It's easy to be green, even in a concrete jungle

Thursday, June 16, 2016, 1:57 PM - Urbanization can have an impact on the natural environment and its sustainability. In Canada, there has been a transformation from largely rural agricultural populations to dynamic urban centres as more than 85 per cent of Canadians now live in cities.

Evergreen Brick Works was an operating brickyard for about 100 years prior to being closed down. The site was abandoned, leaving behind a damaged ecosystem. Now stands an environmental centre inspiring action to green cities. 

Urban Sustainability 

Urban sustainability is the idea that a city can power itself with its own renewable sources of energy without excessive reliance on the surrounding countryside. 

Sustainability initiatives include:

• Water efficiency

In order to be sustainable, it is important to be conscious of water use inside and outside of your home. At Evergreen Brick Works, there are 12 water tanks throughout the site which capture rain water from the roofs. The collected water is then used for garden irrigation, landscaping and other non-potable uses. 

• Material and resources

To maintain sustainability within our environment, it is important to reduce waste and encourage reuse and recycling. This category of sustainability also promotes local grown, harvested and produced products. 

• Indoor environmental quality 

Most Canadians spend the majority of their time indoors and the quality of your indoor environment can have an impact on your health and happiness. Natural airflow systems, such as opening a window, can improve indoor air and provide access to natural daylight while minimizing the amount of energy needed to keep fresh air pumping throughout the building. 

• Container gardening

Re-purposing different kinds of containers to grow a variety of plants in – it’s simple and does not cost any extra money. You are able to grow on your balcony, patio and indoors on windowsills.

• Urban composting

Composting can be done even if you live in an urban environment. You can turn your food scraps into valuable compost and apply compost to your vegetable and flower gardens.

• Cold frames

Cold frames allow you to plant seeds and grow crops like radishes in seasons in which you typically cannot grow them. You can extend your growing season and protect your plants from infestations. Bonus, cold frames are easy to make yourself.

• Vertical growing

When you have limited space to grow plants, balconies can be used for vertical growing. Simply by using a reusable shopping bag! Having the plant elevated off of the ground improves air circulation and creates a micro climate – which helps to regulate temperatures.

SOURCE: Evergreen Brick Works