This story explores the costs of urban sprawl to Ontario and Ontarians - from obesity to isolation to health risks, many are not living the dream of being in a rural community.

Wetland Restoration Incentive Program: Evaluation of landowner environmental and socio-economic preferences

The Greenbelt protects our natural environment and water resources from the impacts of urbanization and other major developments. Its landowners, including farmers that work over 50 per cent of the landscape, maintain and restore individual features like wetlands. The benefit of this restoration is flood control, water filtration, improving water quality and climate adaptation.

 This project researches new opportunities that recognize the ecological goods and services landowners provide communities when they undertake stewardship on their lands. The research looks at how to more effectively compensate these stewardship activities and improve environmental outcomes for healthy wetlands in the Credit River watershed. The Region of Peel and the Peel Federation of Agriculture are leading partners in this research.

Greenbelt Farmers' Market Network 2011-2013

Farmers' markets are well-known as community local food hubs; but with an abundance of fresh, homemade and sustainable products on display, they are also a great place to learn about nutrition. This project investigates the link between market attendance, knowledge of local foods, and healthy eating. The results will help markets promote healthy options and benefits of eating local to families across the Greenbelt.

 The Network will also continue to offer professional development to market managers, and support best practices and knowledge sharing, all in an effort to help markets and their farm vendors economically thrive.

Ontario Greenbelt Alliance: Growing the Greenbelt

Greenbelt Alliance members work in communities across the landscape to protect the Greenbelt and embrace new opportunities to support its role in providing clean air, water and food to the region. A key partner in their efforts is the Municipal Leaders for the Greenbelt whose work is also supported through this funding.

 The project also continues work to expand the boundaries of the Greenbelt to include many environmental features that cross its borders including natural heritage, water systems, and agricultural resources. The Alliance will assist with applications to grow the Greenbelt in Guelph, Hamilton, Toronto, Mississauga, and Brampton.

Early Stage Implementation of Dundas Valley 50 Year Vision

Carved out nearly 10,000 years ago, the Dundas Valley is one of the largest glacial re-entrant valleys (a valley that collects and funnels water) along the Niagara Escarpment. The Hamilton

Conservation Foundation's 50-Year Vision for the Valley outlines ways to sustain the ecology, agriculture and recreation activities of Hamilton's environmental "jewel" as urbanization concentrates along its borders.

 This project enables the Conservation Foundation to work with the community to develop priorities for the next five years. Activities include producing a strategy for biodiversity, land securement, species at risk protection, developing strategies for outdoor education, and agricultural and recreational activities that maintain and enhance the Valley.

Implementation of the Food and Farming Strategy for the Golden Horseshoe (by the Greater Toronto Area Agricultural Action Committee)

The Greater Golden Horseshoe's food and farming industry contributes $35 billion to the provincial economy through jobs and economic activity. This project supports the implementation of key activities outlined in a newly developed Action Plan to recognize and grow this important economic driver.

 The GTA-AAC, along with their partners, the regions of Hamilton and Niagara, are receiving funds to get started on implementation of the Action Plan. The grant also supports a working group of regional and municipal economic development staff to attract new business that will lead to better integration of Greenbelt goods into the distribution chain, new processing infrastructure, and new markets.

Greenbelt Farmers’ Market Network

Farmers’ Markets build healthy communities, support healthy eating habits, and encourage local agriculture. The Greenbelt Farmers’ Market Network continues to build and strengthen farmers’ markets by providing support to more than 80 farmers’ markets in and around the Greenbelt.  Now in its third year of operation, the Network advocates on behalf of all its markets, offers professional development to market managers, and supports best practices.

This grant helps the Greenbelt Farmers’ Market Network increase farming viability for farm vendors who sell at farmers’ markets in and around the Greenbelt.  Through their New Product Program, the Network will provide small grants to farmers to help them purchase equipment to support environmentally friendly ways to extend the growing season, develop new products for sale, and strengthen the overall economic success of farmers’ markets. 

With $25 in Greenbelt Market Bucks each, two savvy shoppers set out to show how you can make a buck stretch at The Stop’s Farmers’ Market. T is a 50 year old vegan who describes herself as not a regular market shopper, and someone who must spend the majority of her money on meds for a back condition. "You would be shocked to learn how little I spend on food each month.".

Earth and City was our first stop. Run by a pair of ambitious young women, this booth offers prepared foods that are simultaneously vegan, raw and ethical. Further, all the brightly coloured offerings are made from ingredients purchased directly from farmers at this market. T was bowled over by the multitude of brilliantly coloured treats available. She loved the "innovative, forward thinking" ethic of the vendors and wanted to donate her $25 right then and there to this booth. We agreed to at least check out the rest of the market first.

This has been a real hit to my ego. For this blog, I went the extra mile. I bought two beautiful pumpkins from my neighbourhood grocery store that sells only organic and local products (Thanks Pots!)

I bought everything I needed to make a pumpkin pie for the ages. Rum! Cream! I even grated fresh nutmeg.

As you may know, the Friends of the Greeneblt Foundation hosted the Global Greenbelts Conference in Toronto, Canada from March 22nd to 24th 2011. The conference brought together a dynamic mix of people from around the world and had successul exchange of information through preseation sessions and discussion regarding to greenbelt issues.