Petition in Support of Native Plant Gardens and By-law Reform

344 people have signed this petition.

Date	First Name	Comments
Dec-24	buyshoes
Nov-08	Dick	We established a native plant garden two years ago on our small front yard. The Norway Maple was replaced by a Bur Oak. We have been delighted with the result. We now have a steady community of insects and birds where before there were non. We leave the seed heads on through the fall and flocks of migrant birds feed off them.The numbers of bees that flowers like Asters and Joe Pye weeds attract has really astonished us. Some might call it untidy; for us it's a part of the natural environment!
Oct-15	Marion
Sep-17	bornross	�
Sep-16	dobowlenrenal	�
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Sep-12	welfordmode	�
Sep-10	itelmancoll	�
Sep-10	otrembamerle	�
Sep-10	htensteidong	�
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Sep-09	hcolvinkhal
Sep-09	abronstadshain	�
Sep-09	cteaupete	�
Sep-04	cervenyreyna
Jul-04	Avril	Protecting and planting Native Species is not only important for environmental conservation but includes protecting communities health through the various medicinal species utilized for hundreds of years. We must ensure access to wild medicine continues via propagation and wild genetic preservation.
Apr-25	Dick	Two years ago we removed our front lawn and replaced it with a native plant garden. We also had the city remove the Norway Maple and plant a Bur Oak. It is the first native plant garden on our short street and neighbours have expressed only interest and encouragement. I am hopeful that others may take our lead. In the spring and summer it is definitely an excellent resource for pollinators--both birds and bees. If more homeowners were encouraged to do this the collective result would be good!
Mar-27	June	I live in a community that is all about appearance. Our front yards have to look a certain way. However, no one sees my backyard and I try to make it as native as possible. We moved here 20 yrs. ago and at the time I didn't even own a houseplant much less know about native gardening. If I had, I would have never chosen to live here. I would love to see laws change everywhere and people be awarded instead of punished for native gardens in neighborhoods like mine.
Feb-10	Heidi	I have a native plant garden and will continue to make habitat for the birds and insects in my community. I hope you will see the bennifit in creating native habitat.
Jan-30	Josh	When you plant native species, you're fostering generations of local biodiversity for everyone!
Jan-22	Mary
Jan-15	Eva	I have been gardening with native plants for the past 15 years with much education NANPS. No matter where you go ( I know live in rural southwestern ontario) it is always a challenge to convince traditional gardeners to 'go wild' but I'm working on it!
Dec-06	BURCU
Oct-02	Lorrie
Sep-10	Rebecca
Aug-11	Catherine
Jul-28	melanie	At a time when we're concerned about declining bee and monarch populations, supporting the planting of native plants in local yards, properties and landscapes is one way to help sustain ecological diversity in the city - of both flora and fauna. Please consider changing city bylaws and policies to support this!
Jun-23	ERNESTINE	It is of prime importance especially at this time, to update City Policy re environmental gardens in the City are actively promoted. Aesthetically, some native plants may not be as attractive as others, however, the health of our planet must play a leading role in our ecosystem. E. (Buffy) Mullin
Jun-16	Deborah	Wildflowers are decorative, ornamental, beautiful, beautifying, and beneficial to wildlife. I hope I never see or hear of a natural or native wildflower garden destroyed by the City. If neighbours object, perhaps education is key. Thank you for enlightened policies.
May-16	Linda	The City of Toronto has voiced strong support for green initiatives which will give us a healthier environment. All urban trees being planted now are native. Rainspouts are being disconnected. There are no more lawn pesticides and fertilizers. It is time to ensure that bylaws are respected, and that native plant gardeners are to be supported. I invite you to my native plant garden on Palmerston. I've never received a complaint, only compliments.
May-06	Sean
May-05	Anne	My City representative Joe Mihevc is well aware of my views and my fears concerning native gardening. To have to request a by-law exemption to act in a fashion that benefits the environment is simply bizarre. Instead of punishing gardeners like Deborah Dale, the City might want to consider an awareness campaign to help educate those who have the mindset that led to the complaint against her native plant garden in the first place. Thanks for the opportunity to comment.
May-03	Rachelle
Apr-09	Joan
Feb-24	Marco	I think this is an important issue and would like to see these policies updated to discourage the cultivation of natural gardens. marco timpano
Feb-21	Heidi
Feb-19	Andrew	Native plant gardens should not only be promoted but designed in accordance with the natural characteristics of each area or property; they are lower maintenance, and beneficial for struggling local wildlife. As urban dwellers we have a skewed and detached view of nature that I can only hope is becoming more inclusive to the needs of life beyond humans. Andrew Nelson
Feb-15	Zach	I, the undersigned, ask that the City (staff, departments, Council) review and update their departmental policies and bylaws in order to ensure environmental gardens are actively promoted, supported, and not subject to unwarranted harassment, regulation and destruction.
Jan-29	Isik
Jan-12	Alex
Jan-12	Ellen	Natural gardens are beautiful to look at and wonderful for humans,birds and bees. At a time when we are so very concerned about the environment, people should be encouraged to have natural gardens rather than the concrete replacements and gardens that use a lot polluting energy and noise (gas movers and leaf blowers) to maintain their gardens.
Jan-12	Brenda
Jan-12	Leslie
Jan-11	Alejandro	It is beyond belief that the City of Toronto, the "City within a Park" is trying to enforce these totally outdated and retrograde bylaws.
Jan-11	Walter
Jan-11	Sharon	I can not believe that the City of Toronto, which claims to be a "green" jurisdiction, would actually penalize its citizens for taking positive steps with native plant gardens and trees. Total hipocracy.
