The Champlain Park Environment Team Needs YOU!

The ‘green season’ is once again upon us and we need your help to care for and advance the environmental work we’re doing in our neighbourhood. We’ve got activities that suit all ages, physical / skill ability ranges, and energy levels! If you like ‘low tech’, and love trees, then we’ve got what you’re looking for.

All you have to do is register with us (https://champlainpark.org/environteers/) and then you will be free to work when you want, on any project we’ve got, for as long as you like – 5 mins or 5 weeks, we have a spot for you!

We’ll provide the coordination, an orientation session, and a ‘report back’ contact so we can track what is getting done. It’s almost too easy.

Some activities planned for this season in Champlain Woods and Champlain Park include:

‘Adopt a Tree’ care program (May/June-spongy moth countermeasures featuring the ‘burlap wrap’ in the Park)
Invasive plant species control (garlic mustard, baby buckthorn, Japanese knotwood, dog strangling vine, etc)
Insect pest patrol
Watering and general care of planting sites and the pollinator garden
New tree planting projects

To get involved, just go to the “Environ-teer Registration” link noted above. Once registered you will begin receiving notices about orientation sessions, work party updates, and any tasks that may require immediate attention. From that point, you are free to chip-in to our projects when you’re able.

Minors are welcome to participate – parental/guardian permission and supervision are currently required at the time/location of participation.

We look forward to seeing you. Have a great summer!

The Champlain Park Enviro Team

Paper about Champlain Park Forest Diversity Efforts Published!

Published in Trail & Landscape 57(2) April-June 2023

Community Stewardship and Biodiversity Enhancement of Public Greenspaces

Daniel Buckles^1,2, Catherine Shearer¹, Kris Phillips¹, Adrian Bradley¹, Chieu-Anh Ta³, Braydon Hall³ and John Thor Arnason^1,3*

1. Champlain Park Environment Committee, Kitchissippi, Ottawa ON
2. Sociology and Anthropology Department, Carleton University, Ottawa ON
3. Biology Department, University of Ottawa, Ottawa ON
* Corresponding authors: dbuckles@sas2.net, john.arnason@uottawa.ca

Abstract: Plant biodiversity in urban woodlands near the Ottawa River was assessed and found to have low native biodiversity. Community volunteers responded by planting native trees using various techniques (Hügelkultur mounds, Miyawaki or “Tiny Forest” plantations, terracing) and establishing several native pollinator gardens. Biodiversity enhancement included both native Great Lakes and St. Lawrence forest species and Carolinian species, with attention to ethnobotanical and forest food species as well as herbaceous plants supporting native pollinators. The experience suggests that community stewardship of public greenspaces offers an efficient and effective means to achieve meaningful conservation and public education outcomes.

Keywords: Native plants, Carolinian species, biodiversity enhancement, Hügelkultur mounds, medicinal plants, food forest, pollinator garden.

Get the PDF of the whole very well illustrated paper from Community Stewardship and Biodiversity Enhancement of Public Greenspaces.pdf

Tips for Disposing of Branches

From https://ottawa.ca/en/storm-cleanup-april-2023 via Jeff Leiper:

What to do with debris and waste

Debris separation:

Household waste: Place at the curb as part of regular garbage and recycling collection
Organic waste: Spoiled organics can be stored in the freezer then place at the curb for weekly green bin pickup. For those with more urgent need to dispose of food waste, a large bin will be available at the Trail Waste Facility at no charge from Monday, April 10 to Saturday, April 15. Trail Waste Facility hours of operation are below.
Tree cuttings, branches and brush: Place at the curb separate from non-organic, storm-related waste. To allow collection, we encourage branches to be tied with twine in bundles of less than 1.2 m (4 ft.) in length and 60 cm (2 ft.) in width, and that bundles or containers weigh no more than 15 kg (33 lb.). Individual branches should be less than 10 cm (4 in.) in diameter. Larger tree cuttings, branches and brush may be brought to the City’s Trail Waste Facility at no charge until further notice. Otherwise, these may wait, curbside, for chipping or collection by specialized City and contracted crews. There is no need to call 3-1-1 at this time.
Household hazardous waste: Visit the Waste Explorer on ottawa.ca for disposal information

Do not stack or lean: Do not place debris near or on trees, poles or other structures as this makes removal difficult. This includes fire hydrants and meters.

If you don’t have a sidewalk, ditch, or utility line in front of your house, place debris at the edge of your property before the curb.

Trees
Continue reading “Tips for Disposing of Branches” →

Recycle your Christmas Tree at Champlain Park

Recycle your 🌲 Tree at the Champlain Park Baseball Diamond, anytime in January!!

