1. Greenbelt Success

The Stop Community Food Centre & Vineland Research and Innovation Centre have teamed up to diversify food production in Ontario's Greenbelt. The research has identified five different fruits and vegetables: calloloo, fuzzy melon, okra, eggplant and yard long bearns - which have traditionally been imported but can now be successfully grown in the Greenbelt. The Foundation is proud to fund this innovative research, which not only supports the local farming industry, but helps to reduce energy consumption.

Environment Hamilton Eat Local

With over 80% of Hamilton’s land base designated as rural area, Hamilton is well equipped to feed itself locally and sustainably.

Formed in 2005, Hamilton Eat Local utilizes the Hamilton Eat Local Farm Map & Directory and the Hamilton Fruit Tree Project to encourage residents of Hamilton to buy locally grown food.

Expanding on the Hamilton Eat Local project, this undertaking implements Greenbelt-grown food procurement systems in elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools and the municipal government, in order to secure the long-term viability of local agriculture and the Greenbelt in the Hamilton area.

The new deadline for the ReelGreenbelt youth video competition on January 2nd is quickly approaching and we've already received many great, creative, videos that you can check out on the Ontario Greenbelt YouTube page. With the weekend at at hand, and adventures planned for the holiday break - there's lots of opportunity to find out what the Greenbelt means to you. 

Map Courtesy of www.greenbelt.org

Attend the first ever Global Greenbelts Conference in Toronto, Canada from March 22^nd to March 24^th, 2011. The Early Bird Rate for Greenbelts: Local Solutions for Global Challenges will soon be over with the end of 2010 –-so register now before it’s too late.

Want to win $1000 and get your work seen by celebrity judges? check it out:www.reelgreenbelt.ca

We all know life can get busy during the holidays. We don’t have enough time for family or friends in between exams, assignments and work.  That’s why the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation is spreading some holiday cheer and extending our deadline for the Reel Greenbelt Video Competition until *drumroll* January 2nd, 2011!

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Okay, as well all know the deadline for the video competition is fast approaching and for those of you who are anxiously putting together your videos and plan on submitting soon – GREAT!  But for those of you who want to do a video but are lacking a little inspiration, perhaps the seven wonders of the Greenbelt below will get those creativity juices flowing!  These are not listed in order of importance, as the multiple functions of the Greenbelt do not exist in silos but instead are interconnected. That said feel free to mix and mingle these ideas or use one of your own.

Image courtesy of www.merseyreap.co.uk

Now is your chance to attend the first ever Global Greenbelts Conference in Toronto, Canada from March 22^nd to March 24^th, 2011. Registration forGreenbelts: Local Solutions for Global Challenges is open -- so take the opportunity to register now at our Early Bird Rate before it’s too late!

Pre-facelift Greenbelt site. 


In its six years of existence, the Greenbelt Foundation has created, inspired and collected a plethora of meaningful content on issues and efforts relating to the environment, agriculture, economy, and growth & planning in Ontario’s Greenbelt. From hundreds of grantee stories and events, to insightful research papers to Foundation events and publications the amount of interesting and engaging content is truly inspiring. However, some of this content can be, at times, hard to find. I feel that our website is an important communication tool to both manage this content and to give a voice to the Greenbelt.  

Attention: News/Southern Ontario Reporters/Editors/Food/Environment/ Agriculture/Planning/Policy

Nine out of Ten Ontarians Support the Greenbelt

TORONTO – November 9, 2010  Support for the Greenbelt has become so great, it is becoming a cherished part of the Ontario identity. A recent study by Environics examines the growing relationship between Ontarians and the Greenbelt. It discovered an overwhelming nine out of ten people agree that the Greenbelt is one of the most important contributions to the future of our Province, and over half say that the Greenbelt is extremely important to them personally.