Jan-11	Loretta	The North American Native Plant Society has done tremendous work for the Environment... to have Native Plants encourages birds, butterflies, bees etc.. the more we have the better for our health, mental health, food production because of pollination. NO chemicals, safe for children, pets.. NO need for City Water, they are drought tolerant.. No run off. No excess Garbage to ship off with stinky grass clippings.. Yard waste can be composted & free fertilzer..Consult experts before you decide.
Jan-06	Kevin	native plants are the way to go!
Dec-24	David	Native plants save water and provide habitat and food for birds and animals. You should be encouraging them
Dec-16	Anne	I attended one hearing in Scarborough about a garden destroyed by the city. A city manager made foolish arguments defending an error of a staff member. The citizens hearing the complaint automatically took the government side (probably a flaw in city organization). Someone working for the city to preserve habitat in Toronto did testify that fallen pine needles are not a fire hazard! The honest city response should have been to admit to an error and recompense for the damage.
Nov-23	Michelle	Right Hand meet Left Hand...it's time to get on the same page. Seriously, this smacks of Bureaucratic inefficiency and we need to make more noise so our city counsillors will make updating their policies and bylaws on the green gardening front a priority!
Nov-23	Michelle
Oct-27	Civi	Forcing individuals or neighbourhoods to plant exotic, often inappropriate species has several negative repercussions: 1. It is costly to maintain. 2. It is time consuming to maintain. 3. It very often does not provide habitat for beneficial insects, birds, and other creatures. We need to educate our neighbours on the beauty, practicality and benefits of native and wild flowers as well as naturalized landscapes.
Oct-03	ian	We need native plants to help out local wild life, and they are also less maintenance.
Jul-27	Karen
Jul-11	Chris
Jul-06	Lee
Jun-29	Elaine
Jun-25	christy	The importance of supporting, encouraging, and respecting native gardens in Toronto is paramount to a city that supports, encourages, and respects the environment. A city that looks to the future ought, albeit must, embrace all efforts; legislation against pesticides, funding native and sustainable green community activities and equip citizens to reduce our use of resources and our improve our ability to reduce our waste - the list is endless and must include native gardening. peace, chris...
Jun-08	Robert
May-08	Dawn	This by-law is so incredibly out of date and inconsistent with Toronto's environmental agenda, I can hardly believe it is still in existence. Please do your part to update it so native plant gardeners can be left in peace to participate in environmentally positive gardening.
May-05	Leandra	I support native plant gardens.
Apr-30	Dick
Apr-22	Erika
Apr-21	Marjut
Apr-13	Jenny
Apr-08	Marco	I believe that if promoted properly, the native gardens would be a beautiful asset to our city's ecology.
Apr-05	jennifer	Toronto should be encouraging everyone to use native plants in their garden as much as possible and not making this more difficult. It is good for the city as it reduces water use and it is good for all forms of native wildlife.
Mar-31	Stacie	"The first rule of intelligent tinkering is to not lose any of the parts." If we hope to put our ecosystems back together in some functioning semblance in the future, we need to allow our native plants to survive in our midst. Please help us keep these important pieces of our environment. Stacie
Mar-27	Carol
Mar-27	Janet zhi yun
Mar-27	Paula
Mar-26	Abbey	a good place to start promoting native plant gardening would be in our parks, instead of planting exotic annuals that are costly to produce and maintain!
Mar-26	Eric	It is unconscionable that those who choose more environmentally-friendly, region-appropriate planting strategies for their lawns and gardens be harassed and/or have their gardens destroyed because of those choices.
Mar-26	Nonie
Mar-26	Helen
Mar-26	Lang
Mar-26	janise
Mar-26	Chloe
Mar-26	Sabrina
Mar-26	Sarah
Mar-26	Risa Alyson
Mar-26	Maria
Mar-24	Susanne
Mar-19	Christine
Mar-19	Beth
Mar-18	talia	It is absurd that there is a need to petition the city for 'allowing' environmental gardens...It is time for you to lead and create bylaws that encourage and regulate the absolute imperative to green up the urban landscape.
Mar-16	Cheryl	I fully support this petition. I have just converted to a native plant front yard at great time, expense and with great care. I would be absolutely appalled to have the City counter my environmentally-essential measures.
Mar-14	Denise
Mar-10	Giuliana	We should be able to have the right to plant and garden in this city wherever possible. You cannot put a price on nature, it was here before the city mainframes and the concrete jungle. It is here to stay no matter how many laws the city subjects environmental gardens to. Instead of working over nature, we should learn to work with it.
Mar-10	Rachael	Native plants are important to the biodiversity of our region, and gardeners should be encouraged to create habitats for native pollinators and birds, and preserve the plant species that are the heritage of our region.
Mar-09	Norman	Harassment of gardeners by uninformed neighbours is perhaps a bigger problem than actions by uninformed City staff. Certain areas in Toronto (ex. Little Portugal, where I live) are dominated by long-time residents who have traditionally treated nature as something to be controlled and patrolled. This vigilante mentality is fed by strong peer-pressure from the majority like-minded neighbours, further isolating the 'natural gardener'.
Mar-09	Matthew	Native plants are an essential part of our ecosystem, and for the city to waste its precious resources on harming that ecosystem is counterintuitive.
Mar-09	Leslie
Mar-09	Heather
Mar-09	Soraya
Mar-08	Thomas
Mar-07	karen	We either accept and encourage natural ecosystems or perish. There's no time left for such foolishness.