Give your old Christmas tree a ‘second life’ by donating it to the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail. Trees will be used to create wind breaks and safety barriers/cordons at various locations along the Winter Trail at Remic Rapids. Trees can be brought to the North East corner of the Champlain Park baseball diamond anytime in January, 2023. The Winter Trail team will then make sure they get to where they are needed.

Thank you from the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail Team, and happy skiing!

Webinar featuring our Pollinator Garden – November 29

Champlain Park’s experience with the pollinator garden and community forests will be featured tomorrow, Tuesday, November 29 in a webinar series for the Year of the Ecological Garden, hosted by the Society for Organic Urban Land Care (SOUL). Champlain Park received an award for its work from SOUL earlier in 2022.

Tickets are free upon registration at the SOUL website: https://organiclandcare.ca/2022_Series

Previous presentations on a wide range of gardening topics are also posted to the site, which contains a wealth of experience from across North America, on topics ranging from urban agriculture, ecological turf care, greener greenspaces, etc.

Cheers, Daniel Buckles (the speaker for tomorrow).

Leaf Drop Leftover Garden Bags

Still doing garden work? Don’t buy leaf litter bags! Instead, pick up all you need from the stash created by the neighborhood leaf drop (450 bags of compostable leaves collected). Pick up in front yard of 201 Daniel avenue, asap.

Daniel Buckles

Leaf Drop Job Done!

2022 Champlain Park “Help Build a Forest” Leaf Drop

NO additional leaves are needed to protect and mulch trees at the Pontiac street mini-forest. Thank you to all that contributed their “community leaf wealth” to the cause. It keeps the organic matter in the community, and makes for a great growing environment.

Champlain Park Community Association – Environment Committee

Last Chance Leaf Drop – October 30

2022 Champlain Park “Help Build a Forest” Leaf Drop

The final week of our leaf collection campaign is here – a very big thank you to those who have already contributed! Be sure to bag-up your tree leaves and bring them to the north end of Champlain Park (the de-paved section of Pontiac Ave,) between Cowley Ave. and Carleton Ave. No garden waste or other materials, please. Volunteers will accept your tree leaf donations (in compostable bags) at the concrete planters or on the terraces from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m..

Your leaves will be put to good use in our neighbourhood’s newest tree planting sites. Leaf bags will be inspected on your arrival at the drop-off site. Volunteers also plan to collect bagged leaves from neighbourhood driveways on the City’s regularly scheduled waste collection day. Please help them out by slightly separating your tree leaf waste bags from other yard waste on collection day.

Thank you for all of your support in helping us to rehabilitate our community’s natural green spaces!

Champlain Park Community Association – Environment Committee

Leaf Drop – October 23, 30

2022 Champlain Park “Help Build a Forest” Leaf Drop

Week two of our leaf collection campaign is here-a big thank you to those who have already contributed! Be sure to bag-up your tree leaves and bring them to the north end of Champlain Park (the de-paved section of Pontiac Ave,) between Cowley Ave. and Carleton Ave. No garden waste or other materials, please. Volunteers will accept your tree leaf donations (in compostable bags) at the concrete planters from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the following Sunday mornings: October 23, and 30.

[Leaf Drop Zone on Pontiac]

Your leaves will be put to good use in our neighbourhood’s newest tree planting sites. Leaf bags will be inspected on your arrival at the drop-off site. Volunteers also plan to collect bagged leaves from neighbourhood driveways on the City’s regularly scheduled waste collection day. Please help them out by slightly separating your tree leaf waste bags from other yard waste on collection day.

Thank you for all of your support in helping us to rehabilitate our community’s natural green spaces!

Champlain Park Community Association – Environment Committee

Leaf Drop – October 16, 23, 30

2022 Champlain Park “Help Build a Forest” Leaf Drop

What do you do when “Leaf Peeper” season is over? All those brightly colored leaves are covering your lawn, in your gutters, and in your garden. Bag ‘em up and bring them to the north end of Champlain Park (the de-paved section of Pontiac Ave,) between Cowley Ave. and Carleton Ave. Volunteers will accept your tree leaf donations at this site, open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the following Sunday mornings: October 16, 23, and 30.

[Leaf Drop Zone on Pontiac]

The Champlain Park Environment Committee will put the leaves to good use in our neighbourhood’s newest tree planting sites! Only ‘clean tree leaf litter’ in compostable paper bags will be accepted and bags will be inspected on your arrival at drop-off site. No garden waste or other materials, please. There is a possibility that we can offer a leaf pick-up service on Oct. 23 for those who cannot bring bags to park. More information to be confirmed in reminder posts every Thursday in October.

Happy raking and thank you for all of your support in helping us to rehabilitate our community’s natural green spaces!

Champlain Park Community Association – Environment Committee