No more cozying up on the couch, hiding under a blanket, and sipping tea as the cold wind blows. Nope! Instead, the sunshine and warm temperatures are calling us to forgo our overcoats, to forget winter, and to linger longer on patios all around town.
Patios other than mine, that is. Despite my deep affection for this quaint little cottage I call home, it doesn’t exactly win the neighbourhood award for lovely landscaping. Gardening has never been my forte, and somehow, finding a few spare moments to even sweep off my deck just doesn’t seem to make my “to do” list. At least the wee little patch of lawn out front occasionally gets cut, thanks mostly to my kind and patient neighbours. Growing the green space of my dreams, on the other hand, goes way beyond my aptitude or abilities. A green thumb I am not.
This year, I vowed different. I had a plan. I was going to give it all up for good! I was going to turn over my territory to the trees and let the gardeners get growing….
If you haven’t already heard of the VegetablePatch.ca, then no doubt you will soon. Jesse Boynton Payne, founder and Chief “Green Bean” of the VegetablePatch.ca, began growing and selling organic vegetables from urban gardens all over the city just last year. This year, the VegetablePatch.ca will adopt a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) model, and will be distributing sustainably grown produce to shareholders right here in the city centre. Making use of otherwise underused land like…say…my backyard…Boynton Payne is making organic, environmentally friendly eating easy, affordable and fun. How cool is that?
As for the aforementioned trees, the City of Ottawa Trees, Reforestation and Environmental Enhancement Program (TREE) is an initiative that has been underway since 2007 to nurture the Ottawa’s urban forest by planting 100,000 trees before 2010. By planting trees all across the city, we can maintain forest cover and help combat climate change. Apparently, a variety of trees are available for planting in the spring and fall, on a first-come, first-served basis. All you need to do is call 613-580-2424, ext. 1TREE (18733) or email TREE@ottawa.ca.
So, since I’m all for organic gardens (so long as I’m not responsible) and terrific trees, I thought I was all set for the season. Well, turns out I wasn’t the only lazy landscaper with a genius plan. The VegetablePatch.ca has already filled their garden space quota and the City is now accepting registrations for tree deliveries in the fall…
Looks like this spring, I may have missed out!
Photo credits: Pat McGrath/Ottawa Citizen, Robert J. Galbraith/Can West News, and flora.org.
Sun, May 3, 2009
Urban Cognoscenti