Earlier this year my consulting partner, Ian Bruce, and I had the fortune of writing the text for the 2012 Toronto Tree Portraits Calendar. The calendar is published annually by the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation. This year's version features magnificent photos taken by Adrian Holmes. The Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization that works with the City of Toronto and community groups to enhance and preserve Toronto's trees and urban forest. Projects and parks they have supported in 2011 include Friends of Stanley ...

Todd Irvine, Spacing's former Green Space columnist, is now writing for Eye Weekly. This is a cross-post from Eye about Windfest. Spacing is a proud sponsor of this event. This Saturday, the skies above Woodbine Park will be streaked with colour as they are filled with hundreds of kites, from delicate handmade paper ones to elaborate acrobatic trains on single lines. It’s the maiden flight of the Windfest kite festival. The kites will be the stars of the day, with onlookers and media eagerly photographing and videotaping their playful dances, but it is the wind blowing in off lake Ontario that will make it all happen. The flight of the kites illustrates the wind power that is coursing above us ready to be harnessed as energy. Local super-activist Dave Meslin, one of Windfest’s organizers, sees the day as an opportunity to combine politics and fun. “Energy is a huge issue, and everyone agrees that wind energy is part of the solution. A good way to think about it is by flying kites and bringing together those who love the wind.” Event participants include key wind-power players like the Canadian Wind Energy Association, the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association and the Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative, on hand to provide information and answer questions about the benefits of green energy. Kites and wind energy in Toronto share something else: resistance. Just a few weeks ago, Parks Department staff and local Toronto Councillor Chin Lee placed a ban on kites in Milliken Park. They cited concerns about sharp kite lines being left on the ground and wound in trees, injuring birds and, in one case, cutting a child’s leg. The ban culminated with the erecting of a “No Kite Flying” sign complete with a red circle and slash over a kite. With that image, the sign could have just as easily read: “No Fun Allowed.”

Every Tuesday, Todd Irvine of LEAF posts a stop from the Toronto Tree Tours, a collaborative project of LEAF and the Toronto Public Space Committee. The Toronto Tree Tours offers walking tours in neighbourhoods across the city as well as virtual tours on its web site. The aim is to introduce Torontonians to the individual trees in their neighbourhood while telling stories of our city's ecological and cultural history. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ...

Every Tuesday, Todd Irvine of LEAF posts a stop from the Toronto Tree Tours, a collaborative project of LEAF and the Toronto Public Space Committee. The Toronto Tree Tours offers walking tours in neighbourhoods across the city as well as virtual tours on its web site. The aim is to introduce Torontonians to the individual trees in their neighbourhood while telling stories of our city's ecological and cultural history. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ...

Every Tuesday, Todd Irvine of LEAF posts a stop from the Toronto Tree Tours, a collaborative project of LEAF and the Toronto Public Space Committee. The Toronto Tree Tours offers walking tours in neighbourhoods across the city as well as virtual tours on its web site. The aim is to introduce Torontonians to the individual trees in their neighbourhood while telling stories of our city's ecological and cultural history. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ...

Every Tuesday, Todd Irvine of LEAF posts a stop from the Toronto Tree Tours, a collaborative project of LEAF and the Toronto Public Space Committee. The Toronto Tree Tours offers walking tours in neighbourhoods across the city as well as virtual tours on its web site. The aim is to introduce Torontonians to the individual trees in their neighbourhood while telling stories of our city's ecological and cultural history. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ...

LEAF is holding its second annual party this Wednesday to celebrate another successful year. It promises to be a fun night with live music, interactive displays, and complimentary finger foods. There is also a silent auction packed with great items including opera tickets, furniture, movie passes, wine collections and organic foods. Wednesday February 6th, 2008 The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. Doors open at 7pm, presentations at 7:45 Tickets are $20 in advance if purchased online or by phone (416-413-9244) before Tuesday at 5pm. Tickets are also available at the door for $25. Ticket purchase enters you ...

Every Tuesday, Todd Irvine of LEAF posts a stop from the Toronto Tree Tours, a collaborative project of LEAF and the Toronto Public Space Committee. The Toronto Tree Tours offers walking tours in neighbourhoods across the city as well as virtual tours on its web site. The aim is to introduce Torontonians to the individual trees in their neighbourhood while telling stories of our city's ecological and cultural history. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ...

Every Tuesday, Todd Irvine of LEAF posts a stop from the Toronto Tree Tours, a collaborative project of LEAF and the Toronto Public Space Committee. The Toronto Tree Tours offers walking tours in neighbourhoods across the city as well as virtual tours on its web site. The aim is to introduce Torontonians to the individual trees in their neighbourhood while telling stories of our city's ecological and cultural history. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ...

Every Tuesday, Todd Irvine of LEAF posts a stop from the Toronto Tree Tours, a collaborative project of LEAF and the Toronto Public Space Committee. The Toronto Tree Tours offers walking tours in neighbourhoods across the city as well as virtual tours on its web site. The aim is to introduce Torontonians to the individual trees in their neighbourhood while telling stories of our city's ecological and cultural history. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ...