Earth Week has arrived, and at Royal City Nursery, we’re proud to showcase our commitment to sustainability. As we gear up for our Earth Day Birthday weekend on April 20th and 21st, followed by Earth Day on April 22nd, we’re excited to share our efforts and initiatives with you. Tanya Olsen, third-generation owner of Royal City Nursery and professor in the Horticulture Apprenticeship Program at Humber College is excited to share the sustainability choices they made when building and growing the businesses. With a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) from the University of Guelph and a wealth of knowledge in plants and landscape design, Tanya is passionate about integrating sustainability practices into our operations.
Watch our latest video on youtube to learn more or scroll to continue reading.
Thumbnail image with link to Earth Day: Sustainability at Royal City Nursery video on our youtube channel.
Energy-Efficient Heating
Our retail floor is heated! This heating system is designed to reduce propane use by bringing heat down to where people and plants are located, helping us cut down on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Pollinator Meadow and Biodiversity
When we started on this property, we planted a pollinator meadow to support local biodiversity. This meadow serves as a habitat for pollinators, helping to support the local ecosystem and promote biodiversity in our area. We have daisies, black-eyed susan’s, asters and so much more. Be sure to check it out on your next visit, you can’t miss it, right at the front of our building, between the road and the fence.
Mass Timber for a Greener Future
One of our most notable sustainable efforts is the use of mass timers in our new building’s support structure. These posts, poly-laminated and compressed together, not only provide structural strength but also offer a significant reduction in our carbon footprint. Estimates suggest that mass timber could lower our carbon footprint by 30-40% compared to steel, making it a sustainable choice for construction.
Biological Insects
At Royal City Nursery, we adhere to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to maintain a healthy environment for our plants. One of our strategies involves using microscopic organisms that naturally prey on pests in our tropical greenhouse. These organisms help control pest populations without the need for harmful chemicals, ensuring a more sustainable approach to pest management.
Surface Water Management
We have implemented a surface water management system that collects water from our upper tree yard. This water is then filtered through a gravel bed before exiting into our retention pond. By reusing filtered water, we’re minimizing our water consumption and promoting sustainable water management practices.
Local and Sustainable Seed Vendors
For our seed lines, we prioritize seeds that are organic, native, and heirloom varieties. These seeds are sourced from local companies or distributors in Ontario, such as Enoch Seed Company in Wellington, West Coast Seeds (a BC brand) but distributed from Cambridge, Gaia in Ottawa and Northern Wildflower in Sudbury. Supporting local seed vendors helps promote local biodiversity and sustainable agriculture practices.
Watering Innovations for Sustainable Plant Care
At Royal City Nursery, we prioritize sustainable practices to ensure the health of our plants while conserving water. We use a drip irrigation system to direct water to direct water straight to the roots, minimizing water waste and promoting efficient watering. The spaghetti tubing allows us to water each individual plant ensuring we are not wasting water.
Organic Mulching for Improved Drainage
In our tree yard, we use wood fibre mulch instead of paving, to improve drainage and soil quality. This organic mulch helps retain moisture, reduces erosion, and promotes healthier plant growth.
Promoting Biodiversity with Tree Planting
We recently planted a couple hundred trees, including cedars on our property to promote biodiversity and support local ecosystems. Over time, these trees will provide habitat and food sources for pollinators, helping to protect and enhance the value of our local pollinator populations.
Sustainable Growing Practices
We grow over 1,000 perennials on-site, cutting out shipping costs and ensuring plants are super local. We also reuse our pots and cultivate native grasses for biodiversity. To control weeds, we use organic rice hulls, promoting a healthier growing environment. These hulls keep in moisture and help eradicate weeds, naturally. Check out what we are currently growing here!
Sustainable Bag Options
At Royal City Nursery, we offer sustainable bag options to our customers. Choose from paper bags, fabric bags, or even better, bring your own reusable bags! By encouraging the use of reusable bags, we’re helping reduce single-use plastic waste and promoting a more sustainable shopping experience.
Recycled Concrete for Sustainable Construction
In our parking and driveway areas, we prioritize sustainability by using recycled concrete and recycled asphalt. Crushed concrete not only repurposes a byproduct of the demolition and construction industry but means we don’t need to use fresh mined gravel. Plus, it is locally sourced from less than 2km of our garden centre
At Royal City Nursery, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. The most sustainable thing we do is to encourage planting of trees and shrubs, which in turn increases our local urban greenspaces and biodiversity links in our neighbourhoods. Join us this Earth Week as we celebrate our planet and continue our journey towards a more sustainable tomorrow.
About Tanya Olsen:
Tanya is a third-generation garden centre owner and landscape designer.
Teaches in the Horticulture Apprenticeship at Humber College in Ontario, Canada.
Has a weekly segment on CTV news.
Has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture.
YWCA Woman of Distinction.
About Royal City Nursery:
Guelph, Ontario’s only third-generation, full-service garden centre! We specialize in creating custom outdoor living spaces and unique solutions for all your garden, landscape, and seasonal decorating needs! At our new greenhouse, located between Guelph and Cambridge, we are the garden centre of choice for discerning homeowners, landscapers, and designers.