Mar-05	Wemdy	I would ask that the City of Toronto encourage more residents of this city to cultivate natural gardens. I plant my own and would not want to see the City of Toronto staff enter on my property with the purpose of destroying a natural habitant that I am trying to provide for more than one species (human). There are those of us who want to bring back into our lives the ecosystem that did once exist before pesticides, lawns and homogenity defined our way of living as the preferred and accepted.
Mar-03	Judit	I give my total support. How beautiful and livable the city would be with diverse, native plant gardens everywhere. We should all recognize the value in and appreciate all life forms however plain looking or inconspicuous they are. We are part of an ecosystem not above it. Let us not destroy our heritage, the ecosystem and ourselves with it.
Mar-01	Gwen
Mar-01	Karen
Feb-28	Daniel	Environmental gardens are a necessary feature of the Toronto landscape. I urge the City of Toronto to respect and even encourage their growth.
Feb-27	Livio
Feb-27	Peter
Feb-27	Opal	So ridiculous that "Mother Nature" is considered a "problem" and that many of the edibles, and healing plants are being mowed down. Having been born in Toronto, Try these weeds. Red Clover is a great blood cleanser. Dandelion is a great overall tonic, and beverage. Chicory is a great coffee substitute, as well as healthy. Comfrey if a bone knitter, and good for sports sprains and broken bones. Appreciate, dont depreciate Mother Nature.
Feb-27	Adrian	Natural gardens are the way to go. Down with 'perfect' lawns
Feb-27	Anna	Native species are vital to sustaining our environment. We need to educate students in schools about the benefits of planting gardens over lawns to help our habitat.
Feb-27	Ian
Feb-27	Sharon
Feb-23	jean	I am supporting the reform of the by-laws
Feb-19	Patricia	Native plants should have a huge place in our city. Gardeners that use them should be eligible for tax rebates.
Feb-18	Katherine
Feb-18	Liza	Naturalized gardens need love too!
Feb-17	Amanda
Feb-17	Veena
Feb-17	Sarah	Supporting native plant gardens is crucial for the environment. Updating our policies in support of these landscapes is certainly necessary. Thanks.
Feb-17	Robin
Feb-16	Michael	I think it is disgraceful that any city would not be encouraging the growth of native plants in an effort to promote biodiversity. These same cities allow the planting and spread of non native invasive species that create mono cultures which will be the death of all of our wildlife.
Feb-15	George A.	As a volunteer coordinator at a community garden, I see firsthand the value of having a range of native species plants to attract insects help pollinate the food plants.
Feb-15	Kyla	Oh, Canada, our home and native land... Native plants are an essential, indivisible part of our native land, and must be respected and fostered for all the flora and fauna and water conservation that such xeriscaping affords us all.
Feb-15	Lois	As a landscape architect, I believe use of Native Plants should be the norm. This can be aesthetically pleasing too...
Feb-14	prapti
Feb-14	Jim
Feb-13	Gwen	We have a vegetable garden with heritage plants
Feb-13	Alex	Let's celebrate diversity and the important ecological contributions made my those of us who cultivate native plants.
Feb-13	Jennifer
Feb-13	Carmen	I coordinated a community garden, we grow vegetables but also flowers and natives plants. Most of the participants are from the Latino community, they love to learn and appreciate the importance of conserving native plants. we encourage them to plant native plants in their own backyard.
Feb-13	Steve
Feb-13	Aaron
Feb-13	Stuart
Feb-13	Lisa
Feb-13	Maria	In the interest of preserving the natural ecosystem of Sourthern Ontario and providing forage and habitat for thousands of species of endangered Native pollinators, I urge the City of Toronto to actively encourage Native plant gardening. Such gardens require no fertilizers or pesticides and use less water than more formal or traditional yards. Thankyou
Feb-13	Michelle
Feb-13	Marion
Feb-13	Claudio	The legal ramifications of denying citizens their constitutional rights will cost millions in tax payers dollars. Considering the ecological, environmental, and overall social benefits native gardens provide, the city would be in derelict of its duty to the citizens of Toronto.
Feb-13	Janet
Feb-13	Julia
Feb-13	Kera	I don not want to see native plants destroyed. They are important to our city's ecosystem. Thank you.
Feb-13	Joanne
Feb-13	Ravenna
Feb-13	Karen
Feb-13	Gavin
Feb-13	Pamela
Feb-13	Oliver
Feb-13	Ernst	Supporting indigenous biodiversity is a lifeline for ecological stability because it re-enriches the demonstratedly appropriate,i.e.,safely durable, genetic operating base of the living environment that the rest of the planetary biosphere, including human beings, need to survive and thrive. It supports us -- we should support it and outgrow the neocolonial mentality which tries to limit life in Canada to the plant varieties of England;fill the urban ecology with benign natives to exclude weeds
Feb-13	Ernst	Supporting indigenous biodiversity is a lifeline for ecological stability because it re-enriches the demonstratedly appropriate,i.e.,safely durable, genetic operating base of the living environment that the rest of the planetary biosphere, including human beings, need to survive and thrive. It supports us -- we should support it and outgrow the neocolonial mentality which tries to limit life in Canada to the plant varieties of England;fill the urban ecology with benign natives to exclude weeds
Feb-12	Paula
Feb-12	Stephen
Feb-12	I-Ping	I fully support ecologically sound methods and benefits of gardening with our wonderful array of native plant species! Go for it Toronto! :0)
Feb-12	dagmar	Great idea whose time has come.
