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.

A few highlights from Geoff:

The event was exciting, totally invigorating, yet a real head spinner!

A Wasted Crisis?
This was a phrase heard several times at the World Economic Forum. In crisis is opportunity: to make change and evolve to a better place. Unfortunately, the financial crisis of 2009 has not led to necessary changes across society or around the world. We have not addressed systemic problems on many levels as we are simply propping up the old system and not rethinking things.

Bill and Melinda Gates announced at the Forum that their Foundation will commit $10 billion over the next 10 years to help research, develop and deliver vaccines for the world’s poorest countries. What a moment – a personal gift!

Stephen Harper spoke to an audience of more than 600 people and was very warmly received. He helped sell Canadian bank policy as he spoke about the security of Canada’s economy versus the US and others.

The year’s theme, “Global Redesign,” was hopeful and forward-looking.

It was a remarkable event in so many ways; tightly organized with an engaging six-day program, filled with lots of fun, spontaneous moments, and many real conversations with unique individuals. The participants are diverse: many considered “elite” – from financial leaders, economists, monarchy and heads of state – to the head of World Wildlife Fund, the CEO of Greenpeace, a guy from Indonesia who has become famous for saving the rainforest, and others like me.

It impressed me to see fellow Canadians there, such as Rebecca Saxe, a young brain scientist from MIT and daughter of Dianne Saxe, one of Evergreen’s board members and the Canadian head of Transparency International, an organization that is fighting corruption and financial fraud, to Minister Flaherty and Stephen Harper.

The Forum founder and his wife (Klaus and Hilda Schwab) are in their seventies and are very hands-on and active. They have deliberately created communities during the event, from Technology Pioneers, Young Leaders to Social Entrepreneurs and political leaders.  Everyone is part of the mix and the communities lend a hand to the broader group dynamic. There are 2,500 people at the event – 1,500 participants and 1,000 spouses/partners who have nearly full access to the sessions and proceedings. The Forum employs 400 full-time staff and an extra 5,000 during the event itself, but it all ends up being uniquely intimate and everyone feels special.

There are dozens of sessions each day, beginning at 8am and ending after 11pm. Some are big and involve up to 1,000 people, but most are small, involving 20-80 people. Issues range from: The Next Global Crisis, Rethinking the Global Commons: Biodiversity, US-China: Reshaping the Global Agenda, Rethinking Market Capitalism, From Copenhagen to Mexico: What’s Next for our Carbon World? Will Soil Become More Precious than Oil?  Entrepreneurship: The Key to Sustainable Growth, The Sustainability of a Community, etc.

My part at the Forum went well. I had a formal role in facilitating two sessions, one on Technology and Social Change for about 15 people, and another session on Sustainable Cities and Transportation for about 20 people.  I was invited to be a participant in a round table session entitled “Global Agenda Council on Sustainable Cities” among a group of 20+ people.

Olympic rings Vancouver 2010 (Photo: Miss Barabanov on Flickr (used under Creative Commons license))

As residents of Vancouver, we staffers at Evergreen BC’s office have been first-hand witnesses to some dramatic changes in the year leading up to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. I, myself have been overwhelmed by some of the transformations the City’s infrastructure and the national unity and identity the Games have helped to further.

But are they sustainable?

Vancouver is striving to be the greenest city in the world and it’s only natural that the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) take steps to reduce the Games’ environmental footprint.

I must admit, I personally find the efforts of VANOC to be admirable and a catalyst for change. From designing Olympic buildings with LEED certification in mind, to recaptured gas, and a hydrogen highway, VANOC has managed to create some innovative legacies.

LEED-ND Platinum certified Athelete's Village (Photo: Photodreamz on Flickr (used under Creative Commons license))

Still, others are unconvinced, highlighting the massive emissions created by athletes and spectators flying to and from Vancouver, among other things. Others go so far as to suggest that the only way the Olympics can ever be truly green is to have a permanent Olympics host country.

The David Suzuki Foundation has given the Games a bronze medal for their efforts in making them the most sustainable on record. Which medal do you assign?

