Spring into action
It's spring! I love this time of year and all the changes I can sense outside. There's a new quality of light that's infused with the promise of great things to come. I wake up to the sound of birds chirping. The ground beneath my feet has that earthy, comforting scent: the soil teeming with life. Shoots, buds and the little bulbs appear. In spring, we welcome green, my favourite colour.
Have you been sowing seeds indoors? Are you itching to get outside and put your hands in the soil or do some pruning? (I know a person or two with a self-proclaimed 'snipping' addiction!)
You may have seen the first couple BBC Gardeners' World episodes of the new year or attended a local Seedy Saturday event.
If you're interested in spending more time outdoors, meeting new people or simply connecting with nature, there are many ways to do so here in Niagara.
Niagara Peninsula Conservation is looking for volunteers to help guide hikes, lead nature crafts, assist with the gardens at Ball's Falls, help monitor turtle road crossings and survey frogs, toads and marsh birds, among many other activities. Have a look on their website and see if there's anything that resonates with you.
Are you a gardener? Do you like floral design? If so, you might enjoy sharing your interests with other like-minded individuals by joining The Garden Club of Niagara. The Niagara chapter has a special relationship with Niagara Parks School of Horticulture and manages the 19th century kitchen gardens at McFarland House along the Niagara Parkway. Click here for more information.
If you're invigorated by teamwork and being part of an active community that makes a real impact, Project Share may be worth considering. They recruit volunteers to help with emergency food distribution. There're a variety of roles, including garden volunteers who grow healthy, organic foods in their community gardens. Click here and scroll down to see application information.
If you'd like to support Project Share, but don't have the skills, time or interest in volunteering, you can donate products to their community garden. The organization accepts garden tools, pots, seeds, garden gloves, etc. Click here for a list of items and more information.
There's something so rewarding about working in a community garden. It's the type of work where you can physically see the results of your labour. It's also so much fun to share the experience with others and be outside in the fresh air.
Niagara Community Gardens has many gardens in the area that accept volunteer help. Click here and also the 'Garden' heading on the webpage that pops up to see the list of participating gardens in the region.
As the landscape changes from brown to green in the coming days and weeks, we hope you have a chance to get outside and breathe in the fresh, spring air!
