Archived Article: School Ground Naturalization

SCHOOL GROUND NATURALIZATION
By Debby Morton

In 1992 Broadacres Junior School was the first Etobicoke School to naturalize their schoolyard. This year (1997) there are about 26 schools engaged in outdoor environmental projects. This is clearly an indication that the 'greening' of school grounds is an idea whose time has come.

Some schools approach their projects with different themes in mind i.e., bird and butterfly habitats, wet meadows, herb gardens, vegetable gardens, native trees for shade and peace gardens to name a few. Whatever the theme, all schools have need of community support. Money for these projects comes in the way of grants from Parent Teacher Associations, and environmental funding agencies such as Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Foundation, Shell Environmental Fund and Action 21.

Horticultural societies and individuals can do much to offer support to the schools in their community. Contact the principal if you would like to offer your help. 

Here are some ideas to get you started:

•  Letters of encouragement focusing on what you think they are doing well. 
•  Donations of: time, perennials, shovels, trowels, weed diggers, rakes, wheelbarrows, books (nature, reference and gardening), class sets of watering cans, bushel baskets, garden gloves, seeds (sunflowers, nasturtiums, heritage seeds, and cosmos to name a few) and spring bulbs. 
•  Offer your expertise. Believe it or not there are many children and teachers who do not know how to plant bulbs, weed, raise seeds, transplant, prune or compost. 
•  The naturalization committee in the school or a teacher trying to get things going might need help with research, phoning, planning gardens or taking a class out to work in the garden. 
•  Sharpen their shovels (thanks Ed!) 
•  Organize an activity for the nature club such as Christmas flower arrangements. 
•  Help with the choice and purchase of native plants. Native wildflowers are being out-competed in the wild by invasive European species. Native wildflowers evolved with our native wildlife and therefore are their preferred food source. 
•  Schools are always looking for activities that involve the gardens after they are established and would appreciate help with implementation i.e. seed collection, weaving, crafts, signage and identification of the plants.

Schools in Etobicoke that have started gardening are: Braeburn Junior School, Briarcrest Junior School, Broadacres Junior School, Etobicoke Humber School, Father Serra Catholic School, Greenholme Junior School, Humber Valley Village Junior Middle School, Humberwood Downs Junior Middle Academy, Holy Child Catholic School, Islington Junior School, John D. Parker Junior School, Josyf Cardinal Slipyj Catholic School, Kingsview Village Junior School, Norseman Junior Middle School, Parklawn Junior Middle School, Seneca School, Seventh Street Junior School, Silverthorn Collegiate Institute, Smithfield Middle School, St. Gregory's Catholic School, Sunnylea Junior School, Transfiguration of Our Lord Catholic School, Twentieth Street Junior School, Wedgewood Junior School, and West Humber Junior Middle School.

Editor's Note: Debby Morton was awarded the Etobicoke Board of Education's 1997 Award of Excellence for her work with Broadacres and other schools in their naturalization projects.