August 19, 2010
- Evergreen staff and volunteers building seed beds in Richmond Hill. (Photos: Evergreen)
More than 3,000 tiny trees and shrubs from staghorn sumac to white spruce are holding strong in Evergreen’s first native tree nursery, launched in Richmond Hill’s Phyllis Rawlinson Park last fall. Our second nursery, launched this spring at Downsview Park has 800 thriving seedlings of Ontario’s official tree.
Evergreen created these nurseries to improve the hardiness and genetic diversity of the native plants we use across the GTA. It’s also a chance for us to learn how to grow various native species from seeds and seedlings.
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In the Field, Stewardship and Planting, Toronto | 
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Posted by Colin from Common Grounds
August 18, 2010
Students using their outdoor classroom at Cassandra PS, Toronto. (Photo: Cam Collyer)
With summer almost behind us (*sniff*) and September fast approaching, let’s look to the school year ahead. Have you been giving some thought to your school ground? Does it need a little green?
The Toyota Evergreen Learning Grounds grant applications are now available online and will be accepted starting September 7. We are excited to say that we have been offering this program with Toyota’s support for over a decade! Since 2000, the Toyota Evergreen Learning Grounds program has distributed $2.1 million to over 1,700 schools across Canada. In 2009/2010 alone, we awarded $260,000 in grants to 158 schools.
Join the hundreds of schools across Canada who have taken part in this program and start filling out your application today!
For more information on deadlines, eligibility and to access your application, click here.
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Posted by Sarah from Learning Grounds
August 17, 2010
Summer is in full swing and community gardens across the country are bursting with fresh produce. The Emmett Avenue Community Garden in Eglinton Flats Park is a unique green space where community members from the Weston-Mount Dennis community join together to grow, learn and share the fruits (and vegetables!) of their labour.
Gardeners getting their hands in the dirt. (Photo Credit: Aimee Carson)
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Posted by Laura from Communications
August 11, 2010
Find natural sweets on our edible plant walk. (Photo: Evergreen)
Explore your local park with Evergreen and the City of Mississauga in an Edible Plant Walk tomorrow, Thursday, August 12. For more information visit our online calendar. Sign up by contacting Emily Adam, eadam@evergreen.ca.
Many native plants provide edible and medicinal benefits and can be a beautiful addition to any garden or greening project. Native plants that bear fruit also provide wonderful habitat and food for birds, pollinators and small mammals.
Help create urban green corridors, wildlife habitat and beautify your city with native plants. Visit our Native Plant Database to find native, edible plants that will thrive in your garden!
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Posted by Kim from Common Grounds
August 3, 2010
Evergreen Brick Works Pavilions are transformed every weekend. (Photo 1: Rob Greatrix, Photo 2: Anfernee Chansamooth)
Early on Saturday mornings at Evergreen Brick Works, as the sun comes up, the pavilions are peaceful, the ponds are still and you can hear the birds singing. It’s time for the Weekend Program team to arrive. Slowly at first and then in a rush, volunteers swing into action. Tables are set-up, signs are made, coffee is brewed and the farmers start to come.
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Posted by Christine from Volunteering
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
July 13, 2010
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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Posted by Stefan from Common Grounds
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 »
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Posted by Colin from Common Grounds
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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Posted by Colin from Common Grounds
June 17, 2010
Our new oyster mushrooms. (Photo: Rebekka Hutton)
Growing food in an apartment or small space isn’t always easy—especially without an outdoor deck or balcony. Here at our downtown Toronto office, we’re growing delicious oyster mushrooms on the top of our fridge, and they’ve just started to fruit after only two weeks.
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