Upcoming Green Events in the Toronto Area: March 9- March 15, 2009

7pm

Bowmanville: Growing Durham Public Information Session

40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville ON (Clarington Council Chambers) (map)

The Durham Region Official Plan is a long range policy document that guides the growth and development of the Region, while conserving resources and protecting the environment. The Region is currently reviewing the growth management related policies of the Official Plan through the Growing Durham Study initiative. As part of the review, Regional Planning Committee has released a proposed Amendment that incorporates changes to the Official Plan in conformity with the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe 2006. The Region will hold special public information sessions to provide interested parties the opportunity to review and ask questions about the supporting information and the proposed Amendment in an open house format. There will be no formal presentations at the sessions. For more information: http://www.durham.ca/growthplan/ads/GrowthAd_PublicConsultation2009.pdf

7:30pm

Oshawa: Choosing the Right Plants for the Right Places

38 Lviv Blvd, Oshawa (Lviv Hall) (map)

Alex Pol owns his own landscaping company in Oshawa. He studied landscape architecture, forestry and agriculture in Holland and has been in the industry since 1985 For more information: http://www.oshawagardenclub.ca/events.htm  info@oshawagardenclub.ca 905-723-5557

Biogas Conference and Exhibition

London Convention Centre, London ON (map)

3rd Annual Growing the Margins Conference and Exhibition The Growing the Margins: Energy, Bioproducts and Byproducts from Farm and Food Sectors Conference and Exhibition follow on the success of GTM #1 and #2 and will continue to explore the technological, operating, policy, regulatory, financial and other challenges and opportunities facing farms and related food processing and rural industries as they strive to improve their energy efficiency, better utilize byproducts - - and ultimately improve their bottom lines. 1st Annual Canadian Farm and Food Biogas Conference and Exhibition There is growing interest in biogas production - - in the farm and food processing sectors, and in Ontario and elsewhere. In order to properly present, as well as provide the opportunity to discuss the many projects and activities in this important field, we are pleased to announce the 1st Annual Canadian Farm and Food Biogas Conference and Exhibition. For more information: http://www.gtmconference.ca/site/index.php/growing-the-margins http://www.gtmconference.ca/site/index.php/canadian-farm-and-food-biogas

10am

Pickering: Drought Tolerant Plants

Pickering Museum Village (map)

Summers seem to be getting hotter and drier, and most municipalities are now enforcing watering bans at least a few times a season. “Planting your garden with drought-tolerant plants helps to reduce your overall water use and contributes to sustainability”, says Male. “I can show you plants that are attractive in the garden and use less water!” For more information: 905.420.4621http://www.cityofpickering.com/museum/

Biogas Conference and Exhibition

London Convention Centre, London ON (map)

3rd Annual Growing the Margins Conference and Exhibition The Growing the Margins: Energy, Bioproducts and Byproducts from Farm and Food Sectors Conference and Exhibition follow on the success of GTM #1 and #2 and will continue to explore the technological, operating, policy, regulatory, financial and other challenges and opportunities facing farms and related food processing and rural industries as they strive to improve their energy efficiency, better utilize byproducts - - and ultimately improve their bottom lines. 1st Annual Canadian Farm and Food Biogas Conference and Exhibition There is growing interest in biogas production - - in the farm and food processing sectors, and in Ontario and elsewhere. In order to properly present, as well as provide the opportunity to discuss the many projects and activities in this important field, we are pleased to announce the 1st Annual Canadian Farm and Food Biogas Conference and Exhibition. For more information: http://www.gtmconference.ca/site/index.php/growing-the-margins http://www.gtmconference.ca/site/index.php/canadian-farm-and-food-biogas

3pm

Dufferin Grove Organic Farmers’ Market

873 Dufferin St, Toronto (in Dufferin Grove Park) (map)

Outdoors around the rinkhouse in summer; in and around the rinkhouse in winter. For more information: http://www.dufferinpark.ca/market/wiki/wiki.php

