Leaf Drop

via Daniel Buckles…

Leaves falling? Turn them into compost for the public gardens by bringing bagged leaves to Pontiac. Leave the bags along the INSIDE/NORTH SIDE of the fence, between Carleton and Northwestern. This is the “tiny forest” area, where leaves are needed. PLEASE, don’t bring garden waste, but ONLY bags with leaves only (maple and oak are best).

Survey about Neighbourhood Tree Bylaws – by October 10

via Heather…

City Forestry is seeking your answer to a one-question survey on a proposal to amend the Tree Protection Bylaw. A resounding “Yes” will help them extend the bylaw’s coverage to the same sized trees in the suburbs, as are already covered in our neighbourhoods. Suburban trees currently have no protection until they are 50 cm in diameter at breast height (DBH), whereas urban trees are covered at 30 cm DBH.
Continue reading “Survey about Neighbourhood Tree Bylaws – by October 10” →

Tree Poster Exhibit

Update – it was taken down on Friday September 16 and removed from the Tree Fest web site. Blink and you miss it!

Seen yesterday going up on the fence at the north side of Champlain Park – a tree poster exhibit. Possibly something to do with Wednesday September 20th being National Tree Day. Yes, there’s a mention of the exhibit “Photosynthesis III: Pollinators and the Urban Forest” being up for a month on the Tree Fest Ottawa web site. And they’re also doing the tour mentioned in the previous post.

National Tree Day Garden Tour – September 20

via Daniel Buckles:

Join pollinator specialist Jessica Forest and ethnobotanist John Arnason for a tour of the Champlain Park gardens and mini-forests, to celebrate the connections between trees and pollinators in urban settings. 4-6 pm, Wednesday September 20. Location and registration here:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/national-tree-day-celebrating-pollinators-and-the-urban-forest-tickets-717289410937

Pollinator Garden in the News

Ecology Ottawa has a blog post about a recent visit to our pollinator garden and native species forest by a handful of city councillors. It’s a good review of the history and people who made this project work. The underlying point is to get the city to smooth the approvals process and encourage other such gardens.

New Book by Local Author Daniel Buckles

Daniel Buckles, a Champlain Park resident and frequent volunteer on the Environment Committee, has had his book Connecting Worlds: art, anthropology and activism published. Here are the details:

Synopsis:

A hopeful and clear-eyed journey into the story of social change. The artist, anthropologist and community activist Daniel Buckles shows how connection—to self, others and nature—can become the catalyst for an engaged life. Participation in the bush lifestyle of the 1970s Yukon, exposure to the complex culture of Mexico and a battle with cancer at the age of thirty-two prompted the author to work with people living on the edge: Honduran peasants inventing new agricultural technologies for hillside agriculture; landless Bangladeshi women gleaning nutrient-rich food from their surroundings; small religious communities standing in solidarity at the centre of disaster relief efforts in the Philippines and Burkina Faso; grassroots organizations fighting to protect urban forests in Ottawa, Canada. This story of personal discovery and engaged research offers a window into real-life social struggles and life’s key challenges and professional choices. Richly illustrated with professional photography and paintings, Connecting Worlds shows how to make a difference, from the inside out.

Buy e-book: https://books2read.com/u/47WNM7

Reviews:

“Connecting Worlds an absorbing travelogue of contemporary social struggles, a captivating journey of sound and light, no small amount of adventure and many stories about how change really happens. I read the book twice: first with envy and the second time with admiration.”

— Pat Roy Mooney is a Giraffe Hero, author of Shattering: Food, Politics, and the Loss of Genetic Diversity and recipient of the Right Livelihood Award and the Pearson Medal of Peace.

“As a young anthropologist, it is inspiring to read this candid and informative book. Buckles doesn’t shy away from imagining a better world, and demonstrates how anthropology’s methods can be used to get us there.”

— Emma Bider, PhD candidate and author of We Animals.

Daniel Buckles

Pollinator Patch Program

Help save the monarchs, bees, and other pollinators with these free resources

There’s been a significant decline in pollinators in the last 20 years. Without these important pollinators, life as we know it will change. But YOU can help by planting native plants on your property, and there’s a local Ottawa community group that can help you make that happen.

Not sure where to start? New to gardening? Our friends at Eco West Enders have got you covered. Anyone participating in their Pollinator Patch Program will receive FREE information on everything from how to set up your new garden, to where to source your native plants, as well as gaining online support through a private Facebook group and direct email to the Eco West Enders team.

They’ll also be selling native plants for $1 each on June 18th at the Stittsville Market At the Barn event.

Please join your 175K neighbours as we encourage them to naturalize their outdoor space to build a greener and more resilient future. We can do great things together!

For more information and to register to participate, visit ecowestenders.ca.

Climate Resiliency Workshop – May 23

City councillor Jeff Leiper describes it as:

The City is collaborating with Community Associations for Environmental Sustainability to host an in-person climate resiliency workshop next month at the Hintonburg Community Centre. The event will be held on May 23 from 7-9 pm focusing on what’s needed in the ward to be prepared for climate change impacts. It’s part of a city-wide series to help inform the upcoming climate resiliency strategy.

Continue reading “Climate Resiliency Workshop – May 23” →

Spring Naturehood Bird Walks

Upcoming Naturehood Outings

Spring Bird Walks

Date: Friday mornings (May 5 – early June)
Time: 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Location: Champlain Park Pollinator Garden (Carleton and Pontiac)
Leader: Jennifer Neate

Description:

As the natural world awakens from its winter sleep, the feathered migrants have begun to arrive! Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Eastern Phoebes and Chipping Sparrows have added their voices to the morning chorus and they will soon be joined by a colourful kaleidoscope of warblers.

Come out and meet some of the resident and migrant birds of your naturehood on this family-friendly outing. We will see who we can find together and practice some basic skills that will help you to locate and identify the birds around you. Bring your curiosity, a set of binoculars and a bird field guide, if you have one.

Registration is not required but if you would like to be notified of cancellations due to weather, feel free to send an email to jen@spiritwalkers.ca with the subject: “Naturehood Outing.”

Planting Spots Available

Room to Bloom

Calling all gardeners (or wannabees)!

Have you noticed the large concrete planters at the north end of Champlain Park? You know the ones, they block off the de-paved section of Pontiac by the Environment Committee’s Pollinator Garden and its forest terraces.

These planters are planted and tended annually by some very avid gardeners, some of whom may also happen to be your neighbours. This year, some planters remain available, and we are looking for someone to fill them with some wonderful colours or greenery.

As the adoptive parent of a planter, you would be responsible for filling it with non-invasive herbs, vegetables, or colourful flowers, and then tending it for the season.

Please reach out to Alexandra at alexandra@evershed.ca if you are interested.

Thank you for helping make our community just a little greener. Every action helps!

Champlain Park Environment Committee