Summer’s Designer Shades

August 10, 2010

Beaver Lodge Fort provides a shady nook for little ones at Evergreen Brick Works, Toronto, ON. (Photo: Lyle Sadavoy)

Here in Learning Grounds, we work hard to get kids outside, and shade is a big part of keeping them safe while they’re there. Escaping to shade not only feels good, it is becoming increasingly important for children’s health. According to the Canadian Dermatology Association, people born in the 1990s have a 2 to 3 times higher lifetime risk of skin cancer than those born in the 1960′s. To put it a different way, if you’re currently between 11 and 20 years old, you have a 1 in 6 lifetime risk of  skin cancer, compared to those between 41 and 50 years  old, whose lifetime risk is 1 in 20.

The good news is that anyone can create shade at home and or on school grounds. Shade structures can range in price and complexity, from a straight-forward tarp or tent to a vine-covered pergola or gazebo. Read on for inspiration and links to our free shade resources.

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

The Intern Learns to Compost

August 5, 2010

Summer intern Max Nichols and the drum composter. (Photo: Evergreen)

A note from one of our summer interns, Max Nichols:

As one of Evergreen Vancouver’s summer students working inside the office, most of the requests that come my way are pretty straightforward: file this, sort those and write that. But no tasks proved anywhere near as complex as “can you figure out how to work the composter?”

Pardon? Last time I checked you put organic material in the top and get rich soil out of the bottom.

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2 Comments | Gardening, In the Field, Vancouver | Permalink
Posted by Allison from Evergreen British Columbia

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

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!

Comments Off | Gardening | Permalink
Posted by Stefan from Common Grounds

Busy Parents are Greening their City

June 28, 2010

L: Julie making stepping stones (Photo: Allison Houser) R: Lori in character as Queen Bee (Photo: Jaime Kowal Photography)

Despite being busy parents of children who attend Simon Fraser Elementary School, Lori Weidenhammer, Julie Sawatsky and Michelle Weeks still find time to green their city. The school has a garden plot at the Vancouver City Hall Community Garden, and these women are using the space to connect children, parents and teachers with their environment.
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Comments Off | Food, Gardening, Vancouver, Volunteer | Permalink
Posted by Allison from Evergreen British Columbia

Site Transformation: Vancouver City Hall Community Garden

June 25, 2010

T: Garden under construction, June 2009 B: Garden in bloom, August 2009 (Photos: John Shinnick)

It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since the Vancouver City Hall Community Garden was first opened on July 20, 2009. Over the year, I’ve been lucky enough to be involved in some of its milestones – there have been many!

The below photos provide just a glimpse of some of the highlights made possible through the hard work of the community gardeners and volunteers.

Community gardeners tending and harvesting their plot, August 2009. (Photo: John Shinnick)

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

Eglinton West Fruit Orchard

June 24, 2010

Beautiful mural on Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard's tool shed (Photo: Evergreen)

Picture a fruit orchard, with its neat little rows of pear, plum and cherry trees leafing out in the spring. Imagine pollinators buzzing in and around the blossoms while birds seek refuge on a branch. Now picture this orchard next to the busy intersection of Eglinton West and Allen Road, across from the TTC station.

Believe it or not, this is not mere fantasy. The new fruit trees planted by Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard are taking root as Toronto’s newest urban orchard and are cultivating a new way of looking at our green spaces. Read the rest of this entry »

3 Comments | Food, Gardening, Issues, Toronto, Transformations | Permalink
Posted by Colin from Common Grounds

Fortified Nutrition

June 22, 2010

Hand-crafted iron spikes for historic gardens (photo: Rebekka Hutton)

It’s not often we have to call on the services of a black smith to help launch a food garden, but when it’s the kind of garden that would have been around in the 1820s to feed officers stationed at Fort York, it’s hard to image how it would be possible without one.

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

Large Leaf Lupine: a (Bee-Friendly) Native Plant We Love

June 21, 2010

Purple Blooms of a large leaf lupine. (Photo: Copyright (c) by Gary A. Monroe. USDA @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database)

Happy International Pollinator Week!

Introducing a native plant that is also friendly to birds and bees. Lupinus polyphyllus, as it’s scientifically known, is a wildflower native to much of Canada, excluding the prairies and territories. Lupine flowers bloom in brilliant blues, purples, and pinks in long dense clusters along the plant’s stem. They can be spotted in moist and open habitats from June to September and attract hummingbirds and butterflies, making them a great choice for your bird and butterfly gardens.

Are you in or around Toronto? Join Evergreen for the Pollinator Festival at Evergreen Brick Works this Sunday.

Learn more about the large leaf lupine and other native wildflowers from Evergreen’s Native Plant Database.

Comments Off | Gardening, Green Tips, Native Species, Vancouver | Permalink
Posted by Allison from Evergreen British Columbia

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