Native Plant Producers Society of Alberta
"Partners in Nativescaping"
2010
Based on the excellent results and feedback we gained from the 2009 pilot project, the Society is expanding its education and planting program for 2010.
Concept
"Partners
in Nativescaping" builds on the successful 2009 pilot project that provided
native plants to homeowners and philanthropic projects for low impact
landscaping. The Society developed partnerships with groups and individuals to
place over 6,000 native plants into school areas, private yards and commercial
sites. By increasing the awareness and interest in sustainable landscaping
practices, the pilot project has provided the foundation for the Society’s next
program.
Goals
●
Provide
individuals, community groups and companies the opportunity to utilize native
plants.
●
Increase the awareness among Albertans about native plant communities as a
sustainable alternative to conventional landscaping through
education and practical experience. Albertans will gain practical, hands-on
knowledge of native plant communities through an expert-guided implementation
process.
●
Provide plant material for
the establishment of demonstration sites.
Community benefits center on publicly accessible
demonstration sites for education about native plants and their contribution to
community sustainability. These sites will be ‘living laboratories’ where
Society members may teach community members low impact methods of native plant
landscaping. The sharing of knowledge will increase awareness of the ecological
benefits and the beauty of Alberta’s natural plant wealth.
Individuals will learn about sustainable landscaping
options. They will have the opportunity to enhance and improve their yards with
beneficial species using sustainable practices. The Society will supply them
with a support network to connect with others, answer questions and knowledge
share.
The Society will benefit by breaking down the barriers to
using native plants across all sectors of Alberta society (individuals,
communities, industry and business). Providing practical low impact landscaping
solutions will enhance the visibility, networking capacity, reputation and
increase membership in the Society. This will increase the speed at which the
overall native plant industry can grow and contribute directly to Alberta’s
green economy.
The Society
will purchase, at reduced costs, native plant material from its members and from
non-members. These plants will be provided free, or at a reduced cost.
Individual homeowners will receive up to 150 native plant
plugs free as part of the “Balancing Aesthetics and Ecology: Sustainable
Landscaping” course.
Non-profit organizations, schools, and community-based groups
can receive up to 1,500 free native plants plugs. Representatives from these
groups can participate in the Society’s “Balancing Aesthetics and Ecology:
Sustainable Landscaping” course, and the plants provided can be directed to
their respective projects. Each representative will pay the fee for the course.
Commercial and municipal participants must form a partnership
with a non-profit or community group, on a philanthropic project, in order to be
eligible for this program. Commercial participants include landscape architects,
engineering firms, land development companies and other firms involved in
landscaping and development.
All participants can purchase additional native plant plugs
for $.75 each.
THANKS TO ALL OUR PARTNERS IN THIS PROGRAM
FOR 2010. RESPONSE HAS BEEN TERRIFIC! PROGRAM IS NOW FULL FOR 2010, PLEASE
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION EARLY FOR 2011. SEE BELOW.
The Society will be
purchasing approximately 70,000 native plant plugs in 2010 in order to maximize
the impact and effect of this program. The plant plugs will be mixed native
flowers and grasses together, suited for open sunny areas, in flats of 72 or 96 plugs.
To learn more about the plants
click here. Plant plugs containing mixed
species were the most popular, by far in 2009, plus this delivery method
simplifies the production, design and implementation phases while maintaining
ecological diversity. Our volunteers are here to help you in all phases of
your projects, so please contact us with any questions about the plants and
their uses, plus the program itself.
nativescape@telus.net
A Governance Committee will
determine the potential projects and sites that best suit the overall goals of
the program and the community at large.
Governance Committee
This committee will be made up of
volunteers with a connection to native plant material issues and a strong sense
of community involvement.
To submit an application (NOW FOR 2011) click here
We would like to thank the following organizations for
their support and effort in making this program a success:
Alberta Conservation and Parks Association
Alberta Horticultural Association
Alberta Low Impact Development Partnership
Brazeau County
County of Strathcona
Edmonton Naturalization Group
Kalyna Country Ecomuseum
Lac Ste. Anne County
Lamont County
Mundare Communities in Bloom
Parkland Conservation Farm
Rethink Red Deer
Urban Systems Foundation
West Central Conservation Association
Woodlands County
Yellowhead County
