MOUNT FOREST – Five years ago Rhoda Seibert created the Mount Forest Green Team. And now the team is thriving, with over 30 members and a passion for the environment.
The group was originally open to Mount Forest United Church members, but quickly opened up to other residents with green thumbs.
The purpose of the group is to “educate and implement ideas to keep our town more green and advocate when necessary,” team chair Seibert told the Advertiser.
“We’ve advocated with the municipal township as far as saving more trees in town,” she explained.
The group is hoping to see more municipal bylaws created concerning the wellbeing and safety of township trees.
“We’d like to educate people about saving our planet,” she said referring to the team’s future goals.
One way of sharing knowledge is hosting events, including one coming up that Seibert hopes many will attend.
An Earth Day-inspired clean-up event is slated for April 19 from 10am to 1pm, at the community garden near Sligo Road and Foster Street in Mount Forest.
“Anyone can join us,” she said. “We supply the garbage bags and give everybody a different area in which to pick up garbage in town.”
After a few hours of cleaning, a lunch will be provided by the group around 12:30pm at the garden.
Families are encouraged to join the fun and participate in a garbage scavenger hunt which is especially fun for children, Seibert noted.
This is the team’s third year of cleaning up the township and it plans to keep the tradition alive.
Despite the cold last year, approximately 20 people participated, but the team is hoping for more this time around.
As one of the group’s priorities is protecting trees, they decided to join Tree Trust, an Elora-based charitable program.
The program works to save the eldest trees in different communities.
“It’s important to keep our old trees because an old tree gives off 300 times more oxygen than a small sapling,” Seibert said.
To support the elder trees in Mount Forest, the team will be hosting a nature walk fundraiser on April 27.
“Every year we’re going to pick a tree … and have an arborist come and take off the dead branches so it can grow better and live longer,” she said.
Funds collected will go towards paying a Tree Trust arborist.
The walk will begin at the property of local residents Chris and Erin Kiers, where a guide will take participants through the Kiers’ 100 acres.
“Once you appreciate nature, you’ll want to work harder to save it,” Seibert said
For more information contact Seibert at rhoda@xplornet.ca.
