Work with nature to create a healthy home garden

Posted on by TakeActionBurlington
Image courtesy of Conservation Halton

Conservation Halton is once again hosting a workshop series to help you create beautiful and healthy gardens while also working with nature. You will learn how to direct rainwater away from your home, use less energy and resources, attract pollinators, increase biodiversity, and improve local water quality.

This workshop series highlights the benefits of increasing the amount of rainwater that goes into soil instead of flowing into storm drains. Projects include disconnecting downspouts and allowing the rainwater to get into the soil, installing rain barrels, creating rain gardens, creating garden surfaces that absorb water, and naturalizing gardens with native plants adapted to our area.

Online (virtual) workshops

Promotional image for the three online webinars
Image courtesy of Conservation Halton
  • Day: Wednesdays
  • Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.
  • Cost: $10 each
  • Register for one or all at conservationhalton.ca/healthy-neighboursheds
  • Giveaways with each workshop
  • Sign up to receive your free “Greening Your Grounds” booklet, developed by the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). This booklet provides an overview of local stormwater management systems and can help you with your gardening projects. As the book was developed by the TRCA, a page insert has been added with references to local resources in Halton.

Workshop 1: Managing Rain Where It Falls

  • March 20, 2024
  • Find out how storm water is managed in your community and how it connects to you and your home. Learn about new trends in residential landscaping, and how you can take advantage of rainwater in your garden to save money, increase your home’s curb appeal, and improve the health of our local watershed.

Workshop 2: Cultivating Resilience with Bountiful Urban Food Forests

  • March 27, 2024
  • Discover the art and science of creating a backyard food forest as you learn about regenerative urban agriculture with co-presenter Halton Environmental Network (HEN). Hear about practical tips from HEN’s de-pave initiatives and their ongoing journey of establishing an urban forest. This workshop will inspire you to enhance your yard, big or small, with edible native plants that help to build more resilient and biodiverse neighbourhoods.

Workshop 3: Building ‘Community’ Gardens: Diversifying your Garden to Create Healthier Neighbourhoods

  • April 3, 2024
  • A garden not just for human beings but many non-human beings as well. How do you create a community garden that has more birds, bees, and biodiversity, and less upkeep, watering, weeding, and mowing? Naturalize your yard by planting native species that attract pollinators. You will leave this workshop with the inspiration to create a healthy, diverse ecosystem in your own yard that will be a welcoming community for all beings.

In-person workshop

Promotional image
Image courtesy of Conservation Halton

Workshop 4: Design your Native Landscape

Put your learning into practice! In this full-day workshop, learn how to design, implement, and maintain a low-impact development project at home. Hear from local ecologists, landscape designers, and homeowners who have designed their own native landscape. The day will end with small group discussions with the experts to talk about your specific garden designs.

Garden-in-a-Box program

If you want native flower species in your garden but are not sure what to plant, then you should consider Conservation Halton’s Garden-in-a-Box program.

The Garden-in-a-Box program provides all the plants you need for an area that’s about the size of a sheet of plywood (four feet by eight feet). The plants provided in the kit will fill out the space in their second and third year of growth. If you prefer a very full garden, you might want to purchase two kits for the space.

Once established, the native plants will need little to no watering and less maintenance than annuals or perennials. The plants, which are adapted to thrive in our climate, provide food for bees, butterflies and insects.

Learn more about the different kits that are offered (full sun, shade and rain) for $50 each and order your kit at conservationhalton.ca/garden-in-a-box. Pick up is on Saturday, May 25 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Conservation Halton Administrative Office, 2596 Brittania Road, Burlington.  

Questions?

For further information please email stewardship@hrca.on.ca.

Take Action Burlington! Work with nature to create a healthy habitat for our entire community with less upkeep and impact on our climate while increasing preparedness for our warmer, wetter and wilder weather. Collectively, we can make a difference!

2 thoughts on “Work with nature to create a healthy home garden”

  1. Creating a harmonious home and garden is akin to crafting a sanctuary where one can find solace and inspiration amidst the chaos of everyday life. The interplay between indoor and outdoor spaces offers a canvas for self-expression and connection with nature. Whether it’s cultivating a lush garden oasis or designing a cozy interior retreat, each element contributes to a sense of balance and tranquility. From carefully selected plants and flowers to thoughtfully arranged furniture and decor, every detail plays a role in shaping the ambiance of the space. Moreover, tending to a garden fosters a deeper appreciation for the cycles of growth and renewal, grounding us in the rhythm of the natural world. Ultimately, a well-curated home and garden not only enhance the aesthetics of our surroundings but also nurture our well-being, providing a haven where beauty blooms and serenity thrives.

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