Feb-12	Zora	I am sure that City of Toronto is ready to change the attitude and do whatever it takes to revive the nature in the city. It is time for the change and to support what make sense. It is not about "life stile" it is about surviving. It is not about people it is about Mother Earthrs in front of the house.. I am promoting vegetables and edible flowers. maybe that can be accepted as a norm together with native gardens.
Feb-11	Glenn
Feb-11	Douglas	When my wife and I lived on Cambridge Avenue several years ago, we were given a City award, a free lunch, a plaque, and a DVD for having a "natural garden." Why does the City prosecute citizens who encourage native plants. Native plants are not weeds! DB
Feb-10	Alex	In an era of global warming it is even more important to plant native species that are tolerant of the local conditions and therefore require less water, chemicals etc. Nature has given us some wonderful home grown plants and fauna. The planting of native gardens should be encouraged, not abused.
Feb-10	Bill
Feb-09	Marilyn	I was horrified to read that a progressive city such as Toronto is taking the imperialistic and misguided action of destroying healthy native gardens while fostering alien plants and use of pesticides. It's past time for the city to educate its citizens (and leaders) about the misguided use of outdated gardening methods and alien plants.
Feb-08	Anne	My Councillor Joe Mihevc is well aware of my concerns about this issue. I look to Joe to bring my concerns forward and to actively and vocally support native plant gardeners in his constituency.
Jan-25	Andrea
Jan-24	Kimberly
Jan-19	Wilma
Jan-12	r
Jan-04	Kimberly
Jan-02	John
Jan-02	Liz	Some landscapers & gardeners are known to have a problem with these new bi-laws: I am one of many who applaud these measures. It is good to have the law on your side when one trying to support a client's right to plant an indigenous-style garden ... on the other hand, as a gardener, I am now able to refuse a clients request to use harmful pesticides...this benefits my health and the law is on my side.
Nov-30	john	the city of TO needs toface reality-polution;global warming etc and look into the future of canada.are they scared of facing the real world?
Nov-24	Leslie
Nov-24	Glenn
Nov-10	Nancy
Nov-09	Ash	I cannot believe that the City of Toronto would deliver such a stab in the back to a community member who has given her expertise to help the city with their pesticide bylaws. Is this how you repay good help? As a practicing ecologist/biologist, this is a good reminder NOT to help the city of Toronto. It's time to update your bylaws, boys.
Oct-27	Sam	I fully support the CLIMATE CHANGE,CLEAN AIR & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ACTION PLAN!
Oct-20	Lindsay
Oct-12	Jim	How many times do we have to go through this? Mr Miller Is a friend.Why are you harrasing us? I am the founder of the society. Get with us!
Sep-30	Karen	As the second place recipient of the 2005 Toronto Natural Garden Award, I was appalled at the action taken by the Bylaws staff to remove Deborah Dale's native garden. These people need to be educated on the value of these gardens, and have Parks Department staff actively involved in the assessment of gardens in question. Environmental benefits are numerous, and far outweigh the personal perspective if something is aesthetically pleasing or not.
Sep-21	Cameron
Sep-17	Anne	The City of Toronto should be promoting native gardens as a replacement for the traditional lawn, especially in terms of reducing water use.
Sep-10	Tena	I attended a lecture by the City of Toronto on adopting and beautifying orphaned land. Ironically the next day, I was told by a bylaw officer to remove the plants on my boulevard. My grasses were considered equivalent to the cedar hedge one of my neighbours planted on her blvd. After my 3 warnings, I removed the plants and three years later the blvd. remains mud and weeds. 'Clean and beautiful Toronto', ha!
Sep-01	Rosemary
Aug-27	Karen
Aug-03	Bev
Jul-28	Maria	Survival of Native pollinators is crucial to OUR survival, and the industrially farmed, monocultured countryside is now hostile to their survival. Remember, even domesticated honey bees are starving to death, as well as falling victim to agricultural pesticides. As I learned at the Pollinator conference hosted by Guelph University last March, these essential insects now do better in vegetationally rich urban areas than they do in the endless cornfields of our farmland. Please educate yourselve
Jul-28	Jackie	It is very frustrating to those of us who care, to find our governments advocating things like 'butterfly gardens' out of one branch, and listing half the species of a butterfly garden in a list of 'noxious weeds' in another branch. I strongly urge the Council to update the bylaws!!
Jul-26	PAUL
Jul-18	Rosemary	The City of Toronto should be doing more to encourage natural gardens, NOT razing gardens and NOT requiring people to get special permission to grow gardens that are better for the environment and place fewer demands on the municipal water supply etc.
Jul-17	Jane	Toronto should be in the forefront of encouraging the restoration and development of green spaces. Individuals can make an important contribution with even a small spot being given to native plant species. I moved from Toronto 10 years ago to this tiny hamlet where my habitat-diversified 1/4 acre is devoted to native plants with amazingly beautiful results, both in beauty of the plants and the attraction of birds, small animals, frogs & toads, and myriad insects: a healthy environment for all!
Jul-15	William	Time to learn new ways besides ticky tacky all in a row great metropolitan ways..native plants are valid sources of enjoyment and efficatious medicines to many people who do not agree that domesticated seeds are the only way to go..the past centuries have shown that the eurocentric view is shallow and total destruction to natural places and native plants, not to mention native peoples who flourished millenia without your "help" or by laws..actung !
Jul-14	Maureen	I also cultivate native plants in my sandy soil. I have found them to be more drought tolerant (less watering), and less in need of fertilizer (so they contribute less to algae growth in Lake Ontario). I don't need pesticides because they tolerate insect activity, having evolved in the presence of North American insects. They even tolerate the heavy nibbling of rabbits. David Miller and City Council, it is now time to re-educate Toronto staff about the NEED for biodiversity in our gardens.
