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We are appealing a decision by local Bylaw Enforcement against naturalized gardens. This is a legal fight to protect the right of Canadians to naturalize their yards and help the environment in a time of climate crisis and biodiversity loss.

Naturalized gardens (or simply, healthy yards) provide countless benefits, far exceeding those of a standard lawn. Healthy yards improve air quality, store carbon, prevent floods, have a natural cooling effect and reduce water usage, all while providing habitat for local insects and wildlife. These benefits extend far beyond one yard!

We want to empower communities across Canada to pursue naturalization and do their part to support biodiversity and environmental sustainability. A successful legal appeal will set a precedent to ensure healthy yards can thrive while helping others overcome outdated, restrictive bylaws.

All funds raised will be applied towards the cost of the appeal process.

Please donate today and help us protect Canadians’ rights to naturalized gardens.

For those interested in becoming more involved, a free toolkit has been developed to help people who wish to naturalize their yards and may be facing similar challenges. Ryerson University’s* Ecological Design Lab, in partnership with Biophilic Cities Network, has developed a free report and toolkit on biodiversity in municipal bylaws, along with a model by-law available for download**. These resources include best practices for North American municipalities and options for planners and policy-makers who are revising municipal zoning codes and bylaws to provide support for naturalized and healthy biodiverse yards.

Project Details: https://ecologicaldesignlab.ca/project/urban-biodiversity-studio/

Toolkit: https://ecologicaldesignlab.ca/site/uploads/2022/03/Enhancing-Biodiversity-in-Private-Property-A-Toolkit-for-Local-Governments-March-10-Update.pdf-2.pdf

Full Report: https://ecologicaldesignlab.ca/site/uploads/2022/03/Urban-Biodiversity-Cultivating-Support-Through-Municipal-Codes-March-7-Update-2.pdf

Model Bylaw: https://ecologicaldesignlab.ca/project/model-by-law/

Please check the Ecological Design Lab website for updates, FAQ and helpful information for anyone facing Notices of Violation.

*The University is undergoing a renaming process to address the legacy of Egerton Ryerson for a more inclusive future.

** These resources were developed collaboratively by RU graduate students in Urban Planning (including Carly Murphy, Danielle Liao, Cameron McCoy, Anne Benaroya, Julia Bevacqua, Lana Marcy, Alexander Adams) under the supervision of Professor Nina-Marie Lister, Professor Tim Beatley, JD Brown and Lorraine Johnston. All materials are free for download but must be cited and authorship acknowledged when used elsewhere.