Hunger Awareness Event

February 9, 2010

On Wednesday, February 10 the Youth Challenge International (YCI) is presenting “The Ties that Bind,” an event planned to bring awareness to food security and hunger issues globally and locally. The event will feature a number of guest speakers (including staff from Evergreen), live music, refreshments and raffle prizes.

Come join us and other organizations as we share our experiences in addressing issues of hunger and poverty through our work in Urban Agriculture and Community Food Programs.

Evergreen’s Aimee Carson and Becky Idems will introduce our spectrum of programs and focus on our work as it relates to food security, community development as well as programs for youth.

This should be a great evening and also a great opportunity for sharing and learning. To find out more click here.

Comments Off | Events, Food, Toronto | Permalink
Posted by Colin from Common Grounds

Decomposer Decor

January 27, 2010

Moving the red wrigglers into the new Worm Condo (Photo: Rebekka Hutton)

There’s nothing like worm-compost troubleshooting to spice up a Monday in the office!

For Aimee Carson, Evergreen’s new Community Food Program Co-ordinator, the highlight of her first day at her new job was stumbling across a bin of worms.

It was lunchtime and I made my way to the staff kitchen where I immediately noticed frozen containers of food scraps thawing on the counter. My eyes soon shifted downwards, to a red bin perforated with holes and conveniently tucked underneath the counter. Curiosity getting the better of me, I investigated further and discovered composting worms!

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1 Comment | Green Tips, Staff, Toronto | Permalink
Posted by Colin from Common Grounds

A Reason to Celebrate

January 14, 2010

A delicious dessert served up at the Slovenian Home Association party (Photo: Alix Aylen)

As 2010 begins to unfold, it’s a perfect time for reflection and sharing.  Talking to staff around the office, my colleagues Zanita and Alix who manage our community grant program had a great story of how they ended up at the Slovenian Home Association Christmas Banquet this past December.  The two of them had incredible tales of how they were treated to a night of dancing to a live Slovenian rock band, great company and a four course meal.  How Zanita and Alix came to know the Slovenian Home Association is the best part.

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

Cookies for Change

December 14, 2009

Vision Youth team baking up some treats! (Photo: Szu Cheng Yu)

When the Vision Youth team decided to take action and continue their support of urban greening, they turned to their kitchen for answers and the results were quite tasty.

Perhaps it was the sweet sounds of the bag pipes that inspired them, but after coming out earlier this fall to plant trees in Austin Drive Park with Evergreen, the Town of Markham and the TRCA, the seven youth from the Vision Youth Leadership program banded together to bake cookies to raise funds for Evergreen’s work in their area.

The cookies were a hit among friends and family and the donation will make sure the team and other members of the community can return to do some stewardship work in the park. Many thanks to the Vision Youth team for making greener communities and delicious cookies!

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Posted by Colin from Common Grounds

Winter Prep

December 1, 2009

The harmonicas are out, the snow fence is up and the garlic has been put to bed! That’s right, Evergreen volunteers and staff across the GTA have wrapped up the outdoor work for the year by preparing the restoration sites and community garden plots for winter – and having a little fun too.

Thanks to all our volunteers for making 2009 a year to remember. Enjoy the video clip of the show put on by Richmond Hill volunteers to end the season. Hope to see you in the spring!

Top: Richmond Hill volunteers put up snow fencing around the new tree nursery at Phyllis Rawlinson park (photo: Lisa Fisk). Below: Evergreen's Rebekka Hutton and community gardeners plant garlic before the winter at the Fort York and Emmett Ave gardens (photo: Colin Lacey).

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Posted by Colin from Common Grounds

Word of Mouth

November 16, 2009
Dera Sacha Sauda

Volunteers hard at work in Mississauga. (Photo: Emily Adam)

I’m always happy to hear volunteers tell their family and friends about the fun and satisfaction that comes with planting trees and working on greening projects in their neighbourhoods.

However, I was floored to learn how volunteers from the group Dera Sacha Sauda spread the word after helping out at events in Mississagua, Markham and Downsview Park.

Stories of their hard work had traveled back to India, where spiritual leader Guru Ji told a crowd of 3 million people about the great community stewardship work their members were doing as Evergreen volunteers. Planting trees and taking care of the environment is an important act as it is one of the principles Dera Sacha Sauda members should aspire to follow.

Here’s hoping the action spreads!

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Posted by Colin from Common Grounds

Crafting up a Storm in Scarborough

November 10, 2009

Gusts of creativity were blowing though Scarborough’s Morningside Park recently, when Evergreen’s Alex Hume gave a wind-chime workshop at the East Scarborough Festival Market, an amazing FoodShare-sponsored market providing fresh food to the community.

Wind Chime

A local resident shows off his hard work. (Photo: Alex Hume)

When children from the school next door got out of class, they rushed over to our table to get a little crafty. The wind chimes, made from recycled household items and used 45’s, were destined for nearby balconies of the many high-rise towers overlooking the park. As Alex sees it, in an urban setting the wind chimes are a great way to be reminded that the forces of nature are all around us!

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Posted by Colin from Common Grounds

Conversation and Conservation at Downsview Park

October 15, 2009

As a stewardship co-ordinator, I spend a lot of my time in urban parks, working with volunteers who want to get outside and make their city more green.  There is one particular group that reminds me that donating time has many benefits beyond the obvious. For this group it is more than just a chance to meet new people and make a difference–it’s also an opportunity to practice English!

Evening of Stewardship

Getting ready to volunteer (photo: Rolla Tahir)

Volunteers from the English Language Program at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies are a staple at Evergreen events at Downsview Park, and often bring out fresh new faces eager to get down to work. The volunteers love coming out to experience life outside the classroom and practice English at events that are fun, active and social. The team is a mix of young professionals and university students visiting Toronto from across the world, and it would be hard to imagine the Downsview Park stewardship team without their enthusiasm.

ELP Stewardship Team

English Language Program stewardship team from UofT SCS (photo: Rolla Tahir)

Come out to plant and chat with us at Downsview Park, or another site in your area.

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

Notes of Inspiration

September 23, 2009

It’s true that Evergreen volunteers are an inspired bunch, but last Sunday, September 20, one Markham resident felt truly inspired to see his community hard at work making the town a little greener. While members of the Markham Lions Club and local residents were busy planting 500 native trees and shrubs in Austin Drive Park, a bonnie bagpiper showed up and treated us all to his cheerful notes.

Check out the video below for some sweet sounds of community in action.

For a complete list of public planting and stewardship events in and around the GTA and Vancouver, visit Evergreen’s online calendar of events.

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

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