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Naturalize
your Yard
There are so, so
many reasons to have a little nature in your yard:
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It's nice to look
at
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it provides a
home for insects
-
it provides food
for butterflies and birds
-
it helps conserve
water
-
it can be free of
pesticides
-
it connects
people with nature
You can start with
easy steps, by going to your local nursery and asking for advice
on native grasses, flowers, shrubs or trees that will add
variety to your yard.
For your lawns, you
can look into low maintenance grasses, like clover, that require
less mowing and give a rich cover.
Small yards are
ideal for a complete natural makeover, complete with a bench or
secluded patio. Here, you will probably want to get some
advice, either from a landscaper or gardener trained in natural
and native gardening.
Here are some of
the organizations and resources that can help you have a greener
yard.
Natural yards
Evergreen has a
Home Grounds program to support natural yards.
You'll find gardening tips and a native plant database.
The
Organic Landscape
Alliance has links to resources and can connect you with
local organic landscapers and organic products.
Water Conservation
The
Clean Water
Foundation is developing resources on waterless gardening.
Community Support
Most communities have a
garden or horticultural club that runs community events.
Check with your local municipality, or with the
Ontario Horticultural Association. The OHA has a
list of local clubs from all across Ontario.
The Ontario Horticultural
Association has a Master Gardener program that trains people in
gardening. Each master gardener is required to perform a
number of hours of community volunteer service.
Stay Tuned
Under the
We Conserve
movement, we're looking into a campaign to promote natural yards
across Ontario!
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