Through our work as Live Green Toronto Animators providing advice,support and resources for community green initiatives , we have met individual sparks, groups and organizations that are making a difference in Scarborough !. It has been inspiring to work with you on your ideas of what can be done  to make your neighbourhoods greener and healthier . Also impressive is your dedication to your community!

EAST SCARBOROUGH STOREFRONT and SUBTEXT  MULTI  ARTS FESTIVAL September 11,12

The East Scarborough Storefront is an exciting example of how community work is helping a neighbourhood . This past week Anne Gloger, the Storefront Director, gave us some background on ESS's involvement with the community and on their green focus:

"The East Scarborough Storefront, in true community fashion, is drawing on the skills, ideas and knowledge of local residents and agency partners to create an "eco food centre" as part of its hub expansion.

The Storefront "hub" has been facilitating the work of agencies and residents in the priority neighbourhood of Kingston Galloway Orton Park(KGO) for almost 10 years. It's real strength is listening to the community and developing structures to support their ideas. In one recent "Community Speak" ideas to turn the Storefront facility at 4040 Lawrence (formerly a police substation) into a large, accessible and green community resource centre came through loud and clear. In another, residents lead discussions on developing innovative community lead food access initatives.

It was the voices of residents at these two events that inspired the Storefront to facilitate a discussion with its partners and supporters including: Live Green Toronto, the Metcalf Foundation, Schools Without Borders, Westhill Community Service, Evergreen, ArchiTEXT and Sustainable.to. These discussions lead to a concept for an fabulous "eco-food" project which will create the foundation for all sorts of community based environmental and food initiatives. We look forward to future announcements of Storefront's grey-water system, resident food based-businesses and eco learning opportunities...we're doing it all based on resident's ideas, and, of course, in true Storefront fashion, the eco-food centre is being designed by local youth"

And Anne is inviting  you to the MULTI ARTS  FESTIVAL at the Lawrence Ave Bridge,near 4040 Lawrence Ave E,  this September 11  and 12  --- Called  SUBTEXT this urban/nature festival  is the culmination of the Bridging Project - a summer long celebration of the art and the community,above and below the Lawrence Ave Bridge. The Project is co-presented by the City of Toronto Cultural Services, Mural Routes, The Amazing Place, Scarborough Arts Council, Evergreen and Jumblies Theatre.

The two day event  will engage the community with arts and nature as it features a variety of activities, performances, art demonstrations, local vendors and a film screening..Want to learn more about being eco minded in the city? There will be information booths and activities above and below the bridge. Come meet Green organizations such as Evergreen, the  Live Green Toronto Animators  , TRCA  and learn more about how you can become involved in making this a greener city!

NEW FARMERS'  MARKET!

Thanks to all of you who let me know about the new Farmers' market in Scarborough- details below!

University of Toronto- Scarborough Campus Farmers' Market
Mondays ,3pm-7pm until October 25
Parking Lot P4 on Military Trail btw Morningside and Ellesmere
Free entry and free short term parking

And remember this is the best time of year for produce . Visit the Guildwood market, Birchcliffe market and the Scarborough Civic Centre markets for local ,fresh produce!

Rouge Valley Conservation Centre

Recently we visited the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre to watch the installation of GUS - the new Green Energy initiative partially funded by Live Green Toronto,the Trillium foundation and Efston. The RVCC is undergoing an exciting change and GUS is just one part of this. And ongoing the Centre is offering some great interpretative hikes - for more information go to www.rvcc.ca

Volunteer Call Out

Would you like to be an Eco Volunteer in Scarborough?    Organizations such as Evergreen, TRCA, Friends of the Rouge Watershed and Centennial College could use your help in September with tree plantings, plant restorations and more .For  volunteer opportunities please check out the event listing in the sidebar to the right . All events listed (VOL) are looking for support !    

With Labour Day looming, it’s that time of year again!  Back to school for your children or yourself. If you haven’t already ‘converted’ then consider joining the almost 80% of buyers, who last year purchased eco-friendly school supplies (Staples and Angus Reid survey .)  Paper products topped the list with notebooks, printer paper, and envelopes but there is even more you can try!   

                                                                                                                             
First, Re-think. Do you really need new binders/folders in the latest fashion colour? Another school bag? Before you buy, take stock of what you have and what can still be used, then buy only what needs replenishing. For WHY IT MATTERS see below:

1. Paper products. WHY IT MATTERS: Using pre-used, i.e. recycled, paper for pulp reduces need for virgin materials = trees cut.  Many products can have recycled content up to 80-100%, and generally also avoid use of chlorine and acid for whitening. Forest Stewardship Certified  (FSC) comes from sustainably grown and harvested forests and is certified to a high standard. Examples: EcoJot`s  made in Canada agendas, folders, notebooks, and more (available at Grand + Toy, Indigo, Grassroots, and other eco or paper stores).  Or bring home scrap paper from your offices for the kids to use. KIDS make your own stapled scrap paper notebooks with fun covers such as cut up cereal boxes!

2. Writing Utensils. WHY IT MATTERS: Ink in pens and highlighters can contain toxins and harmful solvents like formaldehyde, xylene, and the outer casings PVC plastics. (See Guide to Less Toxic School Supplies, by Environmental Defence, Toronto) .  ALTERNATIVES: water-based markers, non-toxic ink pens, pens and markers made from wood, recycled (non-PVC) or biodegradable plastics. Also, use refillable ballpoint pens.

3. Litter-free lunches. WHY IT MATTERS: Garbage, garbage everywhere! Imagine the impact on our waste system and resources from hundreds of children packing their lunches and snacks in single-use packaging every day; Toronto has over 350,000 students!  ALTERNATIVES: Reusable bottles made of safe plastics, free of Bisphenol-A (BPA), stainless steel, or lined aluminum; Food-grade reusable containers like Tupperware, or organic cotton or hemp lunch bags. Avoid plastic food wrap and if you must wrap it, then use aluminium foil or wax paper. Check out Green Cricket for some great green school lunch products.
 

4. Clothing. Aside from cutting back on ‘having too much stuff’, you can opt to buy organic cotton, Canadian made clothes, or browse through some second-hand  clothes stores. WHY IT MATTERS: Organic cotton uses no pesticides or other chemicals for its crops, and uses sustainable farming methods and much less water than conventionally grown cotton; Second-hand clothing reduces demand for new items and virgin resources. Or host a "Clothes Swap" with your kids’ friends and families !

There are an amzing number of creative  ways we can be eco friendly and protect the environment.at the same time .Please  send us your creative green school and home ideas and we will post the best ones  in our next few newlsetters!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Want  help getting  your green initiative off the ground ?  Would you like to get your community group`s green project mentioned here or have an idea for a topic? please contact Katie Fullerton at katie@ecospark.ca  or 416-691-5173