As a veteran Torontonian and an environmental enthusiast I was excited for the opportunity to intern at a local nonprofit organization through the work placement program at the University of Toronto. And here it is, my second day, and I am granted a tour of LEAF’s Urban Forest Demonstration Gardens!
At first glance, the gardens may seem a planting initiative wholly undertaken by the City of Toronto or the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), considering each garden (with the exception of the LEAF Learning Garden at Artscape Wychwood Barns) is located in high-traffic areas near TTC stations. However, I quickly realized that each garden has an individual story, characterized by the placement of the garden, the layout of the space, the configuration of plants, and the communities that help it grow. Once you realize each garden represents a collaborative effort from TTC personnel, LEAF staff, volunteer garden stewards and supporting partner Ontario Power Generation, you begin to understand that these small green spaces are meaningful, engaging, and worthy of both our consideration and our care.
I spent much of the day wondering how many people pass by these gardens each day without giving them a second thought. I remember a time when I also didn’t bother to look beyond where I needed to get to, unaware that everywhere I turned life had sprung up around me. These days, I am intrigued by all things green and wonder how I ever passed it by without taking notice. We take for granted these pockets of life that pepper our urban environment; we detest bugs, get annoyed when birds are chirping, and we battle the encroachment of pests and plants that try to interrupt the ironically comforting chaos that is urban living. We fail to account for the complex, mashed up, tangled mess that allows us to live—that which is the web of life!
And that is why projects such as LEAF’s Urban Forest Demonstration Gardens are so important. The gardens represent both the collaborative efforts of humans to create a green space and the interactions of plants, animals, organisms, sunlight, and water. They reveal that life is not simply handed to you: it is a process, as life builds on life. In the gardens, aphids thrive on yellow oxeye flowers, birds feed on chokeberries, wild strawberry plants strengthen the soil, and soil organisms work unseen magic underground. We too take part in this process. At the LEAF gardens you can see first-hand the magic of life. Take time to appreciate life’s presence. It’s in your city, in your neighbourhood, it’s out there, and it’s in you!
LEAF’s Urban Forest Demonstration Gardens are supported Ontario Power Generation’s Biodiversity Program and the Toronto Transit Commission.
Laura Squires is LEAF’s Volunteer & Stewardship intern.