Greenbelt Foundation

As we continue to celebrate #OntarioAgWeek, let’s take a moment to highlight the Greenbelt Foundation’s Soil Health Program! 🌾 Healthy soil is essential for producing the fresh, local food we cherish and plays a vital role in supporting sustainable farming practices throughout the Greenbelt. Our program focuses on enhancing soil health through innovative techniques that increase crop resilience, promote biodiversity, and capture carbon. By prioritizing soil, we're not just supporting farmers—we're investing in a sustainable future for Ontario's agriculture! 🌍💚 #ONTAgweek Want to learn more? Check it out: https://lnkd.in/gsCjvhix.

🍑🍇 Next up for #OntarioAgWeek, we’re shining a spotlight on the Niagara Tender Fruit Area, one of the Greenbelt’s two specialty crop regions! 🍒 With its unique climate and rich soils, Niagara produces some of Ontario’s most beloved fruits—peaches, cherries, and grapes that you can enjoy at their freshest. By supporting Niagara’s tender fruit farms, we’re not just enjoying local, fresh produce—we’re also preserving valuable farmland and fostering a resilient food system. The Greenbelt Foundation is committed to protecting these unique agricultural areas and ensuring they thrive for future generations. Learn more here with the link in our bio! #ONTAgweek

🌾🍎 This #OntarioAgWeek, we’re celebrating the Holland Marsh—a unique specialty crop area right in the heart of the Greenbelt! Known as ""Ontario’s Soup and Salad Bowl,"" the Marsh has rich, organic soils and a microclimate that make it perfect for growing nutrient-dense veggies like carrots, onions, and leafy greens. 🥕🥬 Its status as a specialty crop area means the land is designated for producing high-value, diverse crops that thrive in these exceptional conditions. By supporting the Holland Marsh, we’re not only fueling Ontario’s food system, but also preserving a vital agricultural hub. Learn more about the Holland Marsh with the link in our bio

🌾🍎 Happy Ontario Agriculture Week! 🍁🥕 At the Greenbelt Foundation, we’re excited to celebrate the incredible farmers and local producers who help keep Ontario’s food system strong, sustainable, and delicious! 🥬🍓 Our Greenbelt not only offers stunning landscapes, but it also supports thousands of farms that provide fresh, locally grown food to our communities. From crisp apples to juicy tomatoes, dairy to honey, every bite is a reminder of the hardworking people who cultivate our land. 🚜❤️ This week, let's show our appreciation by supporting local farms, visiting farmers' markets, and savoring the bounty of the season! 🍂🛒ONTAgweek

The Greenbelt Foundation is honoured to work alongside Indigenous partners on important projects that help protect and preserve the land we all share. One such initiative is the Greenbelt Indigenous Botantical Survey, created by Plenty Canada (https://gibsurvey.ca/), which is a significant new educational resource that blends Indigenous ethnobotanical knowledge with Western science. The survey features a listing of Indigenous plants identified at 23 Indigenous historic sites throughout Ontario's Greenbelt! Through these partnerships, we are able to share Indigenous knowledge and practices that guide our efforts in conservation, ensuring a future that respects and celebrates the deep connections between Indigenous communities and the land. We remain committed to fostering these collaborations and continuing the journey toward reconciliation through shared stewardship and understanding. 🌍💚 📸: Wild Strawberry Photo, Charlotte Logan, 2020

Today, we observe Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. At the Greenbelt Foundation, we are committed to acknowledging and respecting the deep connection Indigenous peoples have with the land. We’ve had the privilege of working alongside Indigenous groups, leaders and elders to support conservation efforts and preserve traditional lands. This collaboration has enriched our understanding and appreciation of the #Greenbelt's heritage. We invite you to learn more about our commitment and the land we steward through our Greenbelt Land Acknowledgment: https://lnkd.in/eagUb3QW As we mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we also recognize September 30th as Orange Shirt Day. This day serves as a reminder of the experiences of Indigenous children in residential schools. By wearing an orange shirt, we honour the survivors and remember those who never made it home. We encourage you to show your support by purchasing your orange shirt from Indigenous-owned businesses, amplifying their voices and contributing to economic reconciliation. Together, we can foster respect, healing, and a stronger future. 🧡🌿 Let’s continue to work together towards a future of respect, understanding, and shared stewardship. #TruthAndReconciliation #OrangeShirtDay

🌿 Join the Greenbelt Foundation Team! Exciting Job Openings! 🌿 Are you passionate about safeguarding Ontario’s Greenbelt and driving positive environmental change? This is your chance to make a real impact! The Greenbelt Foundation is hiring for 3 exciting positions: 1️⃣ Grants Program Director – Lead the strategic direction of our grants programs to support environmental projects across the Greenbelt. Apply here:https://lnkd.in/eCNFTMC5 2️⃣ Grants Coordinator – Help manage and support the administration of grants that fund vital conservation work. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/e3dTJ2AS 3️⃣ Policy Advisor – Shape policies that promote sustainability and protect the Greenbelt’s natural heritage. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/en6e-X4E Deadline to apply is October 17th 2024. Be part of an organization making a difference for Ontario’s future. 🌱💚 Apply today and help protect the Greenbelt!

Exciting news! Graduate students from the University of Waterloo’s School of Planning – Karsten Brix, Natalie Majda, Amanda Morielli and Michael Ricci – have won a prestigious OPPI PlanON Innovative Research Award! 🎉 As part of an advanced planning studio course in Fall 2023, they partnered with the Greenbelt Foundation to examine housing affordability issues in rural communities within the Greenbelt. Their research provides a comprehensive look at: 📊 The current state of housing in the Greenbelt 🏘️ How communities in Canada and the U.S. are addressing housing affordability in rural and tourist areas 🌱 Balancing housing development with the protection of agricultural lands and natural systems Key findings and recommendations from their report: 🏡 Greenbelt communities face a shortage of housing options, particularly rental units 🌍 Affordable, well-supplied, diverse housing options that conserves agricultural and natural lands is essential to supporting local economies 🏘️ Encourage compact over low-density development 📑 Streamline development approvals and incentivize Purpose-Built Rentals and Public-Private Partnerships 🌱 Use easements to protect priority natural systems and agricultural areas 🛠️ Continue research on adapting best practices to the Greenbelt context A big shoutout to their course instructors, Sean Hertel, MES, MCIP, RPP and Dana Anderson, for their guidance throughout the project! The award was presented at the OPPI conference on Wednesday, Sept 25. Learn more about their winning project here: https://lnkd.in/d9BV4afc

🌳🌲 In celebration of National Forest Week, the Greenbelt Foundation is excited to highlight our 1 Million Trees in the Greenbelt Program! 🌲🌳 This initiative is all about restoring and expanding forest systems across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Through partnerships with @GreenCommunitiesCanada, @Forests_Ontario, and @EcoSchoolsCAN, we’re enhancing biodiversity, improving climate resilience, and promoting healthier communities. 🌍💚 Want to know more? Learn more about how we're making an impact and how you can support us: https://lnkd.in/gF-FM3aZ #NationalForestWeek

The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA)is hiring! OSCIA is seeking a Stakeholder Relations Manager who will be committed to stewarding the Living Lab – Ontario program, delivered by OSCIA and funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. This is a full-time position at 36.25 hours per week and is a hybrid role requiring two days per week based out of OSCIA’s Guelph office. This position may require occasional work outside of normal working hours and frequent travel to support events, and connect with stakeholders. For those interested, visit: https://lnkd.in/g2kgMP2b To learn more and apply. Application Deadline: OCTOBER 13TH, 2024