City launches adopt-a-bale for sustainable outdoor kitchen
Four years in the works, the city, in conjunction with the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation, officially announced plans to construct the new green municipal building at the Insect Extravaganza Community Festival in High Park, July 13, while kicking off the adopt-a-bale program.
The adopt-a-bale program, a fundraising initiative, will serve as a way for the community to get involved in this historic opportunity, according to Robin Salt, program specialist for the Children's Garden and Eco Programs. Salt called the teaching kitchen a huge step for the city and one that will be precedent-setting for its renewable energy technologies, including a green roof made of plants, which will help manage storm water run-off into Grenadier Pond, solar panels, a solar water heater and potentially a wind turbine.
"It will be a demonstration site," Salt said in an interview Tuesday at the garden, "that will show that all these sustainable building techniques work. "The building is going to show people that they can do this too."
Although unconventional, straw bales have many advantages in building use. They greatly reduce the environmental impact compared to conventional building practices while promoting better air quality indoors by allowing air vapour to pass through. The straw bales, which will be encased in cement lime plaster, also have excellent fire ratings and sound insulation qualities.
The key is to ensure that they never get wet, Salt said. It'll take less than 500 bales for the entire kitchen, said Salt's colleague Recreationist Keely Forth.
"The fundraising goal is $50,000 at $50 a bale," she said. "We'll have a list of the donors' names inside or outside of the kitchen."
By adopting a bale, people will help the city provide informative, timely and fun programs for children and the community.
"Although it is a city-run program, (the Children's Garden) is a public space. It was created out of public safety concerns," Forth said, referring to the site that was once just a parking lot with adjacent washrooms that attracted sometimes unruly behaviour.
Organic gardening, nature hikes, drama, nature arts and youth cooking are some of the activities offered at the Children's Garden, which can be found north of Colborne Lodge, on Colborne Lodge Drive at the south end of High Park.
To adopt-a-bale and for more information, visit www.toronto.ca/parks/programs/children.htm
Children's Garden Events
The High Park Children's Garden Free Drop-in Events
- Watch Me Grow Family Drop-in, Thursdays until Aug. 28 from 10 a.m. to Noon
Take part in composting activities, garden games, arts, crafts and more. These drop-in sessions are offered to infants to 12-year olds. Registration is not needed, but parental/caregiver supervision is required.
- Youth Cooking Program Aug. 16 and Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This is a fun cooking program for youth ages 11 to 16 in which they learn how to prepare vegetarian dishes that are simple, delicious and low budget. The program is free, but registration is required. Call 416-338-5055.
- Art in the Park Family Picnic Sunday, Aug. 17 from noon to 4 p.m.
Enjoy fun activities including crafts, garden art, storytelling, musical performances and lots more. All ages are welcome. A garden lunch will be provided while it lasts.
- Harvest Festival Sunday, Oct. 5 from noon until 4:30 p.m.
A great day of family fun, including music, drama, storytelling, wagon rides, nature crafts and activities, traditional lawn games, seed collecting and a children's garden harvest lunch.
