HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnv 2009-09-17 - 2008 Community Environmental Improvement Grants UpdateINTERNAL MEMO
City of Kitchener
City Hall, 200 King St. West
P.O. Bo
x 1118
Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7
Date:
September 1, 2009
To:
Environmental Committee
From:
Carrie Musselman, Senior Environmental Planner [519-741-3400 x 3148]
Subject:
2008 Community Environmental Improvement Grants – September 2009 Update
The following information is intended to provide members of the Environmental Committee with
an update on the work undertaken by recipients of the 2008 Community Environmental
Improvement Grant.
Kitchener Master Gardeners - Seedy Saturday
A laptop and projector were purchased by the Kitchener Master Gardeners. The
Horticultural Society purchased a copy of MS Office Pro for the equipment as indicated
in our proposal.
At the end of June the equipment had been used for five presentations around the
community on topics such as life without pesticides. It would have been used at three
Lunch and Learn talks given at the Kitchener Market, but lighting conditions on the main
floor didn’t allow for the use of projection equipment.
Several Master Gardeners and Horticultural Society members volunteered to work on
the project and discussions with the Library and Seeds of Diversity are underway.
Master Gardeners are developing PowerPoint demonstrations that can be used at
various events.
Olde Berlin Towne Neighbourhood Association - Boulevards in Bloom
Proposing a small planting of historical plants in the Firefighters Park.
Proposed planting date of September 19, 2009.
Opportunities Waterloo Region - Community Garden Fest
The First Annual Community Garden Fest was definitely well received. Estimates of the
day were that there were up to 300 people in attendance with a core group of 75 or so
that stayed for the whole day.
A core group planning committee of 8 volunteers helped secure donations/sponsorship,
promote the event, find resources and supplies, organize volunteers, and generally help
brainstorm and layout the day. We had over 40 people volunteer to help the day of the
event!
The day was jam packed with action and activities. Throughout the day there were 12
gardening workshops, ~15 exhibits, 4 children’s activities, 4 entertainers (providing
internationally flavoured music and dance).
Jim Diers the keynote speaker was well received. His presentation generated interest in
the push for a community garden policy in the Region.
T.V. personality Dave MacDonald, Regional Chair Ken Seiling, Kitchener Mayor Carl
Zehr, and Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran participated in the kick off of the event!
Our Place Family Resource and Early Years Centre - Our Outdoor Learning Environment
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Our Place is happy to announce the opening of the Outdoor Learning Area June 25,
2009.
The project is not yet complete but to date they have planted over 30 trees, installed
several play elements, installed rubberized tarmac around the play elements and
installed a sand lab.
One of the highlights this spring was a Home Depot Community Build. Volunteers came
out and built benches and planters. They also planted shrubs and flowers.
St. Mary's Catholic Church - Mary's Garden
The native garden at St. Mary's has been completed. A bronze plaque has been
ordered and a dedication will be held once it has been installed. This garden will be
dedicated as “Mary’s Garden.”
With the financial support of the TD Canada Trust Friends of the Environment, the City
of Kitchener, and private donations, St. Mary’s Catholic Church has installed a natural
garden consisting of native trees and shrubs, perennials, and seating areas.
Mary’s Garden will serve as reminder to all parishioners, neighbours, and passersby of
our need to be active stewards of God’s creation. The native plants will provide food
and habitat for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife as well as providing a peaceful setting
in the middle of the city where people can relax, pray and visit.
Flowers represent the interior devotional, mystical religious life of the Church. Stones
represent the visible church, sacraments, and priesthood. The stones, in addition to
adding a sense of permanence to the garden, will provide quiet seating areas in different
locations. The main seating area consisting of 10 stones is symbolic of a decade of the
Rosary. Many of the shrubs have white flowers symbolizing the purity of Mary. Pink
blossoms represent her joys, red and purple her sorrows, and gold blooms represent her
glories. Other flowers are planted because their names evoke thoughts of Mary.
Sustainable Cycles - Mothers of the Planet Earth
Sustainable Cycles held a series of workshops and activities created to introduce young
families to fun projects associated with current and local issues of social change and
sustainability. Workshops and activities were held on:
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March 22- support local workshop
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April 4 - reduce reuse workshop
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April 18 - conservation walk
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April 24 - festival for sustainability at the Children's Museum.
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For the ‘support local workshop’ Greg from Little City Farms and Barterworks talked
about the economy and the environment and how the two are connected. The workshop
included snacks from Exhibit Cafe, and a half hour yoga session. Participants were
provided information about where they can by local food and other products. Activities
for children included making a smoothie, emphasizing why it is important to choose more
local foods, at the same time talking about nutrition, getting 5-10 servings a day of fruits
and vegetables from as many colours as possible.
At the ‘reduce reuse workshop’ participant’s brainstormed ways to reduce and reuse
things that would otherwise go to the landfill, or travel far and wide to go through the
recycling process. Participant’s also got hands on, with adults making something out
of second hand clothing, and kids making instruments from recyclables.
The ‘conservation walk’ was a huge success. Participant’s took a school bus out to
Huron Natural Area, taking a detour along hidden valley, with commentary from
members of The Friends of Hidden Valley.
The ‘festival for sustainability’ got people interactive on the streets, creating a
consciousness about environmental issues. Inside there were a number of displays
from local eco businesses, and other organizations raising awareness about
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environmental ideas and issues, like plastic in the pacific and reusable menstruation
products. There was free food, thanks to a generous donation from 7 shores, and live
theater and music.
Forest Heights Community Association (FHCA) - "...a good place for roots..."
After receiving the 2008 CEIG the FHCA met with various departments at the City to
acquire the proper approvals/drawings.
Community Services identified that they were in the process of redeveloping the
community centre site and that planting trees at the rear of the facility would not be
recommended at this time as it was not clear how the site development may affect the
placement of the trees.
Both FHCA and Community Services staff were working towards a solution and it
appeared that a solution that would fit within the parameters of the FHCA application and
that would satisfy the City was very close to being realized.
Unfortunately, this August the FHCA representative has opted to forgo the project and
has requested that funds be returned to the City.
Kitchener-Waterloo Urban Harvester
KW Urban Harvester has had an excellent summer reporting excellent yields,
distribution, and community involvement.
The number of plots was reduced from last year due mainly to the fact that we did not
receive funding to employ a summer student.
The group focused on 3 plots: one on Euclid Avenue in Waterloo, one on Hill street in
Kitchener, and created a large plot on Laurier campus.
The volunteers this year were almost all new to gardening, and everyone learned a lot
about organic practices and vegetable growing.
In the plots they successfully grew tomatoes, eggplant, carrots, beets, spinach, basel,
corn, a few varieties of beans, cucumbers, and pumpkins.
The funding was put towards supplies to grow seedlings indoors in March, soil for raised
beds, organic heritage seeds, and gardening tools.
They reported that the CEIG most definitely helped them improve their vegetable yield
by allowing them to purchase good quality soil and seeds, and in doing so helped them
to start educating the community about the importance of sustainable food and
environmentally sound consumption, as well as the inherent joy of gardening during the
summer.
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