Yorklands Green Hub
On the site of the former Guelph Correctional Centre, 785 York Road Guelph, ON, Canada

If you have an interest in medicinal plants you might find this event of interest.

One of the biggest legal environmental ideas out there is that nature itself might have rights - to being protected, safe from destruction, essential to the survival of all life. Here's a documentary that invites you to watch and ponder this notion of the extension of legal rights to non-human entities. https://www.youtube.com/watch

The Ontario Reformatory, the heritage site part of which we envision as the home of the Yorklands Green Hub, was taken over by the Military Hospital Commission as the Guelph Military Convalescent Hospital from 1917 to 1921. Locally known as Speedwell Hospital, it offered disabled veterans vocational training in agriculture, woodworking and motor mechanics to prepare them for a successful transition back to civilian life. #remembrance day #Guelph Nov 11th #OntarioReformatory #OntarioRemembanceDay #Yorklands

Ideas for diverse sustainability-related educational projects are exciting to watch for as we envision the range of research and teaching opportunities at the Yorklands site. Here's one from Cambridge, beside the Grand River, an Indigenous food forest garden.

If you didn't make it to our live ARTSPIRATION 2020 exhibit of beautiful works by local artists, here are a few shots of the show at 10C Shared Space that closed on Saturday, October 30. Artspiration continues as an on-line auction, with the works each displayed on our website, and a link to the auction site to place your bids. We hope you'll visit the on-line show, and view these multi-media creations, many generously donated so the proceeds from the auction can support YGH's continuing work to acquire and protect 70 acres of beautiful Guelph parkland and create an environmental learning centre. We greatly appreciate your participation in and support for our vision. The on-line auction runs at yorklandsgreenhub.ca/art-at-yorklands (click on the menu tab to see the lists of artists) until Friday, November 6th.

Saturday's the last day for our ARTSPIRATION 2020 live show at 10C Shared Space in Guelph. If you're downtown, drop in and see if there's a beautiful little piece of art that would be just the thing to add to your decor. The show will be attended by YGH staff from 1 to 4 pm. Bidding in the on-line auction continues until November 6, and all of the works may be viewed on the Yorklands Green Hub website at the address on the poster. Your acquisition of one of these pieces supports YGH's efforts to secure and protect a beautiful piece of heritage green space for Guelph future.

Once again, it's ARTSPIRATION time at the Yorklands Green Hub! This year, despite covid restrictions, we've found a way to continue with our exhibit and auction sale of beautiful artwork by talented Guelph artists. Our goal is to convey the beauty and history and uniqueness of Guelph's Yorklands through the work of artists invited to use this site as their inspiration. And this year, many of the artists have offered to donate their work, so much of the proceeds will go to support the Yorklands Green Hub in working to keep 70 acres of this unique land as a parkland site for a sustainable environments centre. Consider treating yourself to an original artwork that will help maintain our work in seeking to preserve green space and sustainability in our beautiful city.

Willowbank Hall, the gatehouse to the Yorklands site (the former Ontario Reformatory), wearing dramatic fall colours (Norah Chaloner, photo). It's a lovely time to walk as the seasons change in this unique urban green space we hope to preserve for Guelph.

Heritage stonework at the Yorklands Green Hubthe former Ontario Reformatory in Guelph. This beautiful stone wall was created by inmates a hundred years ago as part of skills-training, and is part of the longest stone wall in Ontario. University of Guelph history student, Gregory Stojanovski is studying the City Beautiful Movement's connection to this stonework.

Here's a story of a transformation for nature. A former landfill site has been covered to let grow into pollination site. https://www.guelphtoday.com//former-puslinch-landfill-site

Winds are up! Still time to make a kite and fly it for the beautiful nature at the Yorklands. See below.Winds are up! Still time to make a kite and fly it for the beautiful nature at the Yorklands. See below.

"Love is a tree, and lovers are its shade." -- Rumi A quotation left on one of the Yorklands trees to commemorate the value of trees on National Tree Day.