Jul-09	Leah
Jul-02	Terra
Jun-03	Louise
May-21	Kerry Anne	We need more wild plants and less pesticide use or herbicide use in our gardens. Not everyone has the money for the upkeep of expensive lawns. Besides they use up to much water and need cutting regularly
May-20	Kwan Ho	This city talks green, but it's by-laws are still in the dark ages.
May-13	cynthia	please put your money where your mouth is. how can you promote environmental gardening and sell the city as green while city staff decimates the native gardens of citizens who are truly committed to the betterment of the city, the lake and the local environment in general?
May-13	Margery	With the bylaw prohibiting the cosmetic use of pesticides in full force, I've noticed a resurgence of butterflies, bees, and native birds in my back garden. Let's go one step further by promoting naturalized gardens that support wildlife.
May-11	linda
May-05	Sarah	I am signing this petition because I strongly believe the necessity to inform and educate the public on the importance of recreating habitats for native wildlife in Ontario. In my own street there have been five mature Silver Maple trees chopped down in the last year and no attempt to replant. These beautiful big trees provided shade whilst walking down the street as well as host to many birds and local wildlife.
May-03	Patricia
May-02	Anne	In times of increasing water shortages and the new regulations on pesticides for lawns, it is critical that residents all over Ontario be allowed and encouraged to grow native plant gardens. Such gardens create habitat for insects, birds and other wildlife, as well as beautifying neighbourhoods. City staff must become informed on native plants and know what is truly a "weed". The noxious weed list also needs updating.
Apr-28	Elizabeth	I feel strongly that native and naturalized gardening should be promoted. There is still a strong favour shown for an overly green and perfect lawn which is not only water-greedy, but more often than not has been attained by means of pesticide use. Native gardens not only thrive with less maintenance, they contribute to the wellbeing of our sensitive eco-system.
Apr-23	Emily	The time is well past when the City should be on board about this issue.
Apr-20	JoAnn	Green Toronto with Native Plants. Show initiative! Less water more Green.
Apr-18	Gregory	If global warming and peak oil are in our future, measures such as native gardening are one of the things that will help.
Apr-15	Usha	The city should ensure consistent support for native gardens.
Apr-14	Yolanda
Apr-07	Stephan	I strongly agree with the idea of updating the environmental policies of the city of Toronto facing natural gardens. Toronto population should have the right to create a natural garden on their property. Toronto city should be an example for all the other canadian cities. Act locally but think globally!
Apr-07	A
Apr-06	Amanda
Mar-25	Manon	I'm a former resident of Toronto and a native plant gardener. I've attended lectures promoting the use of native plants for water conservation given by the City of Toronto. Is the City sending a mixed message or is it just confused?
Mar-18	Margaret	I grow and sell native plants and seeds. There is an unmet and increasing demand for them because of their natural hardiness, which helps save water and avoid chemical intervention. When I landscaped in Toronto my Riverdale clients were all for removing lawns and installing naturalized gardens. It would be a future of law suits if the City came along and mowed down gardens they paid dearly to have installed and cared for - let alone the fact some of the species they may mow down are endangered.
Mar-12	Mike	>> Environmental gardens have been, and still are, subject to extreme measures by City staff responding to complaints, and gardeners are being harassed by uninformed neighbours who do not recognize the importance of natural gardens... >> This has to be stopped! It's time for Toronto to update its policies and bylaws which are discouraging the cultivation of natural gardens.
Mar-11	Christine	I am personally undertaking efforts to help plant native plants, trees and shrubs in my garden. I understand that Toronto has made some progressive actions to target a reduction in our impact on the environment (which is particularly challenging and even more important as an urban centre). I hope that the city can do more to promote native gardens in both city-controlled and public areas. Perhaps this area could benefit from educational campaigns on behalf of the city.
Mar-07	brendan	Please do this in all towns Cheers
Mar-06	Laura
Mar-03	kathy	I think the key word here is "tending." A neighbourhood yard, natural or otherwise does need tending to prevent it from looking derelict or neglected. Guidance on how and where to plant would be beneficial. (eg: tall grasses by the sidewalk encourage litter). Information booklets with photos showing examples of successful urban native gardens should be distributed free to every household.
Mar-03	Andrew
Mar-01	Sara
Feb-29	Kristin
Feb-29	Lorraine
Feb-27	Jill
Feb-21	Chris
Feb-21	Dalia
Feb-21	Dianne
Feb-15	Paula	Grass lawns are really a terrible eye-sore for so many reasons. It really is time for the City to support native gardens, important factors in mitigating climate change and in moderating city temperatures. No need to leave that solely to our aging tree stock.
Feb-15	jackie	Why would the City rush in to stop someone from doing something that promotes human and environmental health, on her own property??? Native plants are beloved by many. A suggestion: rather than encouraging neighbourhood fights, ill health and a one-look-fits-all approach, the City should pull up its enviro socks and start to educate citizens about the benefits of using native plants. I would be pleased to assist the City in coming up with a fun strategy that promotes good, healthful gardenin
Feb-09	Sheilah	I don't have native garden yet, but the bones of a hedgegrow are in. I'm going to feed all the poor wild animals and birds who come through our fence from the 'greenspace' on the other side.
Feb-04	Stephanie
Jan-31	Soraya	The City of Toronto's position seems untenable given the City's own policies encouraging natural garden care, the preservation of local wildlife, and the general movement among our citizens towards ecologically sound living.
