Peel Water Story Project Case Study
Project title:
The Weedgee Kidz
Have you participated at the Peel EcoFair?
Yes.
School(s)/Community Group(s):
School Board/Organization(s):
Caledon Countryside Alliance , Healthy Lawns Healthy People
Community /Town/ City :
Town of Caledon , Region of Peel
Your Project is located within which (sub)watershed/s?
Credit River, Humber River, Etobicoke Creek
Start Date:
Pilot2002, Program 2003-2004
Project abstract
The Weedgee Kidz are teams of four high school student volunteers each supervised by a paid university student that are resident in one of six communities in Caledon. Clad in Weedgee Kidz t-shirts, they carry out weed-pulling and compost-turning services for homeowners, preferably in their home village. In an effort to reduce Caledons Ecological Footprint by getting our lawns off drugs, each Weedgee Kid team also provides information packages about alternative lawn care methods and will demonstrate and describe how to use alternative lawn care products and techniques.
Also check out Peel Health’s new Website: Be Pesticides Aware.
Project outcomes
This project provides information to residents directly (at their doorstep) on alternatives to synthetic pesticides and fertilizers for lawn care. It gives residents a choice to make a switch from pesticide use while providing the appropriate information and support necessary to make that change. It also brings homeowners out on to their lawn to take a closer look at it and understand some of the ecological processes that are occurring in this micro-environment. Most importantly it teaches homeowners how to work with the lawn’s processes instead of against them.
As a result of decreased pesticide/fertilizer use, we can expect cleaner groundwater and air, healthy soil and a safe place for humans and animals to enjoy. In 2003, 53% of our visits had a call back visit. Of those called back 83% of the respondents did not use pesticides or agreed to eliminate the use of pesticides for lawn care purposes. Another 10% agreed to cut their use in half, and 7% did not agree to decrease their use at all. Assuming, on average, that 60 kilograms per year of pesticide are used to treat the average Caledon lawn (150m2), the decreased use of the respondents alone translates into a reduction of 7590 kg of pesticides in Caledon. Assuming these figures can be applied to the total number of homes visited, we see a prevention of over 14 000 kg or 14 tonnes of pesticides, in 2003 alone.
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How did you arrive at the project?
In 2000, a poll was carried out in the Town of Caledon, which found that 75% of the 210 participants supported the restricted use of cosmetic pesticides and that 59% supported a ban. Since 2000, the Town of Caledon has supported a pesticide-free week, implemented steering and advisory committees to the Town and, on several occasions, has agreed to undertake an educational program for its residents. Healthy Lawns Healthy People and The Caledon Countryside Alliance decided that they would like to maintain the momentum initiated by the Town, by developing an educational program themselves.
Financial Planning and funding
The 2002 Weedgee Kidz was the pilot project. Financial contributions for supplies and in-kind assistance were made by the Town, Citizens for a Clean Caledon (CCC) and Caledon Countryside Alliance (CCA). In addition, various local businesses contributed tools, t-shirts and lunches. Healthy Lawns-Healthy People contributed volunteer hours as well as lawn signs and educational materials. The Caledon Countryside Alliance contributed the time of a project co-ordinator, volunteer co-ordinator and Executive Director.
For the full program in 2003-2004, the budget was set at $30,000 (18,000 for 2003 and $12,000 for 2004). This money was granted to the Weedgee Kidz by federal EcoAction Funding. In addition, the Caledon Countryside Alliance was able, for the 2003 year, to contribute staff time through their Trillium Foundation Funding, and The Town of Caledon also contributed financial support for a staff member. The Weedgee Kidz project applied and received funding for team leaders through Human Resources and Development Canada. In addition to these sources, in-kind donations were made by Citizens for a Clean Caledon, community businesses and members, and volunteers.
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Community Partnerships
Internal – Local high schools were contacted and visited in order to sign up volunteers who would become the ‘Weedgee Kidz’. The Weedgee Kidz volunteer program serves as a benefit to both school administration and students who are looking for worthwhile community service opportunities to meet the 40-hour curriculum requirement. University students with an interest in the environment were interviewed for paid positions as Weedgee Kidz Team Leaders.
External – Funding was acquired through the federal EcoAction program. In addition with aid from our local MP, Murray Calder the Weedgee Kidz were also able to gain financial support for paid positions from Human Resources and Development Canada through their summer student works program.
Local NGOs – Partnership was formed between Healthy Lawns – Healthy People and the Caledon Countryside Alliance’s Ecological Footprint project.
External / Local Businesses – Many local businesses were approached for contributions to the Program. The Program was widely accepted, and in-kind donations generously made by a local water company, food stores/restaurants, a bike shop, gardening businesses and a hardware store.
Student Ownership and involvement
Student team leaders play a huge role in the delivery of this program. They initiate visits, recruit volunteers, plan strategies for delivering the education, based on the response from each community. Most importantly, they develop a knowledge base about lawn care and communicate their knowledge on alternatives to the community, they field questions and work to solve lawn maintenance issues.
Curriculum and water connections
Water (stream water, drinking water, and ground water) is consistently found to be contaminated with various lawn pesticides through processes such as drift and direct runoff from lawns applied with pesticides. Through implementing a strategy to decrease the use of cosmetic pesticides, the Weedgee Kidz are essentially aiding in the protection of our water sources by keeping them clean and healthy.
Through the Weedgee Kidz program, University and high school students become aware of the environmental and health cost of cosmetic pesticide use. These young Canadians grow up with a different environmental ethic than their parents who were raised with pesticides. From Canada ’s experience with recycling, it is well known that youth are often their parents’ best teachers and environmental conscience.
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Project Celebrations
The most exciting celebration hosted by the Weedgee Kidz is Caledon ’s Dandelion Festival. In the festival’s 2003 inaugural year, it was slated as a “Celebration of Weeds”, while 2004 was a “Celebration of Backyard Diversity.” This event is set up to encourage people to get out in the community, and is used as an official launch of the Weedgee Kidz season. Event festivities include dandelion snacks, samples, contests & prizes, vendors; music, activities and speakers on topics such as alternative lawn care methods.
As a wrap up to the Weedgee Kidz season, a Virtual Lawn Tour is held where the community is invited to take a peek at slides of local pesticide free lawns, and celebrate the efforts of the Weedgee Kidz and volunteers.
Communication to the community/Media
The Weedgee Kidz Program depends largely on community interaction to pass their messages along. They do this by hosting information nights, participating as speakers, with an info booth at local festivals and fairs, and, of course, through door-to-door canvassing. Examples of event participation include the local Fall Fairs, Garden Clubs or Horticultural Society Meetings and events, and Garden Tours.
The Weedgee Kidz regularly use local media publications as a method of updating the community on our work throughout the summer and announcing our events. By having the Weedgee Kidz name and pictures in the paper frequently, homeowners are more likely to recognize the program when they are approached.
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Favorite Project activities for learning
Although mentally energy intensive, the door-to-door interaction with a homeowner seems to be the most rewarding experience for the Weedgee Kidz. This activity gives them the opportunity to share the knowledge that they have or to take questions away to find answers. It is very much a problem-based / hands-on learning scenario.
Students own feedback about project – what they enjoyed/learned.
Please see Student Letter, below.
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