Interest increasing THE North Shore Recycling Program is celebrating the success of its pioneering pro- ject to promote more ecologically sound yard and garden care. “I wasn’t expecting niuch, but this is wonderful!” exclaimed one garden tour registrant as she gazed upon the crocodile paths and rebar trees at the first stop on the nine garden North Shore Natural Gardens Tour. Organized by the North NEWS photo Cindy EVA Antonijevic of Sage Gardeners shows off 4 “Rebar Tree”. during the Natural Gardens Tour. The . tree will eventually support a checoiete vine. Shore Recycling Program (NSRP) Education Team, in partnership — with Eva Antonijevic of Sage Gardeners, this unique tour was staged to highlight the face thar “alternative” gar- dening is not some weird concept only practised by a fringe few — it is being done (and successfully and beauti- fully so) right here in our community. More and inore gardeners are beginning to understand the link between the heaith of our communities and the health of the land that sup- ports them. At a very base level, this includes our own backyards. For the past few decades, conventional gardening prac- tices have actually fought against the natural tendencies of the land, but that all seems to be changing now, as many people begin to crabrace Organic gardening, grass cycling, turf alternatives, composting, permaculture and other practices that help create balance in our commu- nities. In keeping with this change in attitude, the NSRP, at the prodding of one of their volunteers, decided to host a natural gardens tour. The nine tour stops included a recently planted prairie garden, permaculture svstems such as sheet mulching, herbal wheels and death buckets; greywater recycling systems, alternatives ~ to turf, hardy grasses, native plantings and wildlife habi- tat/restoration gardens. Tour participants were ‘treated to some wonderful examples of natural garden- ing in both private and public gardens, as well as a few real-" ly unique features, such as tree platforms, edible fruit bearing shrubs, grasses with fascinating histories and gar- den paths and beds made from recycied materials. “What these people are doing is tremendously impor- October 10, 1999 - North Shore News — 33 Ne a GARDENS which incorporated natural gardening techniques ware highlighted throughout the tour. Dana Gallinger took photos of this natura! West Van garden. tant,” says Victoria Gazeley, of the North Shore Recycling Program. “Especially from an eco- logical and waste manage- ment perspective. They are leaders in this community and provide wonderful exam- ples that this type of yard and garden care can and does work on the North Shore — it’s just a mater of opening our minds and changing the way we think about urban landscapes. In the long run, we'll ail benefit.” The event required 2 tremendous amount of work by the gardeners themsclves, NSRP volunteers and Eva Antonijevic. The North Shore Recycling Program will con- tinue to promote natural yard and garden care through the year 2000. For further information on the results of this tour, a list of this year’s participating gardens, or if you would like to participate as a host gar- dener, visitor, or volunteer next year, or simply want information on how you can make your garden more “nat- ural,” please contact Victoria Gazeley or Heidi Schimpl at the North Shore Recycling Program (984-9730). :- a at the BC Fall Home Show — ‘Do you want to renovate, (or need to), but don’t know where to Start? Let the pros at the BC Fall Home Show help. ‘Presented by The Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association Renovation Council, Ask A Pro Info Centre is the perfect place 0 visit and discuss any renovation project. 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