Genesis Centre Mini-Forest takes root

The coolness in the air, as we trooped towards the throng on this September morning, foretold the shape of things to come: the long winter ahead. But frigid feelings fast evaporated as we joined the jovial crowd and the sun inched higher. We were a colourful bunch comprising Climate Hub stalwarts, Scouts, UPS workers, Genesis Centre employees and the Mayor herself, Jyoti Gondek, who kicked things off with a motivational speech.

We were all here to convert a barren piece of land in the Genesis Centre's grounds to a mini-forest of trees and shrubs. Staff from the Centre and a forward party of volunteers had meticulously prepared the area, divided it up into sections, and organised all the materials necessary for the rest of us to team up to start digging and planting. And so it began!

The packets of land exploded into activity and before long, overcoats and toques were being hastily discarded, as young plants were methodically transferred to their new homes: make a hole, place some forest soil, add a little water, insert a tree or shrub, fill it in, more water, insert a flag, repeat. "Many hands make light work" epitomised this energetic morning of working together with new friends for the common good.

A hearty lunch was provided—and taken gratefully—with many of us relaxing on the grass, a healthy glow in our faces and our hearts.

But it wasn't over! The next phase was the mulch phase. The crowed thinned a little, the procedure simplified, and the intensity turned up a notch: fill buckets with shovelfulls of mulch, then empty them around the newly-planted trees and shrubs. Slowly but surely the mounds of mulch made way and the mini-forest really took shape: smart, good-looking, and full of potential (as opposed to us: sweaty, dirty, and ready for rest!)

What an incredible event this was: Calgarians from all walks of life, uniting for positive change, uniting to create a mini-forest for the city, uniting for something beneficial and beautiful. The real shape of things to come.

Written by Stuart Jones