4pm

UofT Seminar: Carbon Finance and Canada's Kyoto Predicament

7 Hart House Circle (Hart House - Debates Room) (map)

Speaking: RODNEY WHITE, Professor Emeritus, Department of Geopgraphy, Academic Advisor for Professional Development Programs, Centre for Environment, University of Toronto ABSTRACT: The Government of Canada signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, thereby committing the country to a 6% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below the 1990 baseline by 2012. The Conservative minority government indicated that it will ignore this commitment and, instead, aim for (supposedly) softer targets based on GHG emissions intensity per unit of product for selected sectors of the economy. Whatever the legal implications of this policy shift, Canada now stands to forfeit whatever remaining claims it might have for environmental credibility in the global community. As long as the United States likewise ignored its own Kyoto commitment Canada's position might not have seemed to be particularly exposed. However with a new, more environmentally-oriented government south of the border, and the provinces having outlined their own GHG reduction policies (two maintaining the original Kyoto goal), Canada's federal position on climate change is increasingly untenable. Fortunately, with the four years of experience of addressing climate change using a market-based approach in the European Union, we are now in a much better position to assess the options still open to Canada before the end of the First Commitment Period in 2012. Those options will be addressed in this presentation. For more information: Pavel Pripa 416-978-3475 environment.seminars@utoronto.ca

7pm

Grafton Community Gardening Night

Roncesvalles and Queen, Toronto (Grafton Community Garden) (map)

Join the West End Flower Fairies, residents and business owners to help green the community! Participants will be out every Wednesday, Rain or Shine.

7pm

Whitby: Growing Durham Public Information Session

595 Rossland Road East, Whitby ON (Whitby Council Chambers) (map)

The Durham Region Official Plan is a long range policy document that guides the growth and development of the Region, while conserving resources and protecting the environment. The Region is currently reviewing the growth management related policies of the Official Plan through the Growing Durham Study initiative. As part of the review, Regional Planning Committee has released a proposed Amendment that incorporates changes to the Official Plan in conformity with the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe 2006. The Region will hold special public information sessions to provide interested parties the opportunity to review and ask questions about the supporting information and the proposed Amendment in an open house format. There will be no formal presentations at the sessions. For more information: http://www.durham.ca/growthplan/ads/GrowthAd_PublicConsultation2009.pdf

Biogas Conference and Exhibition

London Convention Centre, London ON (map)

3rd Annual Growing the Margins Conference and Exhibition The Growing the Margins: Energy, Bioproducts and Byproducts from Farm and Food Sectors Conference and Exhibition follow on the success of GTM #1 and #2 and will continue to explore the technological, operating, policy, regulatory, financial and other challenges and opportunities facing farms and related food processing and rural industries as they strive to improve their energy efficiency, better utilize byproducts - - and ultimately improve their bottom lines. 1st Annual Canadian Farm and Food Biogas Conference and Exhibition There is growing interest in biogas production - - in the farm and food processing sectors, and in Ontario and elsewhere. In order to properly present, as well as provide the opportunity to discuss the many projects and activities in this important field, we are pleased to announce the 1st Annual Canadian Farm and Food Biogas Conference and Exhibition. For more information: http://www.gtmconference.ca/site/index.php/growing-the-margins http://www.gtmconference.ca/site/index.php/canadian-farm-and-food-biogas

3pm

Dufferin Grove Organic Farmers' Market

South of Bloor on the east side of Dufferin, in Dufferin Grove Park (map)

A year-round farmers' market every Thursday afternoon from 3 to 7 pm. Outdoors in the beauty of the park in summer, on the skating rink pad in fall, and inside the rink buildings throughout the winter. Local farmers and city-based food producers bring a great variety of organic foods. A special feature of the market is wood-fired oven breads baked right in the park. For more information contact: Phone: 416-392-0913

7pm

Oshawa: Growing Durham Public Information Session

65 Bagot Street, Oshawa ON (McLaughlin Library Main Auditorium) (map)

The Durham Region Official Plan is a long range policy document that guides the growth and development of the Region, while conserving resources and protecting the environment. The Region is currently reviewing the growth management related policies of the Official Plan through the Growing Durham Study initiative. As part of the review, Regional Planning Committee has released a proposed Amendment that incorporates changes to the Official Plan in conformity with the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe 2006. The Region will hold special public information sessions to provide interested parties the opportunity to review and ask questions about the supporting information and the proposed Amendment in an open house format. There will be no formal presentations at the sessions. For more information: http://www.durham.ca/growthplan/ads/GrowthAd_PublicConsultation2009.pdf

