Many businesses are taking on an increasingly active role in supporting environmental initiatives. Along with promoting sustainability in the workplace, many companies are supporting community greening projects and encouraging staff events that have an Earth-friendly focus. Toronto Green Community has developed this package to inspire businesses looking for interesting and meaningful activities for staff volunteering events, workshops, or ‘lunch and learn’ talks.

For more information or if you have any questions regarding this package, please contact:

Paula Messina
Executive Director
Tel: 416-781-7663
Email: paula (at) torontogreen.ca

WHO WE ARE

Toronto Green Community is a grassroots, non-profit organization that has been in existence since 1995 with a mission to engage Torontonians in environmental initiatives where they live, work and play.

Our Vision is for people to live in sustainable communities with:

Clean Air and Water
Local, Organic food
Abundant Green Spaces
Minimal Waste

We support numerous programs that aim to inspire greener living including:

Apartment Greening: Door-to-door education for tenants of high-rise buildings on greening initiatives including waste reduction, and conservation of water and energy.

Speaker Series: Public events featuring prominent experts speaking on a range of environmental issues.

Diversity & Environment Network:  A cross-sectoral network to promote & support community initiatives that link environmental issues to poverty, marginalization and social exclusion.

Some of our other successful initiatives such as our Lost River Walks and Community Garden will be profiled in this package.

WHAT WE OFFER

Tree Planting and Naturalization

Give your staff the opportunity to spend a day digging, planting and otherwise helping to expand our naturalization site at Eglinton Park. TGC has been working to transform a section of the park from barren to beautiful with native plantings to restore it to its original condition, encouraging the return of native plant, animal and bird species.

We will supply trees, shrubs, soil, humus, and all necessary supplies.  Removal of any invasive species in previously restored areas may also be undertaken.  Our experts will explain the techniques, and speak to the group about native species and gardening.  This site is located in the same park as our Community Garden, so that a garden tour and talk, or a workshop (see below), can easily be added to the day.

This program is available from early spring to the fall.

Start Your Own Garden

If your office building has a patch of grass or clear, unpaved area, consider turning it into a butterfly garden with low maintenance native plants and flowers, or an organic vegetable garden for the benefit of staff or food banks. Our gardening experts will assess your location for suitability, provide a garden design plan, and organize your staff team to do the job together. We have extensive community gardening experience, and would be happy to work with you and your staff to turn your unused outdoor space green.

Hike and Help

Let us take your staff on one of our acclaimed Lost River Walks, a highly successful hiking program designed by TGC, which allows Torontonians to explore their natural heritage along the many little-known trail systems of Toronto’s ravines and natural areas. Our knowledgeable hike leaders include trained Toronto Geological Historians, who will provide details of the flora, fauna and historical changes to the areas we visit. We will arrange a route to suit the interests and fitness levels of the volunteers, and include a volunteer opportunity such as community clean up, or removal of invasive species along the trail.

This program is available year round, with seasonal modification of the volunteer component.

Eco-Gift Wrapping

Every December, during the Holiday Season, TGC recruits hundreds of volunteers to staff our eco-gift-wrapping tables at various retail locations (i.e. Mountain Equipment Coop and the Yonge-Eglinton Centre). Staff teams will educate the public about reducing holiday waste while eco-wrapping people’s purchases using kraft paper from 100% recycled sources and donated posters. Instead of tape, colourful paper raffia is used to tie parcels together. The resulting packages are beautifully original, with satisfied customers giving a donation to TGC for the service provided. Group size of six is preferred. Dates, times and pre-training to be arranged in advance.

Community Garden Work Bees

Our Heritage Community Garden, located at Eglinton Park, is a centre of activity throughout the growing season. Starting in early spring we are in need of groups to turn the soil to ready it for planting, sow seeds in our new mini green house, and begin the planting process. Small groups can be accommodated throughout the summer for tending and harvesting, and there may be opportunities for building and repairs to our structures. Our Community Garden is the home of a free children’s program on summer mornings, and is a working display of heritage and edible garden plantings. The food produced is donated to Second Harvest. Our gardening volunteer groups are accompanied by our experienced Garden Coordinator, who will share her wealth of knowledge on such topics as natural pest control, companion planting and other techniques to achieve a successful native or edible garden.

This program is seasonal and dependent on the needs of the garden.

WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS

TGC delivers various workshops and presentations, all designed to inspire greener living. There is always plenty of opportunity for discussion and questions. We would by happy to deliver these to your group as a ‘lunch’n learn,’ part of another event you are running, or in conjunction with a volunteer day event.

EcoDriver

EcoDriver presentations are interactive and full of valuable information about driving efficiently, car maintenance, and buying fuel-efficient vehicles, along with some startling facts about what comes out of your tailpipe. According to government studies, employing eco- driving strategies can save the average person an amazing 35% on gas consumed, as compared with fuel consumption of an inefficient driver. Another example of how what’s good for the environment can also be good for the bank balance.

Container Gardening

This is one of our most popular workshops, which builds on the trend toward edible gardening. Many urban dwellers have limited gardening space, but are amazed at the bountiful harvest that is possible using inexpensive and readily available containers. Our gardening experts will demonstrate techniques to get your aspiring gardeners started, including what to plant, where to plant it and getting the soil and drainage right. We have tips for making the best use of limited space and sunlight on balconies and in small yards, and many great ideas for maximizing the satisfaction of growing your own food.

Garden Tour

We run a beautiful community garden at Eglinton Park and this is a perfect way to get out and learn about veggie and native gardening. Our garden coordinator can take your group of aspiring gardeners around the plot and demonstrate techniques and features, such as companion planting, natural pest control, tomato tricks, shitake logs, easy composting, and storing and starting plants from seed. The tour is interactive and focuses on the interests of the group.

Everyday Green Living

This is a light and informative primer on making everyday choices that are more earth friendly. We take a look at how energy efficiency can be maximized, often at little or no cost; we discuss ways to lower our fuel consumption by making simple changes to the way we drive and maintain our cars; and we touch on other ideas for reducing our carbon footprint including reducing waste, conserving water, and making food choices that are good for the planet and our health too.

Local & Sustainable Food

This presentation goes in depth on how our food choices impact the communities and environments around us. Looking at the way we currently produce food, we learn how increased efficiency has decreased sustainability and how this has compromised human, animal, and environmental health. Through a discussion of topics including food miles, fair trade, and food security, we learn about the many different ways your food choices can make a difference, and how to get involved in keeping healthy food on our tables for years to come.

Water issues

In Canada, a country with vast natural resources, it is hard to imagine that we could ever run out of water. Water contamination and scarcity have become serious global issues, however, and this presentation offers an introduction to water politics and conservation. This easy to understand presentation outlines why we should care about water, its impact on the environment and creative ways to conserve water at home and work.

Energy Conservation

Our Energy Conservation presentation starts out by breaking down how Torontonians get their energy: the green ways, and the not-so-green ways. Once we know our energy sources we go on to learn easy ways to conserve energy: from planting trees to thousands of dollars in retrofit rebates! Simple explanations of policies like time of use billing and carbon footprints makes it easy to understand how and why you can start conserving energy today.

Waste Reduction 

Learning to waste less can be easy with Toronto Green Community's Waste Reduction presentation! This presentation identifies where waste comes from and the innovative steps businesses, governments, non-profits and people like you are using to reduce it at every turn. Simple explanations of how to deal with e-waste, preserve food and rethink waste make cutting down easy!

…and more!!!