On the crisp sunny mornings of late September, over 180 volunteers responded to requests for help to harvest 4 fields of vegetables planted by retirees on two and a half acres of donated land bordering Calgary. By month end, these...
Continue ReadingOver the last 10 years at the hospital, I have worked with many different populations within the hospital. One of the main populations I work with is the Day Patient Mental Health and Inpatient Mental Health. We get together once...
Continue ReadingUrban spaces displace local wildlife species but you can use your garden to help compensate for lost habitat. By mimicking natural elements, you can roll out the welcome mat for creatures big and small who are looking for refuge.Β FoodΒ ...
Continue ReadingCity Beet is an urban farm growing vegetables and cut flowers on residential front and backyards in Vancouver, BC on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. While the exact number tends to shift...
Continue ReadingAt the Green & Gold Community Garden, in Edmonton, volunteers get their hands dirty on two acres of land at the University of Alberta South Campus farm. Now in its fifteenth year, this local garden with a global impact is...
Continue ReadingBeing a sustainable Landscape Designer, lawn alternatives are something I think about a lot. I also think it's important to experiment with new plants in my own garden before I ever specify them for someone elseβs yard as it gives...
Continue ReadingWelcome, 'Uy' skweyul,Β Bienvenu to syuwΜeΜnΜctβ―Elementary in Nanaimo, BC where students, staff, parents, and the community are stewards of the land. One late August morning, a parent volunteer was watering syuwΜeΜnΜct Elementaryβs large garden with her three young boys.Β She spotted...
Continue ReadingThere is no doubt that beekeeping is an amazing experience to access in your backyard: the gentle movements of the bees, the sweet smells of nectar and pollen, the feeling of wax and honey on your fingertips. If you ask...
Continue ReadingI was born and raised in Hermosillo, Sonora, MΓ©xico, a city in the middle of a desert. As many people in my area, I grew up buying groceries with my mother and never really learned what it takes to grow...
Continue ReadingEven Olympic dreams start with a seed. At the unusually late age of 27, I was offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to leave my corporate job and join Rowing Canadaβs Talent Identification program. Given my late age and non-existent experience with...
Continue ReadingAs an organization that teaches people how to grow vegetables in Toronto, we love seeing our students grow an abundance of food in their backyards and on their balconies. What we didnβt expect was the power of collaborative learning in...
Continue ReadingFor over 40 years, City Famer Society has been educating people on the art of composting. So, are there any secrets? In my opinion, the key ingredient to turning organic waste into rich compost is "dry, fall leaves." All you...
Continue ReadingFrom a window-box of herbs to a homestead, growing your own food is an education, a series of trial and error, and a meditation on connecting with nature in a meaningful and personal way. Itβs about observation, patience, and resourcefulness...
Continue ReadingGardening in light fluffy βsoilβ makes a common appearance when scrolling through videos online. But did you know the fluffy soil you see is not really soil? We actually consider that to be a soilless medium because of its absence...
Continue ReadingBring all the Bees to your Veggie Garden with Herbs!Β Whether you are planning a vegetable garden or growing in a container on your patio, planting companion herbs in amongst your favourite veggies will not only bring all the bees...
Continue ReadingWho wouldβve imagined that photographing boulevard gardens would lead to so many interesting surprises and fulfilling community-building experiences?Β But what is a boulevard garden? The boulevard is the strip of land between a road and a sidewalk. The standard boulevard...
Continue ReadingNon-profitβs research could bring fresh produce to underserved Canadians. Jennica Taylor didnβt want to go outside. She knew her breath would fog as temperatures approached minus-40Β°C. She knew the sun would dissolve into the darkness before supper. And with Christmas...
Continue ReadingGardening is enjoyable at all ages and is especially enjoyable with children! Playing and learning outdoors can engage children of all ages in physical activity, care for living things, and a sense of how the natural world works.Β Β Start small...
Continue ReadingNothing brings me joy like being surrounded by plants. In the summer, I love to bring people into the green cocoon that is my patio garden under the wisteria arbour and host small (given my Vancouver patio is only eight...
Continue ReadingWe started as a Forest and nature school dedicated to making outdoor experiences accessible for all individuals. Food security is one of the βpillarsβ of our program, which is directly linked to a food forest with more than 50 species...
Continue ReadingKhalsa Aid was founded in 1999 by Ravi Singh to provide humanitarian aid to those experiencing natural or man-made disaster. Khalsa Aid now has many chapters around the world including the Vancouver chapter, which provides aid to the Lower Mainland,...
Continue ReadingFounded in 2002 by seven residents of Suspa-Kshemawati VDC, FSS is a community-based Indiegnous-led organization registered with the Dolakha district Social Welfare Council office in eastern Nepal. With its base in Fashelung (Phaselung) village, the organization works across several VDCs...
Continue ReadingThe mission of the Free Library of Philadelphia is to advance literacy, guide learning, and inspire curiosity. Its vision is to build an enlightened community devoted to lifelong learning. Our To-Go & Grow Free Seed Library was inspired by my...
Continue ReadingThis past month, I had the pleasure to visit five garden sites in the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley.Β While each site was different, each has the same goals:Β growing produce, education, and sharing with community. They were all...
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