Earth Tending 2024
The Earth Tending program, core funded by Miziwe Biik, started its third year with ten eager Indigenous participants. They began the six-week program with a traditional opening fire at the High Park Nature Centre on May 2, 2024. The program, held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, included workshops, talks, hands-on training, and all-day trips. Each day was packed with introductions to green infrastructure, food sovereignty, conservation areas, plant and tree identification, sustainable farming, and green roofs.
I had the pleasure of leading this year’s program with the support of my two colleagues. I continue to learn, embrace, and acquire knowledge from the participants and trainers of the various workshops. It’s a reciprocal flowing circle between us all.
The opening ceremony on the first day was facilitated by Gary Pritchard, a member of Curve Lake First Nation and Indigenous Knowledge Keeper. He created a welcoming space through traditional feather introductions and shared the history and makings of the Wampum Belts, as we passed them around in our circle. We then proceeded on a turtle walk led by Carolynne Crawley of Msit no'kmaq and Turtle Protectors, where we learned about the history of the lands of High Park Toronto and teachings about the life within the park. Participants embarked on their Earth Tending journey with wonderful ideas about potential future educational and employment opportunities. A respectful, fun, and engaged group of trainees also enjoyed Sacred Water Teachings shared by Knowledge Carrier Luana Harper Shirt (Indigenous Culture Educator) and expressed their excitement for the following workshops to begin.
Friends of Allan Gardens and Garden Jane led popular workshops with talks and hands-on learning. We learned how to relocate various plants and herbs, enjoyed soil health talks, an introduction to worm composting, making seedballs, and repotting Tobacco plants. We were also introduced to the basics of permaculture and had a delightful tour of the tropical fruit and cacti plant life in the children’s place conservatory and greenhouse. The group also tended to the Healing Garden at Miziwe Biik that was created with the Earth Tending trainees in 2023.
Presentations and tours from Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association - Landscape Ontario, City Forest, and ACER – Association for Canadian Educational Resources proved there’s more to trees than we think. They shared information on tree care, street trees, bioretention, and the benefits of soil cells in infrastructure. All-day trips to the Humber Arboretum, King City, and Kortright Centre for Conservation (and the Earth Rangers Centre) were highlights. Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program (STEP) shared information on green infrastructure, their maintenance, and how they can be used in stormwater management strategies.
Tree and shrub planting with LEAF.
We looked forward to different workshops and travel days. Our van excursions to various Greater Toronto Area conservation areas were filled with humorous conversations, good food, anticipated walks, and hikes that we all loved, and an appreciation for Mother Earth as we explored all her wonders. Other days, accessible by transit, entailed a hands-on day at Flemo Farm, where we learned about composting, weeding, transplanting seedlings, irrigation, seed planting, and how the farm supports the diverse community’s food sovereignty.
Participants learned about green vs. grey infrastructure. Examples of grey infrastructure include pipes, drains, and retention ponds, which are constructed into designs. Green infrastructure focuses on nature-based solutions such as rain gardens, permeable paving, trees, and green roofs. ZinCo Canada and Next Level Stormwater Management educated us about various green roof systems, explaining that green roofs do more than just grow food. They assist in cooling environments, supporting biodiversity, purifying air, reducing pollution, and aiding in stormwater control. We visited the Toronto Metropolitan University Urban Farm, which dedicates traditional medicines and food production to Indigenous Foodways Indigenous Foodways and Black Food Sovereignty Programs.
A hot sunny day was spent at Carrot Common (Danforth Ave.), where we were introduced to landscape design, architectural plans, drawing tools, and how to scale our creative green roof design ideas. The logistics of urban planning, creating green/grey infrastructures to be environmentally sustainable for generations to come, intrigued the trainees to apply the training in their own backyards. An afternoon of walking the Danforth and learning about a variety of public pavers, maintenance, and the importance of planting trees properly for their health along the avenue.
Trainees enjoyed visiting etobiGrow, where we had a tour and learned the steps with their innovative technology in hydroponic growing of basil, lettuce, and microgreens, from seed to seedlings. This successful community-oriented business operates out of a small space yet yields plenty. With a passion for local food security, they offer tours and workshops and are making positive changes in the community.
Native plants and restoration ecology were covered at Native Plants in Claremont and at Claremont Nature Centre. A warm display of snacks and beverages was prepared for us, followed by a tour of their operations, medicine garden, ravines, and greenhouse setup with a filtered water system. The visit provided a great understanding of how they run the nursery. We were gifted Sweetgrass and departed in gratitude for their warm welcome and gracious hosting. An ecological walking tour of the conservation lands at Claremont Nature Centre, led by a Toronto and Region Conservation Authority ecologist, was awe inspiring. We also learned that hundreds of needed restoration projects across Ontario are hindered by city budgets and staffing limits, which was eye-opening.
A pollinator and native species educational presentation by Lorraine Johnson who shared her knowledge and wisdom about the extraordinary intelligence and importance of the bees, butterflies and the Nature that is all around us, as we are all connected. Interactive discussions about the importance of planting and doing our own landscaping at home. Being creative and an opportunity to learn much more from her authored collection of books she has written.
Revitalizing Our Sustenance Project with Denise Miller who shared her personal journey that led her to create this much needed project involving the youth in her Community in Six Nations of the Grand River. Growing food that is dedicated to Haudenosaunee food systems, seed sovereignty, community programming and environmental awareness. Perhaps next year we can experience a hands-on workshop.
In the final weeks, I heard trainees use words like “gratefulness, awareness, great opportunity”, “I feel I have a deeper connection, one love, and gratitude for all of Creation”, and “the program helped me understand how to be a better steward of the Land.” It’s been heartwarming for me to see and know that this program is so valued and inspirational to the trainees, trainers, and our team. The program during and after is like the Medicine Wheel, life cycles of learning and sharing with All Our Relations within a circle as we honor our relationship with Mother Earth.
Chii miigwech, Gwen Lane