February 25, 2014
Andrea Bake
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You are walking through a nursery sales floor. You see some beautiful looking plants – green and leafy with giant flowers. But are you sure about where that plant is coming from? Final touches are often made on clothing in Ontario after being shipped in from China. But does that make it Made in Canada? With global supply chains this may be how it goes for the shirt on your back. But I'm not convinced “local” is the word for a small sapling that was sent up from the Carolinas - or one that relocated to grow five years in Canada before being sold.
February 20, 2014
Brenna Anstett
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Like most people from the countryside, I grew up thinking a forest was just a big patch of trees in the middle of nowhere. But after completing my degree in Geography and Environmental Governance, I became more versed in the complexities of forest ecosystems and started tree planting for the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority. Later, working with LEAF, I began to wrap my head around the idea that cities have forests too!
February 13, 2014
Mark Sherman
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On a surprisingly mild day at the start of February, I had the pleasure of leading a snowshoe tree tour at Newmarket’s Winterfest. The walk was co-presented with York Region Forestry, who provided the snowshoes and a great crew of tree enthusiasts to join us. This was the first of two winter walks LEAF has planned for 2014.
February 10, 2014
Janet McKay
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Recently there has been much talk of the extreme cold weather in Ontario and what effect these temperatures could have on the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). Many hope the silver lining is an end to this destructive pest. Here are the top five questions we’re asked about EAB and cold winters.
February 10, 2014
Andrea Bake
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Before the green ash, there was the American elm – a popular street tree, creating majestic canopies in neighbourhoods across North America. Then came word of a fungal infection spreading through the Netherlands - killing elms left, right and centre. Once-leafy 'hoods became desolate wastelands with minimal shade and stumps left along the boulevards. Sound similar to the Emerald Ash Borer’s effect on our urban forest today? But 100 years after the elms started to fall, this once-beloved tree is now making a comeback.
February 10, 2014
Robyn Stewart
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What’s the Outreach Team, you ask? Last year, LEAF assembled a new group of dedicated volunteers that represent LEAF at community events, such as Community Environment Days, festivals, farmers' markets and public talks. While you may not see these volunteers out planting or mulching (though some of them do that too!), they are critical in helping spread the word about what’s going on in the urban forest!
February 06, 2014
Erin MacDonald
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It’s an absolute pleasure to join the LEAF community - to become part of this wonderful team of urban forest advocates! Working with a group so dedicated to connecting people with their urban landscape and finding ways to make the city we live in healthier, leafier and more beautiful – that’s what it’s all about. This is where the change really happens.
January 28, 2014
Brenna Anstett
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I grew up in Exeter on a property covered by giant spruce, cedar and maple trees. They were always such a huge part of my life, providing me with excellent hiding spots during neighbourhood games of hide-and-seek, giving us piles of leaves to jump into in the fall, providing us with shade to cool off in the summer and housing local wildlife, like robins and white squirrels! But another value that they offer - something that doesn’t always get a ton of attention - is the way trees can help conserve energy and provide us with financial benefits.
January 28, 2014
Matthew Higginson
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…Or so the song goes. But what can you make out of the leaves and branches once they’ve flourished green for the last time? This was the question put to four talented designers. And we were impressed by what they came back with for our exhibit in the Toronto Design Offsite Festival. Brothers Dressler, Dystil, The National Design Collective and Paus + Grün all donated their time to LEAF and our work for the urban forest. And with it they each brought a unique perspective on design, repurposing salvaged wood and the symbolism of the Maple Leaf Forever tree.
January 27, 2014
Andrea Bake
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The trembling aspen would make an interesting Shakespearean character. There are not many trees in the world you can find with your ears, that can live on for centuries or that make imperceptible connections underground. The tinkling of leaves, like a soft wind chime, can be heard from east to west, one of those familiar pieces of natural Canadiana. Often mistaken for birch, the trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) stands apart from its lighter-barked friends in a few key ways.