Community Planting and Partnership at Laidlaw Memorial United Church
In June, Green Venture hosted the Laidlaw Memorial United Church Planting Event, participating in the Living Cities project to bring accessible green spaces to Hamilton! With additional funding from Green Communities Canada, ArcelorMittal Dofasco’s Corporate Community Fund, Green Cities Foundation, Rain Haven, Reactine, and Tree Canada, we transformed over 2000 sq feet of lawn, pavement, and concrete into an urban green space filled with 500+ native species and trees.
The Day Starts: Listening, Reflecting, and Warming Up
To kick off the day, Sarah Green, the Living Cities Project Coordinator, delivered an inspiring speech on the significance of urban green spaces. During her speech, Sarah highlighted how accessible urban green spaces are crucial for fostering healthy, vibrant cities, acknowledged the Indigenous history and presence on the land, and gave a brief overview of the volunteer activities that aimed to transform the four sites around Laidlaw church. Following the speech, volunteers could participate in a short yoga flow to prepare their bodies for a day of planting.
Planting Time: Gardening and Learning at the Same Time
After the energizing yoga flow, the 75+ volunteers went to their designated planting site and began planting. This event was full of memorable moments that combined environmental education with hands-on planting experience. Throughout the day, volunteers learned about the native species around them, asking questions about appropriate planting conditions, native plant IDing, the intricacies of urban garden bed design, the benefits of companion planting, and much more!
The Power of Community Engagement: The Path From Community Planning to Community Planting
The event exuded positivity and affirmed the role of urban greenspaces in making a tangible difference in the local city. From enthusiastic volunteers to the applause and appreciation of local community members passing by, it was clear how important these green spaces were to the local community. Residents were overjoyed by the increased greenery, accessible seating, and community-led initiative, illustrating how small actions—like planting native species in forgotten corners—have a big impact on community well-being. Likewise, these gardens also play an essential role in supporting important pollinators and help maintain the natural water cycle by temporarily holding and soaking runoff. They are aesthetic and essential!
After finishing planting, we provided delicious treats and pizza from the local eatery Cafe Baffico, celebrating our achievements together as we ate and enjoyed the new urban green space.
Many Thanks To Our Sponsors and Volunteers
We want to extend a huge thanks to our sponsors and volunteers for their incredible help. Specifically, this event couldn’t have been possible without the help and contributions of ArcelorMittal Dofasco, Green Cities Foundation, Green Communities Canada, Tree Canada, Reactine, Laidlaw United, Adesso Design Inc., New Nature Crew, Rockcrest Landscapes, Planted Perfection Landscaping, Turf Systems inc, New Nature Crew, Connon Nurseries, NVK Nurseries, and Hamilton Community Foundation.
