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Articles by GreenUP

GreenUP
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For more than 30 years, Peterborough GreenUP has been central and eastern Ontario's leading environmental organization focused on education, sustainability, and stewardship. GreenUP is a non-profit charitable organization and an active community organization that offers dozens of programs and services to those living in Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes. For more information, visit greenup.on.ca
Restoration Wednesday volunteers Stephanie Larstone (left) and Sophia Ibrahim (right) remove invasive common buckthorn and other undesirable plants with GreenUP landscape steward Andréanna Sullivan at Ecology Park. The crew cleared the area ahead of a restoration planting. (Photo: Yvonne Hollandy / GreenUP)

Restoration Wednesdays at GreenUP Ecology Park in Peterborough grow community and climate resilience

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Volunteers have been transforming invasive-dominated spaces into thriving native habitats while learning, connecting, and giving back to the land.
Students from Queen Mary Public School show off their transit passes for Grade 8 Transit Quest, a transit encouragement campaign organized by Active School Travel Peterborough. Transit ridership in youth is important for building life skills, accessing extracurricular opportunities, and fostering independence. (Photo: Natalie Stephenson / GreenUP)

Step into the new school year with active school travel in Peterborough

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Choosing to walk, bike, or bus to school is an easy way to get your family moving while promoting health, connection, and increased safety.
Through a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough, members of GreenUP's Youth Climate Action Leadership group created gardens at the YES Shelter for Youth and Families in June 2025, providing residents with an opportunity to tend the plants, access food, and enjoy the beauty of the gardens. (Photo: Justin Sutton / Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough)

Tomorrow’s leaders are taking climate action today with support from GreenUP and Community Foundation...

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Youth Climate Action Leadership group chose to use $5,000 grant to build gardens at YES Shelter for Youth and Families.
Frank and Anna Maria Buxton retired to Douro 11 years ago to be close to family and have the space to grow their own vegetables. They installed a heat pump in 2023, and are planning a solar installation for this fall. Since they began retrofits, their utility costs have fallen drastically. (Photo: Clara Blakelock / GreenUP)

Douro homeowners cut energy costs by two-thirds by replacing their propane furnace with a...

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Combined with improved airtightness, the heat pump has also reduced Frank and Anna Maria Buxtons' greenhouse gas emissions by 78%.
Vern Bastable, past director of GreenUP Ecology Park, has been a trusted authority and tireless advocate for all things trees. Through his 13-plus year tenure with GreenUP has come to an end, his "leafy" legacy will live on in Ecology Park and beyond. (Photo: Haley Goodchild / GreenUP)

Vern Bastable is ‘leafing’ a lasting legacy at GreenUP Ecology Park in Peterborough

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Departing for a new position after 13-plus years, Bastable describes five of his favourite trees at the park.
Jonathon Armstrong, GreenUP native plant nursery assistant, waters a young tree at Ecology Park. There are many tips for proper tree-watering during hot, dry weather, such as watering at the drip line at least two to three times a week. (Photo: Hayley Goodchild / GreenUP)

How to save young trees in Peterborough during the hot, dry summer

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Community members can help young trees survive by adopting one to help water.
Schoolyard greening projects led by GreenUP include playful, hands-on, educational opportunities for students to plant trees, shrubs, and fruit at their school. As part of the "Reconciling with the Land" initiative, students at St. John Catholic Elementary School in Peterborough were eager to work as a class, adding compost and mulch to areas where they planted trees, shrubs, and berry bushes. (Photo: GreenUP)

‘Reconciling with the Land’ initiative combines Western science and Indigenous knowledge

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Camp Kawartha, GreenUP, and partners are helping three elementary schools in Curve Lake, Peterborough, and Lakefield transform their grounds by adding green infrastructure.
Trent Health in Motion co-owners Michael Williams and Reanna Montopoli cycling with their family and colleagues during a cycling event in June. The Peterborough health and wellness clinic has sponsored the GreenUP 2025 Summer Ride Club's grand prize with a $500 gift card to any local bike shop. (Photo: Micheal Williams / Trent Health in Motion)

GreenUP’s Summer Ride Club helps Peterborough kids fall in love with biking

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Now in its third year, the annual program's grand prize is sponsored by cycling culture champion Trent Health in Motion.
The majority of Peterborough homes are more than 30 years old, with many being much older. Older homes typically use more energy to run, resulting in higher bills and greenhouse gas emissions. Upgrades like insulation and air sealing can significantly reduce energy use while improving comfort. The City of Peterborough has recently launched the Better Homes Peterborough program to assist residents dealing with these common surprises of homeownership, both through financing and trusted advice. (Photo: Clara Blakelock / GreenUP)

Local resources are available to help Peterborough residents make their homes more energy efficient

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Heather Ray and Clara Blakelock are part of the team behind the City of Peterborough's Better Homes initiative.
In the first five months of 2025 alone, the City of Peterborough's organics program has diverted almost 600 tons of organic waste from the landfill. Finished compost produced at the Peterborough Organics Facility, which meets the highest quality standard, is now available for purchase at the Bensfort Road landfill site and at GreenUP's Ecology Park. (Photo: Barry Campbell / City of Peterborough)

Despite some growing pains, City of Peterborough organics program continues to succeed

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Finished compost from the program is now available at GreenUP Ecology Park and the Bensfort Road landfill.
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