Jan-30	Blake	If the City is serious about its Climate Change, Clean Air & Sustainable Energy Action Plan, it should be encouraging natural gardening. I garden naturally to attract wildlife--butterflies, birds, bats, etc., as well as to conserve water. A flourishing natural flora and fauna in urban areas is the best indicator of a healthy environment for humans.
Jan-27	Daniel	Ecological landscaping is essential to preserving healthy living neighborhoods in the Municipality of not only Toronto - but world-wide. The benefits far outweigh the drawbacks (of which I believe are non-existent). In today's society, ecological rehabilitation is KEY in a world where more and more species are being thrown on the 'endangered' list. As a Canadian citizen, we all have the RIGHT to do our part in ecological preservation. These by-laws are backwards and MUST be changed.
Jan-21	Stephanie	Set the flowers free!
Jan-19	Paco
Jan-17	Frances
Jan-16	Peter
Jan-16	Mary	Native plants are hardier, require less water and support bird life. Therefore any natural planting should be encouraged.
Jan-16	Gail	I support native plant gardening in Toronto. I hope that Toronto will update its by-laws to permit people to respect native plant gardening. I also hope that the sale and use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes will be curtailed.
Jan-16	Margaret	Naturalized gardens on private property are important for the environment and should be encouraged. I also find them more attractive than mown lawns. If a permit is needed it should be made very easy to obtain and we should all be informed about how to apply.
Jan-16	Bob	Relative to lawns, gardens with a variety of plants reduce the rate of runoff, with all the associated benefits noted in Toronto Water's Wet Weather Flow Master Plan. To the extent these are native plants, they also maximize benefits to native fauna.
Jan-14	Don	Policies and bylaws inhibiting the installation of natural gardens are anachronistic. In 2007 we are abundantly familiar with the damage traditional lawns and lawn care practices visit on the environment. Additionally, typical city lawns are boring, unidimensional landscapes that support precious little biodiversity. Nature is on her heals in the modern era. The healthy response is to invite her back, to nourish and protect her diverse elements through native plant gardening.
Jan-10	Shari
Jan-10	Gail
Jan-09	Howard	Lets have a green plan that allows responsible citizens like us to grow natural native plant gardens on boulevarde land (for free, I might add) instead of harrassing us and destroying our gardens because of the complaint of one misinformed neighbor. Thats how it would be in a democracy.
Jan-04	Jacquie
Dec-20	Colleen
Dec-20	John
Dec-20	Adrienne
Dec-17	Sharon
Dec-13	Garry	I believe it will become more essential to use more drought toterant native plants as water becomes a more valued commodity in the near future.
Dec-13	Elaine
Dec-13	Lillian
Dec-12	Werner	Werner VALENTIN
Dec-12	Mary	Please update your information concerning using native plants in our gardens. They are an important part of our environment and not pests or weeds. Your position is so out of date with current wisdom: your heavy handed application of an out-dated by-law is also regretable.
Dec-10	MARTIN	I am appalled at the sheer lack of informed and educated staff within the the City of Toronto who have taken it upon themselves to illegally act against residents whom have opted to tend native species on their property and the adjacent boulevard area. This has already cost the City taxpayer substantial awards to residents who have successfully sued the City of Toronto in related matters. The City of Toronto needs has comform to the law!
Dec-05	Sophia
Dec-02	Caitlin	It is ridiculous that on the one hand city council is 'greenish' and making elaborate plans to renaturalize our city and on the other hand they are punishing people who are doing us all a public service by preserving native biodiversity, providing habitat and beauty. We need to support native plant gardeners not defeat them.
Nov-30	Lynne
Nov-29	Catherine	I fully endorse changes to city bylaws which will support the creation and long term viability of native plant gardens on private and public lands in the city of Toronto. (At the same time bylaws that threaten such gardens must be overturned.) There must be a change in expectations about what a garden should look like and do if we are to be successful in repairing environmental damage and not to continue to rely on chemical interventions to sustain unnatural landscapes.
Nov-29	jeffrey	As you know, the City has taken action against Ms. Dale by cutting down a native plant garden. I am a lawyer and I am convinced that the actions of the City in this matter are unlawful. The city's actions have resulted in the City now having potential liability to Ms. Dale.
Nov-29	ALEXANDRINA
Nov-29	Jackie	This is a process, this re-acquainting we humans with our natural habitat. Civilization has achieved a lot; improved well-being for more people - at a cost to the planet. People who are not yet aware of the benefits of native plants see our 'messy' gardens as an unattractive backward step. On the contrary: being able to freely revel in our native gardens of Eden is not regressive; it is progress measured by feelings of joy and appreciation and a sense of creating a more harmonious planet for al
Nov-29	Mary & Clive	We were under the impression that the City of Toronto supported and promoted gardens that enhanced the environment by eliminating pesticides and through the planting of native plants that were endangered species, or supported bird and insect populations in the urban environment. Despite examples supporting the above, the City has now chosen for some reason to destroy the valuable native plant garden of Deborah Dale, behind her back, in an uncivilized and ruthless action. Please correct this no
Nov-28	Diana	The recent action taken by Toronto city staff against the natural garden nurtured by Deborah Dale is appalling to all Ontarians who are also trying to help sustain our environment by growing plants adapted to our climate. These plants do not need watering, fertilizers, and pesticides to sustain them, and are far less harmful than lawns and foreign plants, along with the real weeds that come with them. Native plants are vitally important for the sustainability of our natural habitat.
Nov-28	Jim	Such a shame that the city should betray its own citizens without regret or apology.
