SCHOOL PROGRAM CUTS 607 TONNES OF CO2
Tree planting at the school. |
Tonnes for Trees was adopted
and adapted with great success
this spring at two public junior
elementary schools. Strathcona
and Sage schools share a principal
and are housed in the
same building adjacent to Victoria
Park.
Inspired by the Tonnes for
Trees project, Lee Baxter and
Jen Dawson and other parents,
supported by the principal and
staff, developed a 9-week
greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction
project taken up by 76 children
and their families.
Each of the nine
weeks had a different
theme – from transportation
to using water
wisely.
For each tonne of
saved GHGs, the student
wrote their name
on a paper leaf that was
stuck onto a paper tree,
prominently displayed
at the school.
Every Monday a parent
introduced the new
topic at the school assembly.
Leaves were
awarded on Wednesday
mornings by a parent
volunteer, and at the
Friday assembly, there
was a recap on the
week’s topic, and further
encouragement for
the students to gather
more pledges.
“The kids won’t let us
use the air conditioning
in the car because it is
bad for nature (this
from my 6 year old
who didn’t do the
booklet but watched
her sister do it).”
Tonnes for Trees staff made
an initial presentation to the
home-school association, then
to the whole school. There were
ongoing meetings with the parents
and staff, and we were on
hand to give support as
needed.
The project included the sale
of 180 compact fluorescent light
bulbs, distribution of discount
coupons that led to the purchase
of ten rainbarrels, and a
Dandelion Festival which included dandelion (iced) tea, dandelion
pancakes, dandelion face
wash and a bowl of dandelion
flowers and leaves for the kids
to taste.
The schools celebrated the
end of their scheme with the
planting of five new trees on the
school property, provided by the
City of Hamilton at the request
of Environment Hamilton.
Parents reported dramatic
changes in their home life. One
child convinced her family to sell
their second car and move
closer enough to the school so
that she could walk there.
Teachers were told to turn the
lights off in the classroom when
they weren’t needed, and some
older students were questioning
the amount of paper used
in class.
Total reductions recorded by
the schools was 607 tonnes in
nine weeks.
Get involved: tonnes@environmenthamilton.org
PEER GARDENING
Would you like to learn how
to take care of your lawns and
gardens without chemical pesticides?
The Hamilton Coalition
on Pesticide Issues is offering a
peer gardening program this
summer including free workshops,
garden tours and demonstration
projects.
The project offers information
on native plants, alternative
ground covers to replace lawns,
and organic means of pest and
plant disease control. They can
also advise on hardy species of
grasses. Participants receive a
free starter gift package and
can participate in tours to see
what others in their neighbourhood
are doing. Work days are
also available to provide handson
experience in creating or
converting a natural garden or
lawn space.
The coalition has over twenty
member groups representing
over 3000 Hamiltonians. The
peer gardening project is funded
by the Hamilton Community
Foundation.
For more information, call
(905) 540-8787 extension 17
or visit www.hcpi.ca.
