Strawberries and Asparagus 2008

“Strawberries & Asparagus” is a community celebration of all things green. This day-long festival in Toronto’s Cedarvale Park promotes public space, local and organic food, local sustainable business, nature appreciation, music, and fitness & health. Come along and enjoy

healthy snacks and solar ice cream
free activities for children and adults
live music on our solar stage
a marketplace for green businesses and environmental organizations
This not-for-profit event is organized each year by EvolutionGreen.Com and human capital partner Green Neighbours 21, a grass-roots environmental group in Toronto’s Ward 21. There is also an Inorganic Market™ taking place – you can drop off used or broken electronic items for free recycling. Laptops, desktops, iPods, mp3 players, cell phones and more will be collected. Come out, meet the community, and enjoy the fun!

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

Gardening Activities for Children:
“Strawberries and Asparagus” takes place in the grounds around the Cedarvale Community Children’s Garden, established by Claire Rodger and “the gardening angels” a group of devoted adult volunteers. Learn more about this wonderful group by participating in their activities at “Strawberries and Asparagus” including:

June 14th, 2008

11.00am - 12.45pm - Children will be planting heirloom tomatoes, Swiss chard, basil and other vegetables (Children should dress appropriately)
1.00pm - 2.00pm - Children’s concert on solar stage (see below)
2.00pm - 3.00pm - Storytelling for children. Dressing up a “gardening angel” sculpture made up from recycled objects.
3.00pm-4.30 pm - Demo and tasting of locally grown rhubarb, strawberries and honey stewed on site on a Coleman stove
Throughout the day the children will be selling their produce including: rhubarb chives, oregano and flowers. Heirloom tomato plants will also be available for sale.

Children’s Concert:
Juno Award Winning Children’s Singer Jen Gould performs. Her album “Music Soup” was given a Juno for best children’s album of the year. Her performance is followed by songs performed by Evolution Green’s Chris Chopik together with the kids from the Cedarvale Community Children’s Garden

1.00pm - 2.00pm at the solar stage
Make your own cob birdhouse:
Learn about environmentally friendly building by making your own cob birdhouse. Cob is a building material made out of earth and straw. Children and adults will learn more about the process by the members of the Fourth Pig Worker Co-op who are experts in sustainable building, alternative materials and energy retrofits. This activity is great for children and adults. Wear clothing that you don’t mind getting muddy!

Sessions begin at 11.30am, 12.30pm and on a drop in basis throughout the day
Eco Trivia Game:
Earth Day Canada will be running their Eco Trivia game where children play a ball game while answering questions about the environment. Children can win prizes. In the Earth Day Canada booth they will also be handing out promotional material to help teachers and other educators bring environmental issues into the curriculum.

New games begin at 11.00am, 12.00pm, 1.00pm, 2.00pm, 3.00pm and 4.00pm (Guideline ages: 6-12)
ADULT AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES:

LEAF and Garden Green:
Learn stories relating to our local trees. Arborist Todd Irvine from LEAF leads a tour that investigates the stories of local street trees and new plantings in the ravine. There will be a number of guest speakers on the tour. The walk lasts 90 minutes and is appropriate for walkers of all ages. Co-sponsored by Garden Green. Our local M.P. Carolyn Bennett will be in attendance. Wear comfortable shoes.

1.00pm - 3.00pm LEAF Cedarvale Tree Walk (departs from Cedarvale Community Children’s Garden)
Daily Apple
Daily Apple wellness services will be running their signature green fitness class called “Trailmix”. This low-impact class integrates cardio, weights, pilates and yoga and has participants enjoying the park setting while getting their workout. Wear comfortable clothes and running shoes.

2.00pm - 2.45pm (Departs from the Daily Apple booth)
Inorganic Market™:

Bring your unwanted electronics to the Inorganic Market™. They accept laptops, desktops, monitors, printers, scanners, fax machines, ipods, mp3 players, power bars, any type of wires and cables, speakers, keyboards, mice, video game consoles, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS’s), cell phones and routers. Working components will be reused. Non-working items will be 100% recycled.

Collections will take place in the parking lot of Arlington Middle School from 11 am to 5 pm
GREEN MARKETPLACE:

Here are just a few of the many vendors and organizations that will be attending Strawberries and Asparagus 2008:

Arise Technologies - Arise Technologies whose solar energy systems are increasingly appearing on the roofs of Ward 21 in Toronto and beyond will be bringing a solar powered ice cream cooler to the event and handing out free ice cream. They will also be sharing a booth with WISE (below)

Chocosol: This fair-trade chocolate company will have biopower grinders and blenders, chocolate drinks, chocolate foods, and a whole artistic display. They will also be hosting special guest Gustavo Esteva, an author, storyteller and food activist from Mexico. Gustavo’s writings will be available.

Earth Day Canada Eco Action Team - The Eco Action Team will have a booth where individuals or groups can commit to conservation and use an online calculator to see how much emissions they’ve saved.

Fashion Takes Action: Receive an invitation to Fashion Takes Action…the green fashion event of the year.

Whole Self Fitness:
Whole Self Fitness provides on-site personal training and lifestyle coaching. Whole Self Fitness also provides nutrition consulting, on-site group fitness classes and cooking workshops at Whole Foods Market. For more information contact Leehe Lev at 416-924-3145.

West Toronto Initiative for Solar Energy (WISE) - WISE will have a booth illustrating what solar energy can do for you, your home and our environment.

Solid Waste Management Services: Hot on the heels of the introduction of our new recycling bins in Toronto, there’s another new thing Torontonians are going to have to get used to: new garbage bins. Soon you’ll be receiving a Garbage Bin order package in the mail asking you to select a new Garbage Bin for your household. Need help deciding which bin is right for you? Visit the City of Toronto tent to see the different sizes of Garbage Bins available and to talk to City of Toronto staff.

EVENT LOCATION:

“Strawberries and Asparagus” takes place in the grounds around the Cedarvale Community Children’s Garden at the north end of Cedarvale Park. The nearest subway is Eglinton West. Then walk south on Everden Road to the park’s entrance on Ava. Enter the park and you’ll see the children’s garden up on a small hill on your right hand side.

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