Nov-28	court
Nov-28	Jodi
Nov-27	Erica	Please protect our right to grow beautiful, wild and native gardens! These kinds of gardens are beneficial in so many ways to protecting our environment through less use of water, habitat and food for birds, insects and animals, and are very beautiful. They are not only to people who live in the city but the birds and other creatures who call this home.
Nov-27	Jennifer	Promote and protect environmental gardens!
Nov-27	Chris	In this day and age, environmentally responsible practices should be legislated, not legislated against! -Chris
Nov-26	Carol
Nov-26	Alice	I ask the city of Toronto to admit it made a mistake so it can quit wasting time and taxpayer’s money. Deborah Dale should be applauded for tending a garden without chemicals and tapwater and providing habitat. It is hard to believe that trees/shrubs and perennials in bloom were cut down without notification. Whose garden will be next?
Nov-26	Dominic	What's next? Astroturf lawns?
Nov-26	Elisabeth	I am strongly in support of returning Nature to our city/cities. The native plant garden idea is an excellent one, allowig to solve and prevent many problems at once. Natural gardens have the outmost importance to environmental health and citizens'well-being. Elisabeth Gladkowski
Nov-26	Daniel
Nov-26	James	I urge the City of Toronto to apologize to Deborah Dale for the unjustified destruction of her unique garden, and to stop showing contempt for our justice system and our community's diversity by updating the relevant policies and bylaws. Just do the right thing--is that so difficult?
Nov-26	Wayne and Lynda
Nov-26	David	Environmental gardens are increasingly becoming the new standard and are trendy. For example, in Arizona, these are strongly encouraged by cities and the state. Further I suggest you seem to be contravening national and international agreements that protect native plants, particularly rare and endangered ones. These agreements protect our future. I challenge you to protect our ecological future as well. Please reverse you position. Stop harming ecological gardens. Promote them.
Nov-26	Zoe
Nov-26	Gabrielle
Nov-26	Flora
Nov-26	R
Nov-26	Peter	The same type of harassment by city of people who choose to have natural gardens and meadows on their property is happening in Halifax.
Nov-26	Suzanne	Complaints about natural and native gardens no longer have any merit at all, on any grounds. Please bring sanity to the laws. Thank you!
Nov-26	Marney	Yes, we need more natural growth everywhere, city, suburb and country. Humans have to get away from the grossly misplaced notion that nature is ours to control. We need to learn to live WITH the natural world and not set out to destroy it.
Nov-26	Mike
Nov-26	Barry
Nov-25	Wendy
Nov-25	Janet
Nov-25	Miles
Nov-25	Jeffrey	Seems to me the City is contradicting its own policies, and to a detrimental effect! I whole heartedly support the intent of this petition and would encourage the City to not only welcome the use of native plants, but also encourage natural gardens on public AND private property!
Nov-25	Austin	Its strange that the city when replanting trees enforces native local species only. Unfortunately the city employs a load of bully boys. Whos main job is to make live miserable for people who to make a positive difference for society. These are the white trucks you see parked in secluded areas filled with tobacco smoke. A .Jeffries
Nov-25	Austin
Nov-25	Jill
Nov-25	Mara	I think that native gardens on private property should be encourages and supported not mowed down. Such attacks on homeowners are a deplorable waste of taxpayers money.
Nov-25	Jacquie
Nov-24	Linda
Nov-24	carol
Nov-24	Mike	Once again this seems like a typical case of civil servants clearly having their own agenda. This shows, without question that our municipal politicians are weak kneed, with a determined lack of resolve, to do even the most simple intagration of by-law changes and control of the departments which are meant to reflect the PUBLICS views and desires.
Nov-24	Maryse
Nov-23	Charles	The most despicable thing about this “decision” is that it is in the hands of a ‘secret’ group of ‘citizens’ who comprise a board that is not listed publicly (on the City of Toronto’s website or anywhere else) and are accountable to no one. And, yet they have the power of storm troopers - to operate outside the law and the stated regulations of the City and destroy your private property. Very frightening to realize that this type of fascist regime exists in Canada.
Nov-23	James	It is your private property and the fact that the government entered and then destroyed Debs garden is atrocious.
Nov-23	Sharon
Nov-23	Lisa	We should have the right to grow whatever plants we want on our private property, especially if it is a native plant that belongs in Ontario. It is the sterile lawns and foreign plants that don't belong. Where are our native song birds going to sleep? What berries & nuts are the wildlife going to eat? What nectar is the butterfly and hummingbird going to eat? What's next to be taken away? The right to grow vegetable gardens, because we aren't supporting the local stores and they look "unkempt
Nov-23	Janet	As a Canadian, I declare that it is my right to grow the Native Plants of Canada in my garden. Take note all gardeners - this is not just an issue with native gardens - all gardens are at risk to the City scythe. Everyone should be concerned with the questionable tactics of the City to render their view, or should I say, the view of a select few automatons employed by the City. Time to jettison the dictatorial system and re-embrace democracy.
Nov-23	Andie
Nov-23	Sherry	Grass and pesticide used should be banned, not natural plants that have been here for centuries and contribute to the ecosystem. Please review your policies to support the endeavours of the people who are trying to help every one of us.
Nov-23	Deborah
Nov-23	Deborah
Nov-23	Lynne
Nov-23	Anne
Nov-23	Helen	I am shocked at the City of Toronto in "tasering" both Deborah Dale's garden and their own sustainable guidelines in one fell swoop. Native plants are by far the best adapted to soil conditions, wildlife needs, local pollinators and precipitation patterns. City crews, and "experts" coming from "agri" backgrounds are frequently unable to recognize and cherish native plant varieties, and rare and endangered species. "Acceptable" gardens are biodiverse and often grow taller than 3 inches!