Biogas Conference and Exhibition

London Convention Centre, London ON (map)

3rd Annual Growing the Margins Conference and Exhibition The Growing the Margins: Energy, Bioproducts and Byproducts from Farm and Food Sectors Conference and Exhibition follow on the success of GTM #1 and #2 and will continue to explore the technological, operating, policy, regulatory, financial and other challenges and opportunities facing farms and related food processing and rural industries as they strive to improve their energy efficiency, better utilize byproducts - - and ultimately improve their bottom lines. 1st Annual Canadian Farm and Food Biogas Conference and Exhibition There is growing interest in biogas production - - in the farm and food processing sectors, and in Ontario and elsewhere. In order to properly present, as well as provide the opportunity to discuss the many projects and activities in this important field, we are pleased to announce the 1st Annual Canadian Farm and Food Biogas Conference and Exhibition. For more information: http://www.gtmconference.ca/site/index.php/growing-the-margins http://www.gtmconference.ca/site/index.php/canadian-farm-and-food-biogas

12pm

Lecture: Greening the Neighbourhood

UofT (Hart House Great Hall) (map)

Greening the Neighbourhood… & How Much It Won't Cost Us Majora Carter at Hart House Patrons are asked to arrive before 11:45am. After that time, vacant seats in the Great Hall may be released to individuals without tickets in the rush line. A dynamic advocate for environmental justice and sustainability, Majora Carter is the founder of Sustainable South Bronx. She has been hailed by Newsweek, BBC World Service, and the New York Times as an influential person to watch for her work. She will explore how sustainability, social and environmental justice, and economic community building converge to improve and renew neighbourhoods in innovative and engaging ways. For more information, check out her TED talk Greening the Ghetto Event Sponsors Hart House Centre for Environment Cities Centre The Metcalf Foundation UTERN Cost: FREE A ticket is REQUIRED to attend this lecture - please get your ticket athttp://www.uofttix.ca/  For more information: Ruth Richardson Program Director Metcalf Foundation 174 Avenue Road Toronto, ON, M5R 2J1 416 926 0366 ext 30 ruthr@metcalffoundation.com

5am

St. Lawrence North Farmers’ Market

92 Front Street East, Toronto (at Jarvis) (map)

For more information: http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/

8:30am

The Village Organic Farmers’ Market at Toronto Waldorf School

9100 Bathurst St, Toronto (map)

For more information: http://www.villagemarket.ca/  

9:30am

How to Start a Community Garden

85 Gilder Drive, Toronto ON (map)

Learn how to start a community garden workshop in 2-day workshop from the Toronto Community Food Animators Lunch is provided, please register in advance For more information: 416-652-7867 ext. 236 amanda@thestop.org

10am

Winter Snowshoe Ecotour at Wye Marsh

16160 Hwy 12 East, Midland (Wye Marsh) (map)

Enjoy a 3 hour, 3-4 km snowshoe trek into the woods of Wye Marsh. Learn about animal tracking, tree identification, hands-on winter survival & fire starting techniques, research updates & more. Learn how to navigate your way through the woods using a GPS and get the group back. Saturday’s & Sunday’s December to March (weather permitting). Cost: $50.00 per person. Pre-registration & payment required. For more information: 705-526-7809http://www.wyemarsh.com/  

10am

Stewardship Event - Richmond: Iona Beach Regional Park

Iona Regional park (At the washroom building) (map)

Removal of invasive Scotch Broom and restoration of sensitive dune habitats. For more information: Andrew Appleton andrew +at+ evergreen.ca

10am

Winter Snowshoe Ecotour at Wye Marsh

16160 Hwy 12 East, Midland (Wye Marsh) (map)

Enjoy a 3 hour, 3-4 km snowshoe trek into the woods of Wye Marsh. Learn about animal tracking, tree identification, hands-on winter survival & fire starting techniques, research updates & more. Learn how to navigate your way through the woods using a GPS and get the group back. Saturday’s & Sunday’s December to March (weather permitting). Cost: $50.00 per person. Pre-registration & payment required. For more information: 705-526-7809http://www.wyemarsh.com/