#greenercities — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #greenercities, aggregated by home.social.
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This #FirstNations horticulturist Indigenizes plant spaces in B.C.
#ShaylaChalifoux sub-consults for landscape architects on incorporating #NativePlants
Edzi'u Loverin · CBC News · Posted: Nov 14, 2025
Excerpt: "According to the province of B.C., plant biodiversity in #BritishColumbia is unmatched in Canada, with at least 2,500 native vascular plant species, in addition to thousands of lichens, mosses and fungi.
"Individuals can help support the land by planting native plants in pots on their balconies and gardens, said Chalifoux.
" 'Why would you plant a native plant here? Because host nations have a relationship with that, or this specific plant is a host plant for a larva, a native butterfly, that needs to eat only this plant to survive,' said Chalifoux.
" 'The land is hurting. One way we can help the land is by incorporating native plants.'
"Chalifoux said though things are changing, not many municipalities have policies to ensure a percentage of native plants are included in city landscaping.
"#CBCIndigenous asked the City of #Vancouver if it had any policies around the number of native plants required to be planted in urban planning.
"A City of Vancouver spokesperson said in a statement that the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation is working to increase native plants in #UrbanSpaces and considers a number of factors in planning, including maintenance, resilience, and canopy cover, and consults with local #FirstNations.
"A prime example of this is the addition of #PacificYew to the Stanley Park Restoration initiative, upon receiving feedback from local First Nations," said the statement.
"The city said it has also provided native plants for #EcologicalRestoration in Vancouver parks to non-profits and community groups that hold community planting events."
Full article:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/indigenize-plant-spaces-in-b-c-9.6978056#SolarPunkSunday #VancouverBC #FirstNations #GreenerCities #GardeningForPollinators #Biodiversity #Canada #RestoreNature #ContainerGardening
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Green solutions for crisis: how #UrbanGreenSpaces enhance #CommunityHealth
Yuliang Wang, et al.
06 May 2026"Urban green spaces (#UGS) are vital for public health, especially during crises like the pandemic. While previous studies have explored the link between UGS utilisation and health, the complex interactions between UGS access, demographic factors, and health behaviours remain underexamined, particularly in Northwest China, where UGS are extremely shortage. This study, conducted in NW China’s core city - #Lanzhou, investigates how the pandemic influenced public engagement with UGS and its subsequent effects on public well-being in three #parks. We found that the pandemic spurred increased park visits, reflecting a heightened awareness of their health benefits, yet also exposed access inequalities, especially among those reliant on motor vehicles, and that proximity, commuting methods, and urban infrastructure significantly impact park usage, with frequent and prolonged visits correlating with improved health outcomes and higher willingness to pay (WTP) for parks, especially among younger, educated, and longtime locals. Conversely, increased travel time discourages engagement with UGS, highlighting the need for #AccessibleGreenSpaces. Notably, landscape characteristics like cohesion and patch density play a critical role in health benefits, with cohesive landscapes supporting more significant health improvements. Interestingly, even those with unhealthy habits, such as smoking and drinking, report substantial benefits from park use, suggesting the #RestorativePowerOfNature. To enhance UGS accessibility and maximise health benefits, urban planners should focus on creating #PedestrianFriendly environments, improving #PublicTransportation links, and incorporating health-promoting features in park designs. The findings call for urban planners to focus on enhancing #accessibility, #connectivity, and diversity in park designs, tailored to the unique needs of urban populations, making parks more #inclusive and #resilient spaces for all urban residents. This study provides critical insights into the role of urban parks during crises, offering guidance for #UrbanPlanning and public health strategies in similar urban settings."
Learn more:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-026-07437-z?fromPaywallRec=false#SolarPunkSunday #MoreParks #MoreGreenSpace #Microclimates #GreenInfrastructure #OpenAccess #OpenAccessJournals #LivableCities #BuildingCommunity #China #GreenerCities #HealingThroughNature #SpendTimeInNature
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List of #BostonMA #CommunityGardens
"Our 56 community gardens —totaling 15 acres across eight Boston neighborhoods—are tended and cared for by local residents. These oases of green are sources of neighborhood pride that connect people and place. They turn neighbors into friends, strengthen family bonds and traditions, and inspire joy in the shared work of growing fresh, healthy, and delicious food."
https://thetrustees.org/content/list-of-boston-community-gardens/
#SolarPunkSunday #BuildingCommunity #GreenerCities #GrowYourOwn #TrusteesOfReservations
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This place sounds so cool!
#Toronto - The Children’s Garden at #EvergreenBrickworks is where kids can explore and connect with nature. It’s a place for kids to get hands on the natural world, including exploring the garden’s rich array of plants.
- Summer weekdays, July and August: 5:30pm to dusk (after Summer Camp programs)
- School-Year weekdays, September through June: 4pm to dusk (after Children’s Education programs)
- Year-round weekends and holidays: 8am to duskEcology at the Children’s Garden
"Our #UrbanAgriculture beds within the garden offer space to grow familiar veggies and herbs. Garden spaces like these can play a vital role in bringing together community members to work to grow food collectively. They can also teach us some valuable lessons on the value of farms and protected local agricultural land, which are able to produce food on a much larger scale.
Located inside the Children’s Garden, the Guild Garden is designed with children in mind. Made possible by support from Forester’s Financial, the garden is built around a central cherry tree surrounded by many species of plants (including fruit shrubs, berries, vegetables and herbs) to create a rich and diverse garden for children to explore. The plants chosen for this garden support #BeneficialInsects, help deter pests and protect the soil.
