Green Calgary's Blog

Green Calgary is going to the Calgary Home + Garden Show this weekend to talk to folks about rain barrels, but the show also acts as a reminder that gardening season is just around the corner, if not now. Many gardeners, some in Green Calgary included, garden throughout the winter with things like sprouts, microgreens, and container plants that winter well. However, now tends to be when people planting their gardens from seed start planning their gardens and even starting their seeds. One of the advantages to starting this early is that you can design your garden to take advantage of the whole growing season, with things that bloom early, others that bloom late, and plants that protect your garden from pests while attracting pollinators. The City of Calgary's YardSmart program has some handy tools to get you started . Another reason to get ready early is to make sure you have your water usage laid out. Plants have various water needs, plus watering in shade and in sun is di

The staff at Green Calgary were discussing their weekend plans and, while the weather has certainly been playing yo-yo with outdoor plans this month, we all were excited to get out and enjoy the city. There was a lot going on last weekend because of Family Day, as we pointed out on our social media, but there are still some great things you can do in YYC this weekend! Get Outside. Winter is slipping away from us, so it's a good time to try enjoying winter scenery. Some of us were planning on enjoying a little of that outdoor time, walking to our local parks, or carpooling with friends out to the mountains. YYC Hot Chocolate Fest.  A few of us have been trying out the hot chocolate fest this year. This annual event supports charities while showcasing the hot chocolate talent of some of Calgary's best cafes and restaurants! You can check their website or download their app to find participating hot chocolatiers and rate the different beverages that you try! Make it more

Family Day is just around the corner and while we encourage everyone to get outdoors and enjoy Calgary's urban environment, it might be worth it to take a moment to reflect on the beauty of the nature in and around Calgary, and how your family is part of that ecosystem. Alberta is an incredibly beautiful place - our tourism industry reflects that - but while Albertans can enjoy and appreciate our natural spaces, those spaces also need our respect and stewardship. Not only do those green spaces provide Albertans with places to play and enjoy, they are also good for us! Research has shown that living close to green spaces and spending time outside betters our health.Those wild spaces are at risk from climate change, which itself comes with significant health risks . What does this have to do with families? Well, it's our families that live with the consequences of climate change. Children will have to live with our increasingly fragile world, while the elderly are at hi

We've talked about various holidays and how to make them green before, but we've never looked at Valentine's Day before. Many of the same gift ideas apply to Valentine's Day, such as giving experiences, choosing sustainable gifts, and spending time with the ones you care about. But here are some Valentine's Day specific thoughts for you: Sweet. Get some sustainable and ethical chocolates for your partner, friends, or even yourself! You can find these at Community Natural Foods , Calgary Co-Op , or any of the chocolatiers in Calgary! Spicy. If it's a romantic gift you're looking for, why not a lovely potted plant? It lasts longer than cut flowers and is beautiful for much longer! Savory. If you're looking for some sustainable eating-out options in Calgary, there are some great options. Shokunin Izakaya is dedicated to environmental sustainability, as is Una Pizza . There are plenty of restaurants that are trying to being more sustainable. S

Green Calgary is happy to announce that we will once again be participating in Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by Altalink! This great initiative supports youth by matching donations up to 50%, growing the impact you can make on donations to our children and youth programs! You can donate here! Green Calgary has some great youth programs on offer this year that could use your support! In addition to mainstays, like Waste in Our World, Water for Life, and Worms Love Leftovers, our Citizen Science programs are back and expanded! Teachers can book for their classes here . We also have some surprises upcoming for our youth programs that we're not quite ready to announce yet, but trust us, they will be great! Supporting youth climate and environment education in our City is the first step in creating well-informed citizens and stewards of our urban environment. We invite you to be part of the process. For a limited time, make your donation go further.  Click here to suppo