April 27, 2012
Matthew Higginson
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We've kicked off another spring planting season. At LEAF the entire staff gets an opportunity to go out in the field for at least one day. This means our marketing team takes time away from setting up interviews and tweaking websites to plant trees. I love the concept and needless to say it’s is a welcomed break from the glow of my computer screen. But even more than that, it’s a refreshing experience each time it rolls around.
April 20, 2012
Matthew Higginson
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It's going to be a busy weekend. We get excited each year around this time as millions of people in over 175 countries around the globe get together to celebrate our home. This year we're spreading out to connect with diverse communities and share tips on stewarding the planet at a local level. And while Earth Day falls on Sunday, I wanted to share all of the weekend's events we'll be attending - I hope you can join us!
April 16, 2012
Melissa Williams
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By now, many of you have likely heard of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). We’ve received many calls from homeowners with questions and concerns about the invasive insect pest here at the LEAF office. Signs and symptoms of infestation are starting to appear throughout the City of Toronto and southern parts of York Region, and in Scarborough, street tree removals are starting to make the anticipated loss of ash trees visibly – and viscerally – comprehensible.
April 12, 2012
Guest Blogger
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Last summer I began an internship at the Dig In! Campus Agriculture Network’s (DICAN) whose main mission is to support, empower and grow small-scale and sustainable food production at the University of Toronto. Acting as a meeting platform for all urban agriculture projects, our goal is to introduce and engage students with the concept of city food production.
April 10, 2012
Matthew Higginson
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A bird of prey with it’s claws full. A bandit looking for breakfast. These incredible photos were sent to us by one of our long-standing volunteers. Jocelyn, who calls Parkdale home, says she sees all kinds of animals scurrying around while she's working in her naturalized garden.
April 04, 2012
Matthew Higginson
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Each year the Green Living Show provides a great opportunity to get to know all things green going on in and around Toronto. We are excited to join some other incredible groups to talk about the health benefits of the towering canopy in our urban areas.
March 28, 2012
Vik Pahwa
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Last Wednesday High Park was set on fire - intentionally. There was excitement in the air - the tension of an imminent forest fire and police officers standing by mixed with curious onlookers and reporters waiting with anticipation. I was about to witness a prescribed burn.
March 28, 2012
Matthew Higginson
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This week ads went up along transit lines and will run for the next month. The message? "You could really use a tree." What a simple line - but it really captures the spirit of what we do at LEAF. When I first saw these I loved the humour, and the fact that we could use it to help tell our story. They speak to the issues we face and that Toronto's urban forest can really use a hand.
March 21, 2012
Guest Blogger
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With a high number of trees being removed each year in the GTA due to storm damage, insect infestations, disease, and urban development it’s a shame to see so many good trees go to mulch. While this method is very useful for nourishing the remaining urban forest, I’ve seen how fallen trees can also be transformed in other ways and passed down through generations as tables and benches. The issue of “urban wood waste” is not just unique to Toronto; it is a Canada-wide problem.
March 14, 2012
Susan Poizner
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With the surge of interest in the local food movement, more and more Torontonians are planting fruit trees in their yards, school grounds, or in their local parks. After all, why should we import fruit from around the world when we can grow it in our own communities? With proper care and nurturing, a fruit tree can feed us for up to 50 years or more.