Lining the alley leading up the garden, stockpots and metal container were installed in 2021 by Foresters Financial, to showcase a regenerative landscape, while also providing food for both pollinators and people. The art on the planters was designed by #Délı̨nę #FirstNations artist and printmaker #LauraGrier.
Milkcrate containers are a legacy left over from the #BoweryProject, which seeks to set up mobile urban farms by setting up #ContainerGardens in urban lots. Initially installed in 2015 with an urban agriculture focus, the milkcrates were revitalized in 2023 into a native container garden concept. This project aims to demonstrate to visitors that NativePlantGardens can be planted anywhere, even without a yard. The containers also aim to model the creation of #GreenCorridors that connect fragmented pieces of habitat throughout the city; to this end they were planted out with plants donated by #ProjectSwallowtail, which aims to connect #greenspaces across the city.
The milkcrate containers in the alley contain edible native plant species. In 2023 they were planted out with the following:
• Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
• Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)
• Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata)
• Violets (Viola labradorica)
• Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)"FMI:
https://www.evergreen.ca/evergreen-brick-work/activities/the-childrens-garden/#SolarPunkSunday #SpendTimeInNature #NatureBasedLearning #BuildingCommunity #EdibleGarden #GreenerCities #UrbanGardens #MoreGreenTimeLessScreenTime #ChildrensGarden
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How to keep your house cool during #NewEngland #HeatWave
by Bailey Allen
June 30, 2026"As a heat wave approaches Massachusetts, residents may be looking for ways to keep their homes as cool as possible.
"The National Weather Service is predicting 'extreme heat and humidity' across most of southern New England, except the Berkshires and the Cape and Islands, from Wednesday, July 1, through Friday, July 3.
"Temperatures are expected to rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (and heat index values around 111 degrees) near the end of the week.
"The weather service recommends drinking plenty of water and staying in an air-conditioned space to reduce the effects of the heat on the body.
Here are some tips for those without air conditioning or looking for ways to lower indoor temperatures during the upcoming 'dangerous heat.'"Here are some tips to help keep your home cool during the upcoming New England heat wave, according to Boston Emergency Management:
- Install an air conditioner and use ceiling or standing fans to improve airflow. However, electric fans will not prevent #HeatRelatedIllness, the City of Boston said.
- Weather-strip doors and windowsills to keep cool air inside.
- Reflect heat back outside by installing temporary window reflectors, such as aluminum foil-covered cardboard, between windows and drapes.
- Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sunlight with drapes, shades, awnings, or louvers. Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat entering a home by up to 80%, according to Boston Emergency Management.
- See if you can have a tree planted on the sidewalk in front of your home for free. Cities including Boston, Worcester, Quincy, Lowell, and Springfield offer free street tree planting programs.
- Limit the use of your stove and oven, which can increase indoor temperatures.Visit cooling centers if your home can't get cool
"If your home doesn't have air conditioning or isn't staying cool enough, Boston Emergency Management recommends taking breaks in air-conditioned places such as shopping malls, #PublicLibraries, or public #CoolingCenters.
"In Boston, cooling centers include swimming pools, #SplashPads , and community centers. Residents can call 2-1-1 to find cooling locations across #Massachusetts."
Archived version:
https://archive.ph/B1iBq#SolarPunkSunday #BuildingCommunity #KeepCool #ClimateChange #ExtremeHeat #KeepingCool #GreenerCities #MoreTrees #LibrariesRule!
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Why #WildlifeCorridors are Essential for #Biodiversity and #Ecosystem Health
November 12, 2024
"Wildlife corridors serve as lifelines for biodiversity and ecosystem health. By providing a unique way to balance human development with #NatureConservation; connecting #FragmentedHabitats and allowing wildlife to move freely. So what exactly are wildlife corridors and why are they so important?
Wildlife corridors are strips of natural habitat that connect fragmented landscapes. They enable wildlife to move between isolated areas, aiding #migration, #GeneticDiversity, and survival. These corridors help mitigate the negative impacts of human development, such as #roads and #urbanisation, on animal populations.
Wildlife corridors serve many purposes, all stemming from their ability to reconnect isolated populations. By preventing habitat fragmentation, they enhance survival rates through increased food sources, cover, and reduced predation. On top of this, they protect biodiversity by enabling animals to move freely between habitat patches, reducing the risk to both wildlife and humans posed by human-made barriers.
Wildlife corridors are crucial for the survival of landscape species, which are wildlife species that need expansive areas to survive, such as tigers in India or grizzly bears in the United States. They are also vital in maintaining safe passage for birds, fish, and mammals, especially as new roads and developments create barriers to traditional feeding and breeding grounds.
These corridors can take various forms, ideally spanning 50 to 200 feet in width, providing sufficient habitat for species using them to travel, forage or nest. They offer a diverse range of habitats, enhancing the opportunities for various wildlife to thrive. Corridors can take the shape of #shelterbelts, #FieldBorders, #RiparianBuffers, and #RoadsideHabitats, each playing a unique role in providing sustenance, shelter, and travel lanes for different species.
Wildlife corridors highlight the possibility of a peaceful coexistence between humans and wildlife. Wildlife corridors help direct animals away from human settlements, reducing conflicts and minimising damage to crops and property, while ensuring the surviving and well-being of various species. Raising public awareness of these corridors is crucial for maintaining functioning natural systems on which humans also depend."
#SolarPunkSunday #Nature #Wildlife #UrbanAreas #GreenerCities #WildlifeCrossings