Earl Beatty’s Scientific Experiment!

What are those orange fences for? And how long will they be there? The answer lies in the hard-packed soil of Earl Beatty's slowly disappearing playing field. Despite proper installation, the small field at the back of the school couldn't take last winter's lack of snow cover and the frequent pounding of many happy feet. What to do - and should it be a replacement of the same?

The answer is, maybe not. So the test plots were born in the early morning of June 4th, 2010. The plots include different types of grass seed/sod with a protective layer underneath. The entire field is being watered in the evenings each day. The fence will help the plots get established, and will remain for four months.

Then, let the games begin! Let us see which area stands up the best to the heavy use our little field can give. We need every one’s help in recording and observing accurate results – fences need to stay until the end of September…and everyone can assist with observations throughout the Fall and then in the Spring of 2011 until June.

Thank you for your participation in this…I’m certain we all look forward to key results and answers to our disappearing field.

Ms. L. Ordubegian, Ms. Boudreau, Ms. Wallace, Ms. Laporte and Mr. Travers

The test area, June 4th, 2010.

The first test plot.

All three test plots.

October 2009: Budding Botanists: More Planting at Earl Beatty

Through the Joan Grys Award* and a successful city of Toronto greening application**, Earl Beatty was the happy recipient of 1000 (that’s right! One thousand!) free bulbs to plant in the schoolyard. Once again, Earl Beatty students found themselves getting their hands dirty in the name of environmental stewardship. Good work everyone!

* The Joan Grys Award was received by Earl Beatty for work that was done by the school and several Parent Council Greening Team Eco Committee members. This work involved the planning and building of a butterfly garden from previous years located in the south-west area of the schoolyard and the newly designed outdoor classroom.

** The application was submitted by Parent Council Greening Team Eco Committee members to the City of Toronto Clean and Beautiful Fund.

May 2009: Planting Native Plants at Earl Beatty

Last spring, Earl Beatty students, staff and parents planted several native plants in the schoolyard as part of the ongoing schoolyard naturalization project. This initiative was financially assisted by Toyota Evergreen Learning Grounds, which supports local, sustainable greening projects in schoolyards, parks and communities across Canada. Much appreciation and admiration to everyone involved for their hard work that day.