Resources
for Another Yard for the Don

Photo by National Gardening Association

Water Management

• Disconnect your Downspout
  www.city.toronto.on.ca/watereff/downspout.htm
  
  
• Use a Rainbarrel to collect water
  www.city.toronto.on.ca/don/donnews_fall2000.htm#1
  

Habitat Management

• Visit the websites of FODE's sister organizations below to find out about the Green Garden Visits and obtaining native tree species at a reasonable price.
  • Green Garden Visit at www.greengardenvisit.ca/
  • LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests) at www.leaftoronto.org
    
    
• Maintain your lawn organically
  www.organiclandscape.org/factsheets.htm
  www.pesticidefree.ca
  www.goforgreen.ca/gardening/gardening_series/lawn_maintenance.htm
  
  
• Plant low water varieties of plants (zeroscaping)
  www.ciwmb.ca.gov/organics/xeriscaping
  www.htcomp.net/weis/alc4eeyore.html
  www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1996/v3-536.html
  
  
  

• Plant native shrubs and plants
  www.nanps.org
  www.wildaboutgardening.org/index.asp
  www.evergreen.ca/nativeplants/
  www.earthday.ca/EDy2k/YearRnd/YearRndfrmCNH.html
  
  
• Compost household and garden waste
  www.city.toronto.on.ca/compost/pubs.htm
  www.compost.org/englishoverview.html
  
  
• Create and provide bird, butterfly, and other animal habitat
  www.wildaboutgardening.org/index.asp
  
  

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

While most organizations working for healthy and sustainable communities naturally oppose the introduction of harmful chemicals into the environment, FODE is encouraged by the evolution of professional codes of conduct surrounding IPM.

One such effort is a world-leading initiative from Landscape Ontario and the IPM Council of Ontario, which will require IPM accreditation as pre-requisite for membership in their Horticultural Trades division. Their IPM Accreditation Program includes the following stages:

• Identifying potential pest organisms
• Monitoring pest and beneficial organism populations, pest damage, and environmental conditions
• Managing ecosystems to prevent organisms from becoming pests
• Managing pest populations using strategies that combine biological, cultural, mechanical, behavioural, and when necessary, chemical controls, and
• Ensuring that chemical controls be applied only by accredited companies under approved circumstances

FODE encourages people using landscape service professionals to ask them about their IPM Accreditation. See www.planthealthcare.ca.