Thank you to everyone who participated in making 2009's Cool Communities a great success. Watch out for the program to return in the spring!

 

2009 Poster		2009 Photos

 

 

SAVE UP TO $100 ON NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS FOR YOUR YARD THIS FALL
Visit your local nursery on September 12-13 or 19-20 and you can receive a $20 rebate on select native trees with a regular price of $100 or greater, and a $5 rebate on select native shrubs with a regular price of $20 or greater. There is a limit of 5 orders per household.

PARTICIPATING NURSERIES:
Meadowville Nursery - Guelph
Royal City Nursery - Guelph
Grand Valley Garden Village - Kitchener
Sheridan Nurseries Limited - Kitchener
Native Plant Source - Breslau

COOL COMMUNITIES GUIDES - GET THEM HERE!
Click here for the Cool Communities Tree Planting and Care Guide (pdf)
Click here for the Cool Communities Tree Selection Guide (pdf)

OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES
LEAF's Tree Siting Checklist will help you determine the best planting location for your new tree.
Determine how Healthy Your Soil Is and how you can make it healthier.
Read about the Top Ten Things to Do for Your Tree to keep it healthy and happy.
Cick here for information on how to select a good Tree Care Company.
Want to do more?  Click here to get information about LEAF's Community Action Kit.

GET INVOLVED WITH THE URBAN FOREST IN YOUR COMMUNITY!
Interested in taking action for the urban forest?  Here are some groups that will help you get there.

Guelph Arboretum
The Guelph Arboretum boasts 165 hectares of specialized gardens and botanical collections growing 1,700 different species of trees and shrubs at the University of Guelph. The arboretum is free of charge to visit, grows almost every native species of tree and shrub to Southern Ontario and is home to an abundance of wildlife. The Arboretum Auxiliary has volunteer opportunities in a number of areas including outdoor work, visitor services, event and fundraising and education.

Guelph Urban Forest Friends (GUFF)
GUFF is a group of citizens who are concerned about Guelph’s urban forest. GUFF works to increase the health, integrity and area of the urban forest in Guelph through advocacy and education.

The City of Guelph's Healthy Landscapes
This program helps residents and local businesses in Guelph reduce water usage and create a pesticide-free outdoor space through landscaping with non-invasive, drought resistant native plants, shrubs and trees. The program offers a free assessment with a landscape advisor, as well as resources for lawn and garden maintenance.

Grand River Conservation Authority
The GRCA undertakes watershed and natural resource management along the Grand River. The GRCA Tree Planting Program helps private landowners who have at least one hectare space free from buildings select appropriate species of trees for their land. Landowners can either plant themselves or have the GRCA arrange a planting for them.

The County of Wellington Green Legacy
This program will plant 155,000 trees in Wellington County in 2009. Schools, municipalities, corporations, clubs and private landowners can all get involved. You can volunteer with the Green Legacy Nursery and learn skills such as seed collection, stratification, seed sowing, transplanting and tree maintenance.

10,000 Trees

This environmental not-for profit is dedicated to planting trees on public green space in the Waterloo area. 10,000 Trees also educates the public about the benefits of re-forestation and provides teachers with a curriculum on the topic for Grade 3 and 4 students.

WHAT IS THE COOL COMMUNITIES PROJECT?
The Cool Communities Project encourages homeowners in Guelph, Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo and area to plant trees around their house to help conserve energy. It is supported by the Ontario Power Authority’s Conservation Fund, which funds new and innovative electricity conservation projects.

WHO IS LEAF?
LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests) is an award-winning environmental non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and improving our urban forest through education, training and planting initiatives. Since 1996 LEAF has planted over 13,000 native trees and shrubs in residential backyards.