One Garden at a Time
Trying times, amidst the Covid pandemic and onward through 2023, led me to seek outdoor volunteer opportunities.
After reading about the Butterflyway Project, I applied to become a volunteer. This project, a David Suzuki initiative, creates opportunities to connect people and nature through planting native pollinator-friendly plants and habitat for butterflies and local bees across Canada.
As an ambassador of this important project, my volunteer role involves recruiting individuals, businesses, municipalities, and others to help create ‘pollinator patches’. In building a new pathway for our local pollinators (insects, bees, butterflies, bats, hummingbirds, etc.) we’re working together to replace vital habitat lost through urban development, clear cutting, herbicides, and climate change.
By taking this small step, I’ve experienced big gains: working with the Butterflyway Project has resulted in significantly less stress and an improved quality of life.
Many benefits
Some of the many learning opportunities and other benefits related to this initiative include:
- Combining outdoor physical activity with nature and learning – in relation to gardening, which has positive effects on mental and physical health.
- By brightening our community and planting hope for the future, the Butterflyway Project has helped keep me grounded, while expanding my efforts to build community connections.
- Starting new projects and revitalizing older ones, by adding native plants, has helped local gardens and residents to thrive.
Local involvement
I am deeply grateful to schools, parents, patients, community support, family members, and care home staff for their involvement in sharing knowledge, pride, and joy through gardens.
The Butterflyway Project is all about growing community, one garden at a time. By taking part, I’ve seen the benefits in my neighbourhood – and in my own mental and physical well-being.