The finished product, waiting for visitors! (Photo: Evergreen)

Watching the birds come and go from a backyard feeder can be fun and stress relieving. Enticing them to your lawn or shared space doesn’t have to be complicated either. With a few simple steps, you can create a low-cost feeder using found materials and a few other basic household items.

This is a great activity to do with children, or to bring out the child within!

Supplies:

• Pine or spruce cones
• String or twine
• Lard or peanut butter
• Bird seeds such as sunflower, millet or nyjer

Instructions:

1.  Cut yourself a piece of string or twine, and tie a loop at one end wide enough to fit over the branch of a tree.

2. Tie the other end of the string around the widest part of the cone, where the gaps are the  largest.

3. Roll the cone into softened lard or peanut butter until it’s completely covered (imagine you’re rolling corn on the cob in butter).

4. Fill a plate with seed and roll the lard-covered cone on the plate until it is completely covered in seed.

5. Hang your feeder from a tree, and enjoy!

Good to Know:

The best branches to hang your feeder from are well-sheltered conifers as many birds nest in them over the winter.

Digging in with both hands. (Photo: Evergreen)

Come find out how you can green your community! (Photo: Lisa Fisk)

No Plot is Too Small: Community Stewardship 101
In partnership with the Town of Richmond Hill, Evergreen invites you to participate in our upcoming workshop!

Wednesday, March 31  6–9pm
Rouge Woods Community Centre, Aspen Room
110 Shirley Drive, Richmond Hill

This workshop will offer inspiring examples, tips and tricks, and practical strategies to help you get involved in local greening projects—or even start your own! Individuals and community groups will benefit from sharing ideas about community greening initiatives and advice to ensure project success.

Topics include:

• Where Do We Start? A step-by-step advice for undertaking stewardship projects.
• Learn From Experience: Inspiring case studies of stewardship activities from across Canada.
• Cost: Free!
  

Sandwiches and refreshments will be provided and space is limited. Reserve your space by Monday, March 22 by contacting Lisa Fisk via email (lfisk@evergreen.ca) or by phone at 416-596-1495 x226.

Visit Evergreen’s online calendar of events to learn what’s happening in your area.

Renato in action at Downsview Park (Photo: Evergreen)

There are many inspiring people working to make cities more livable across Canada. Meet Renato Gabaldon, a community greening volunteer leader.

When and where? I started volunteering with Evergreen in September 2009 at Parc Downsview Park. Before this, I worked for nearly a decade in Baguio City – the summer capital of the Philippines and a sister city of Vaughan, Ontario – to protect Camp John Hay watershed reserve, a 640-hectare watershed in the middle of the city.

What’s your inspiration? Seeing people enjoy and respect the green space inside a busy city is the greatest motivation for me.

What else do you do? I am a participant in M2P, the Mentoring for Placement for Environmental Professionals program at the Toronto Region Conservation Authority. I also make time to volunteer with other great organizations like the Institute of Canadian Citizenship – WILD Canada Project, an environment educational awareness program for new citizens of Canada.

What’s getting you through the winter? I’m looking forward to spring opening at Evergreen Brick Works!

Radishes peeking out of the ground in the Community Garden at Eva's Place (Photo: Evergreen)

Royal Burgundy beans, atomic red carrots, bull’s blood beets and dinosaur kale are among the scrumptious seeds our community gardens will plant this spring thanks to a successful Seedy Saturday (on a Sunday) this past weekend. We purchased an assortment of heritage varieties including strawberry spinach and Callalloo – a leaf vegetable used for a popular Caribbean dish and a favorite among many of our community gardeners.

An estimated 2,600 people showed up to participate in Toronto’s 10th annual Seedy Saturday event at the Artscape Wychwood Barns. With the sun shining warm and bright, the main room was abuzz with energy as seed vendors from all over Ontario met to showcase heirloom seed varieties that made us swoon for the onset of spring. Organized by the Toronto Community Garden Network (TCGN) along with the help dedicated volunteers, the event provided opportunities to trade and purchase seeds, build gardening skills at workshops, and connect with a variety of interesting food advocacy groups.