Maintaining soil quality in a time of changing climate will be essential to maintaining an adequate food supply. We need to educate ourselves on what this involves.

We thank everyone for their valuable contributions and participation. If you are a member, we would love your input. By filling out this 5-minute survey, you will be entered into a draw for a gift certificate from Wyndham Arts, The Bookshelf, or Wild Birds Unlimited. https://docs.google.com//1FAIpQLSfj_6OYeyS5SUeJB/viewform

Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 23, is National Tree Day. We invite you go for a walk during this week, and give a Yorklands tree a thought. National Tree Day is an annual event that celebrates of all the amazing and important things trees do for us: clean the air, stabilize the soil, shelter many species, provide food for wildlife, cool and beautify our cities, absorb carbon dioxide ... and much more. Our urban forest is part of our national forest. Guelph’s... tree canopy needs much increase. Celebrate the trees we have with us this week. Take a walk at the Yorklands -- and tie a thought, poem or quote on a little piece of paper to one of the Silver Maple Trees along the Blue Dot Trail. You'll see the trees that have a string tied around them to receive your thoughts. We have a plan to increase the diversity of species and plant hundreds more native trees at this site along the trails and edges. I think that I shall never see, a poem lovely as a tree. - Joyce Kilmer

Kites for Yorklands (and nature) are appearing! September winds have been rather fitful, but our intrepid kite flyers have been out testing their creations. Here are some of them! You've still got a week and a half to try your hand at kite-making - and/or kite-flying - and be part of our kites for Yorklands nature celebration! (And draw for prizes!) Fly your nature-themed kite and send us your picture(s) by September 30th to [email protected] #goflyakite #kitesforyorklands #kitesfornature

It's ARTSPIRATION time of year at the Yorklands Green Hub. A beautiful season to get out and draw some inspiration from the natural world at Guelph's Yorklands, and be part of our annual art show and sale. Thanks to Christopher Cape who has shown his beautiful work in previous years - for this lovely example of plein air painting. We're accepting small artworks whatever your medium - until September 30th.

Did you make a kite and aren't sure what makes it fly? Here's a little tip about adding the "bridle" to get your kite on the right angle for its flight - it's a line or extension that you add your flying line to. You may also need a tail to stabilize it. There are lots of websites with tips about kite-building if you have more questions. It's exciting when your kite takes flight! https://publiclab.org//lfam/8-15-2012/diamond-kite-bridles

CALLING ALL ARTISTS! We want your work! Deadline to submit is SEPT 30. Art can be any size/medium and revolve around nature based themes/anything at Yorklands. Exhibition and auction will be Oct 16 -31!... Contact [email protected] to submit.

There's still time to participate in our KITES FOR YORKLANDS event! Take the plunge and build your own nature-themed kite (it's fun!). Take it out for a flight in your favourite park (NOT the Yorklands due to airspace safety near the Airpark) during the beautiful remaining September days. Email us photos of your build, kite and flight, and you'll be entered in our draw for gift vouchers. For all ages: households, families, classes or groups. Join in our kite-flying celebration (with your pictures) of nature in the city. Please take precautions and observe social distancing during covid-19. Deadline for entries is September 30, 2020. Visit our website for more details and ideas - yorklandsgreenhub.ca/kite-flying-event-at-yorklands

Second Sunday Yorklands Walks are back! In person. The first one will take place this Sunday, September 13 at 2:00 pm. Meet at the entrance at 785 York Road. We will observe covid-19 safety measures, so participants must wear a mask, and we will practice social distancing. We'll hope you'll come out and enjoy some early-fall landscapes with us.

For you local history/geography buffs here's a fascinating look at the Eramosa River and the railways that played such an important role in Guelph's development - including the old Reformatory lands' railroad bridges and corridors that made the OR farm a supplier of food and goods. A series of beautiful photos by Troy Bridgeman. https://www.guelphtoday.com//rivers-and-rails-following-th