Growing our Greenbelt is a blog series focusing on "areas of critical ecological and hydrological significance" recently flagged by more than 100 environmental and community group as requiring Greenbelt protection. Over the next several months, we'll be highlighting the headwaters, ground water recharge areas, surface water features and urban river valleys that, if added to the Greenbelt Plan, would be part of protected and connected clean water system. 

Want to see your Greenbelt grow? Follow our series and use #GrowOurGB on social media to join the movement!

Exciting news Niagarans!

More than 100 community and environmental groups are calling for Niagara’s Lake Gibson and Twelve Mile Creek to be added to Greenbelt Protection. 

It’s all part of a recently released plan that calls for a 1.5 million acre Greenbelt expansion into Ontario's sensitive water systems. (Find out more about the proposal here).  

In Niagara, we’re lucky to be surrounded by what seems to be a never ending supply of fresh water – but it’s how we take care of it that matters.  

And there are lots of reasons we should make the protection of Lake Gibson and the Twelve Mile Creek a top priority – here are just a few.

On Tuesday January 26 we hosted our Greenbelt Review Telephone Town Hall! 

From 7pm to 8pm we had a live and interactive conversation on the ongoing provincial review of the Growth and Greenbelt Plans, with more than 11,000 people joining us!

The Town Hall was hosted by Greenbelt Vice-President Susan Murray with two guest speakers--David Crombie, Chair of the Land Use Advisory Panel and Burkhard Mausberg, CEO of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation--fielding questions from participants. 

We discussed everything from smart growth, to the future of agriculture, to water protection and urban river valleys. 

Listen to the full recording below! 

I'm always surprised when I talk to regular folks—those not in the “Greenbelt” business—about how engaged they are in the Greenbelt and planning issues. I’m often impressed by how much they care, as well as by their intuitive observations and commentary. In other words, you don't need to be a fancy planner or 'died in the wool' environmentalist to have sensible opinions about smart planning and how we build our communities.

We are encouraged by the province's decision to grow the Greenbelt to include 21 urban river valleys and seven coastal wetlands, bringing the Greenbelt into cities and towns with over 6 million residents. 

The province also added four parcels of protected countryside in the City of Hamilton and Niagara Region. 

But...the widely supported grassroots initiative to expand the Greenbelt and protect a ‘Bluebelt’ of vulnerable water resources was left out of the amendments to the Greenbelt Plan. We hear that the province plans to start a process to identify such areas in the coming months - let's hold them to their word!

The grassroots 'bluebelt' proposal, put together by a coalition of over 100 environmental and community groups, calls for an ambitious expansion of the Greenbelt in order to protect critical drinking water sources and to ensure an abundant supply of clean water.

Find out more about the proposal and take action at GrowOurGreenbelt.ca!

Brothers Jan and Dale VanderHout co-own Beverly Greenhouses Limited, a greenhouse cucumber producing farm located near Waterdown, City of Hamilton. They are the third generation in the family business started by their grandfather 55 years ago. The farm encompasses 230 acres, with 22 acres of greenhouses, 60 acres of field crops, 10 acres that are rented out, and the balance in wetlands and environmentally sensitive areas.

Read about how the Vanderhouts are reducing their environmental impact while growing their cucumber operations.

Charles and Judi Stevens own and operate Wilmot Orchards near Newcastle, Ontario, producing high quality apples and blueberries. Charles was born and raised on a dairy farm near Bowmanville and entered the orchard business after university. He purchased the current farm in 1975 as a beef operation with 12 acres of fruit trees, some of which were 80 years old. Charles and his father were partners during the first five years of the business and all of the farm’s equipment was bought used. Interest rates were high so every spare penny went into paying down debt. Eventually, the farm became a sole proprietorship, then a partnership between Charles and his wife Judi, before ultimately becoming incorporated. Their daughter Courtney currently works in the business helping to manage the on-farm café and leading social media and marketing efforts.

Read about how the Stevens continue to grow by embracing early adoption of new varieties, diversification, and other innovations.

Vineland Estates Winery produces a valueadded agricultural product and operates an agri-tourism business in a multi-faceted enterprise. They import grape plants, grow grapes, make wine, market in domestic and international wholesale markets, and operate an on-farm wine shop and a four diamond restaurant, along with banquet and wedding facilities. All operations take place on their farm in Vineland on the Niagara Escarpment. Senior managers direct vineyard and winery production, wine marketing, the wine shop, the restaurant, and the warehouse, allowing President Allan Schmidt to focus on marketing, promotional, and industry activities.

Read about how a decades old operation thrives because of its leadership and provides 75 local jobs.

Tigchelaar Berry Farms Inc. in many ways exemplifies the manner in which many successful family businesses evolve. They have specialized in a profitable enterprise. What was in the early days a focus on production to meet a voracious market is in more recent times supplemented with enhanced business management. The established business is spawning sub-businesses, and the current owner-operators are contemplating the entry of their children.

Read about how two brothers succeed by embracing innovation and responding to consumer demand.

The company name can be deceiving. The Meyers family fruit farm has not just changed as the business has evolved, but has embraced diversification over the past 60 years. Production of wine grapes, greenhouse flowers, and herbs have been added to the operation. This diversified growth has generated a number of business challenges.

Read about how to stay profitable, a family fruit farm evolved and diversified with the changing times.

Greenwood Mushroom Farms was formed in the early 1960s. In 1978, it expanded to include a group of mushroom growers in Durham Region to achieve efficiencies of scale. Clayton Taylor, who bought into the business in 1990, is the managing partner, with decision making and direction provided from the partnership team of five owners. Greenwood has two production sites in close proximity to each other, and a large processing and packaging operation

Read about how this Durham producer has mushroomed into one of the largest enterprises of its kind in Canada, providing 360 local jobs.