Nov-23	Anne	Turf grass provides no habitat or food for insect, birds and other wildlife. Let's encourage all forms of native plant gardening to improve the urban environment and reduce the use of water, chemicals and polluting machines.
Nov-23	Ann	Many of us in Moore Park, an historically significant area of Toronto, see our gardens as an extension of the ravine system and old cemetery bordering the area. We support the non-use of harmful herbicides and pesticides and the emergence of a more natural style of front garden development. The city's destruction of someone's wild front garden is appalling. Wild gardens attract butterflies, birds and chipmunks and are more interesting, even beautiful than a boring patch of lawn.
Nov-23	Debby	Let Toronto be a leader and set an example of bringing people and nature together for the benefit of both.
Nov-23	Colin
Nov-23	Leonard	Good luck from Moore Park with the petitition
Nov-23	lisa
Nov-23	Christine
Nov-23	PeterJohn
Nov-23	Barbara
Nov-22	Margot	I am writing to express my fury at what has happened to native gardens in Toronto. It makes no sense in the face of our current environmental crisis and Toronto's new Climate Change program. Please help the City of Toronto, not hinder it, by allowing these types of gardens. It makes no sense to destroy them. I have to shake my head when "no brainer" issues turn into situations like these.
Nov-22	Helen	Not only must environmental gardens be actively promoted, supported, and not subject to unwarranted harassment, regulation and destruction, they and those who keep them should be encouraged, celebrated, championed --gardens to be emulated widely!
Nov-22	Susan	I am appalled and quite ashamed that the City of Toronto would destroy a beautiful native garden with soooo many other issues to contend with. I thought we were trying to restore the native plants that once grew here in Toronto and, in so doing, increase biodiversity and provide resources for many creatures. When I see developers abusing our standing urban forest or some driver idling his car and contributing to climate change and smog, I think to myself, where is the City Official?
Nov-22	Lori	Although I live in Guelph, I was born and continue to spend a portion of each week in Toronto. I am concerned that in this time of concern over global warming, bio-diversity and GM plants, that the City of Toronto is taking this approach to Native Plant Gardens. I'm also concerned that in spite of rulings by 2 Ontario Courts that the City of Toronto is still harassing Native Plant Gardeners and destroy their gardens. I want to see the City stop this practice forthwith. Lori Guest
Nov-22	Dagmar	The bureau of licensing and standards has made a laughingstock of itself and Parks and Recreation in North America. They have shown time and again, that they don't understand that the ecological crisis is imminent. Native plants are part of our survival strategy. No flowers, no insects, no food. It's that simple.
Nov-22	Sharon
Nov-22	Mary-Margaret	Native gardens are a win-win situation. They benefit the planet and wildlife and they are easy and cheap to maintain. LET'S MAKE MORE NATIVE GARDENS ALL OVER THE CITY!
Nov-22	Katie	I believe that it is f\vital that we create as much natural habitat as possible. As the city expands and more and more growers are oing into mono culture we need to diversify in any places that we ca
Nov-22	Marco
Nov-22	Heather
Nov-22	I	I support natural gardens for their environmental and aesthetic benefits.
Nov-22	Dave
Nov-22	Leslie
Nov-22	Jane
Nov-22	Jane	I believe it is my constitutional right to plant a natural, pesticide-free garden in my front yard. I want to do so to provide an organic green space that needs little water and will provide a habitat for native creatures that are vitally important to the sustainability of our ecosystem. Please review/update your policies around bylaws concerning enviromental gardens.Thank you for your time and consideration regarding this matter. Sincerely yours, Jane Moffat Jane Moffat
Nov-21	Lionel	I have a garden of bushes and trees which I expect to be respected by neighbours and the City. One of my neighbours complained that it is "too green"; he has a large fountain on his little front garden surrounded by interlocking bricks. I would say that his garden is not eco friendly and is wasting City water - 73 Pembroke Street.
Nov-21	Cheryl	Someone from the city gave us great advice on reducing our watering and improving our vegetable and flower gardens. It is very odd when residents, who are advancing the interests of the city through their gardening practices, are being punished for their actions. The city is on the right track. Please ensure that its actions are more consistent and in keeping with sustainable practices.
Nov-21	Juliet
Nov-21	James	Take the offensive and sue the bastards!
Nov-21	Mary Ellen	Please revise the by-laws to protect native plant gardeners and stop invasions of their properties by ignorant inspectors.
Nov-21	Douglas	Two courts have affirmed the constitutional rights of Toronto gardeners to express their environmental beliefs through the tending of natural gardens on private land and on the public road allowances adjacent to their properties. It's long overdue that the City ensures these gardens -- which the City has been promoting for years -- are safe from the nuisance complaints of uneducated neighbours which have seen these gardens both threatened and destroyed by City staff. It's appalling!
Nov-21	Douglas	CLIMATE CHANGE, CLEAN AIR & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ACTION PLAN I support the gardens part but am not sure about CFL because of possible health consequences.
Nov-21	Carol
Nov-21	Sharon	I find the fact that native plant gardeners have to have exemptions to Bylaw 489 in case someone complains is offensive and against stated city policies and court decisions. Please immediately stop any actions against people who are known to be native plant gardeners until such time as this bylaw is reviewed. Trash and plot abandonment should be easy to identify as per the existing bylaw. Native plants and grasses are not weeds.
Nov-20	Marieanna
Nov-19	Regan