Local food artisans provided a steady supply of mouth watering treats from Rawlicious gourmet pizza to soul warming hot chocolate, courtesy of Chocosol. Along with other environmental and community groups, Evergreen staff was on hand to show support for the event and encourage interested folks to get involved with one of our many projects.

At the heart of all seedy events is the “seed swap,” where seed enthusiasts come to exchange interesting and rare seed varieties that often date back generations and are accompanied by personal stories of family and food. Although tucked in a small room behind the barns, the seed exchange was a highlight of the event. Overall the event was a huge success, speaking volumes about the popularity of ecological growing practices and the growing movement that is taking place in Ontario around food.

Were you at the event? Tell us about the seeds you bought!

]]> http://blog.evergreen.ca/2010/02/26/swooning-for-sprin/feed/ 1 Mel from Development Radishes in the Community Garden at Eva's Place http://blog.evergreen.ca/2010/02/23/how-to-love-winter-colour/ http://blog.evergreen.ca/2010/02/23/how-to-love-winter-colour/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:11:08 +0000 Erin from Communications http://blog.evergreen.ca/?p=1366 ]]>

Colourful blooms can brighten up your February. (Photos: Erin Elliott)

This week, I asked Evergreen Learning Grounds’ Debby Morton how she is surviving the drab winter months without her garden. She takes her inspiration from colour, colour, colour!

Tip #1 Bloom Where You are Planted
Debby advises gardeners to deal with the long indoor evenings by taking on a horticultural challenge. “I enjoy getting orchids and amaryllis to re-bloom.”

Often people receive an amaryllis for Christmas, and it can be the gift that keeps on giving if you know how to take care of it. After it has bloomed and the warmer weather has come out, put the amaryllis outside and feed with vermicompost. At the end of the summer, cut the leaves off the plant and put it in your closet (yes — you’re reading right!). Start to water it again around November and take it out of the closet when it starts to sprout. Water as usual and you will have beautiful blooms in time for next Christmas.

Debby says that phalaenopsis orchids are another popular bloomer. “They like to be moist all the time, so cut back on watering for two weeks and put them in a cold window. After the two weeks, take them out of the cold, water as you would, and they will bloom again.”

Tip #2 Terrariums
Replicate a steamy summer day by creating an indoor container garden. “Build a terrarium out of an old aquarium or large jar and watch moss and plants thrive in their own mini rainforest.”

Tip #3 Cheat
A quick way to add colour is to buy cut flowers. “Even a single flower for a ikebana can really brighten up a room,” says Debby.

Look for fair trade florists in your area – some even deliver by bike! You don’t need a lot of flowers. “Low cost, high impact. Brings in colour!” as Debby says. You can use a small, glass vase with a “frog” (a spikey flower holder that sits at the bottom of your vase) to hold one beautiful flower and a couple of sprigs of greenery.

“Also, placing evergreen arrangements out doors in urns give you winter interest on your balcony or front porch,” says Debby.

She reminds us that pussy willows are in season now and provide a great, fuzzy addition to your flower arrangement.

Come join us at Toronto’s Seedy Saturday this Sunday, February 21 from 12:30pm to 6pm at the Artscape Wychwood Barns!

This event, organized by the Toronto Community Garden Network, will include gardening workshops, delicious food and activities for youth. You’ll also have the opportunity to buy and trade heirloom seeds in preparation for the spring!

Evergreen will join some great organizations including Seeds of Diversity Canada, The North American Native Plant Society and FoodShare.

The Artscape Wychwood Barns is located at 601 Christie Street, just south of St. Clair. For more information, please visit the Toronto Community Green Network website.

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.

“They might even introduce you by name to a white pine they’ve planted at Sawmill Creek Park in Mississauga. They’ll surely tell you that white pine is easily identified by their needles in bundles of five, and be able to estimate the age of this provincial tree.”

When the class wrote letters to Evergreen, recounting their experience at a recent planting they attended, we were all glad to take a break from our regular routine and read their joyful accounts.

Hope you enjoy them as much as we did!