Environment
Free backyard trees from Green Here
March 16, 2010 - 11:19am — vicThe following announcement is from Greenhere:
Free Trees for Your Backyard!
GreenHere is excited to announce its second Free Backyard Tree project to residents of Davenport west! Building on the success of the 2008 project, GreenHere is offering a broad variety of shade and fruit trees to residents in the project area.
You may be eligible for a free tree if:
- You have a backyard with a plantable (unpaved) spot at least 4x4m
- Your backyard is between Bloor St. W. and St. Clair Ave. W., and from the CPR/CNR tracks over to Christie St.
- You are willing to commit to watering and mulching the young tree
GreenHere will do a site assessment, plant and mulch the tree, perform a tree care demonstration and provide a resource kit, all free of charge.
In return, we ask that you commit to basic watering and care of the young tree to ensure it grows to provide clean air, shade, better soil and to allow GreenHere to monitor the growth of the tree for long-term project tracking.
By getting a free tree planted, you are helping to provide your community with clean air, shade and improved soil.
Email: waseem@greenhere.ca or call 416.901.2006
Hurry! The deadline for application is April 15th. Plantings will take place in the spring and fall of 2010.
The Free Backyard Tree Planting Project is made possible with funding from Livegreen Toronto and with support from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment’s Community GO Green Fund.
Greenhere has done a fantastic job of getting more trees growing in our neighbourhood. If you're thinking of getting a new tree in your backyard, why not contact them to arrange for a free tree that comes with free setup and technical support! Can't go wrong with that. Be sure to contact them soon if you would like a tree planted in the Spring season.
Public Forum: Diesel vs. Electric Rail Expansion
March 5, 2010 - 2:12pm — vicPlease take note of this upcoming meeting at City Hall regarding the expansion of diesel train traffic in the Georgetown rail corridor on the western side of our neighbourhood.
Public Forum
All Aboard? Diesel, electric and clean air: Which way forward?
This forum is an opportunity for public discussion of the proposed Metrolinx expansion of the Georgetown South transit line and the rail link from Union Station to Pearson.
The Board of Health supports expanded public transit as a way to reduce vehicle traffic, but remains concerned about health risks and air quality impacts predicted with the proposed diesel rail expansion.
Forum Date: Monday, March 22, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Place: Council Chambers, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street W.
Public Transit: Subway to either Queen (Yonge line) or Osgoode (University line) and walk over to Bay St. Alternatively, take the Bay bus #6 or #6A northbound from Union Station or southbound from the Bay subway station (transfer required). Disembark at Albert Street.There will be a panel discussion, followed by a question period. Everyone is welcome to attend. Registration is not required.
Campbell-Rankin Community Garden: Call for Volunteers
March 2, 2010 - 4:00pm — vic
Here's another post to get you past the late-winter blahs and all excited about spring. The Campbell-Rankin Community Garden has a brand new website, and they're starting to ramp up for the upcoming garden planting season.
This garden has continued to flourish over the past few years, as local volunteers donated time and materials to beautify this once-neglected patch of land along Rankin Cres. between Symington Ave. and Campbell Ave. Last year, the City provided a large amount of leaf compost as well as a water tap to help the growing efforts along even further. This year they plan to extend the garden to include the third and final section which is still overgrown with weeds.
If you're interested in getting involved with gardening at this site, you can contact the group through their website. They will be meeting every Sunday morning at 10:00am, starting in April or May.
Some background about the garden:
This community garden was started in 2006 on an abandoned City of Toronto Transportation land with a $1500 Beautiful Toronto grant. It is one large Communal Garden Plot. Initially started as a xeriscaping garden by about 8 volunteers.
Since then the city has installed a water source and our garden has flourished with plant donations from the volunteers who come out once a week, to help water and weed. Visitors can now enjoy the many perennial flowers our garden has to offer.
Photos by Vic Gedris, August 8 2009.
Illegal dumping at Wallace Ave. crossing
February 17, 2010 - 3:33pm — vic
Illegal dumping on tracks near Wallace Ave.: November 1, 2008
The Toronto Star's "Fixer" has another article about our neighbourhood. Unfortunately, articles from The Fixer don't usually shine a positive light on things. This article discusses the illegal dumping that frequently occurs along the train tracks around Wallace Ave., between Campbell and Lansdowne Avenues.
Illegal dump makes area an eyesore
By Jack Lackey, Toronto Star, 2010-02-17
Some selected quotes:
There are a lot of ways to disrespect a community, but strewing the landscape with junk that could be properly disposed of has to rank near the top.
We went there Tuesday and found an appalling amount of garbage likely dumped in the dead of the night. There was a couch, a mattress, old appliances and several bags of trash.
On a utility pole near the tracks was a sign warning that illegal dumpers can be fined up to $5,000, which sounds formidable but is obviously considered an empty threat.
STATUS: Markings on track equipment identified CN Rail, so we called its media rep, Frank Binder. He said CN did a major cleanup there a year ago, but has since sold the track to GO Transit. GO's Vanessa Thomas took down the details and promised to update us.
A swift cleanup will take place, Thomas said, "if it is determined that this garbage is located on GO Transit property."
Read the complete article online at The Star's website.
