notes from Geoff | Permalink
Posted by Aurelia from Operations

Geoff Cape’s Winter Adventures

January 28, 2010

Geoff Cape is blogging from Davos.

Evergreen’s executive director Geoff Cape is blogging from The World Economic Forum.

This is going to be a big year for Evergreen. It is hard to know how to put it into context this early, but I am optimistic for the adventure ahead.

Over the next 15 days I will be attending three special events.  My first stop is the mountain village of Davos, Switzerland for the 40th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum. It will be my second visit to this unique gathering of 2,000 people from around the world.

After this, I will return home to Toronto just long enough to change before heading to Washington to accept a National Geographic award for Evergreen Brick Works.  From there, I will check in with my dear family and the growing pile on my desk before heading to Vancouver to participate in a Sustainability Forum hosted by Walmart.

My head is spinning just thinking of it all.

Read the rest of this entry »

1 Comment | Issues, News, Notes from Geoff | Permalink
Posted by Aurelia from Operations

Royalty at Evergreen Brick Works

December 3, 2009

Prince Charles touring the kilns (Photo: A. Newhouse)

Check out the photo gallery of our visit with Prince Charles.

Last month His Royal Highness came for a tour of the Evergreen Brick Works construction site.  The project impressed him because it encompasses urban agriculture, sustainability and the preservation of heritage architecture–three issues close to his heart.

Read the rest of this entry »

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

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