The Grounds
2011 Water Conservation Award
We are nourishing the fields and gardens with our own compost.
Part of the very large field is being restored to an oak savannah
and another section has a wildflower area to enjoy. We are using natural material like shredded wood from our fallen trees to manage
the out of place growth. The flowering shrubs are being pruned
to encourage natural growth. These shrubs are over 60 years old.
Our forest is undergoing reconstruction with the aid of a management plan by a forester who will help us to have a healthy diversified woodlot when, with all the help we can get, we eliminate much of the invasive undergrowth and shrubs so new trees will be able to thrive. Gradually
we are adding native plants to the woods. We are getting to know
the topography of this land and befriend the trees and flowers. Trees
are beginning to sport name tags so we can know them in all seasons. Getting to know the land also means finding a way to share it
with many creatures even skunks, groundhogs, beavers, bats
and the beautiful foxes. Our waterfront has always been the wildest
in our area. It is the one area of natural forest we have. Our plan is to build on that to encourage even more wildlife than we currently enjoy.
We encourage our guests to participate in these environmentally-friendly practices:
Part of the very large field is being restored to an oak savannah
and another section has a wildflower area to enjoy. We are using natural material like shredded wood from our fallen trees to manage
the out of place growth. The flowering shrubs are being pruned
to encourage natural growth. These shrubs are over 60 years old.
Our forest is undergoing reconstruction with the aid of a management plan by a forester who will help us to have a healthy diversified woodlot when, with all the help we can get, we eliminate much of the invasive undergrowth and shrubs so new trees will be able to thrive. Gradually
we are adding native plants to the woods. We are getting to know
the topography of this land and befriend the trees and flowers. Trees
are beginning to sport name tags so we can know them in all seasons. Getting to know the land also means finding a way to share it
with many creatures even skunks, groundhogs, beavers, bats
and the beautiful foxes. Our waterfront has always been the wildest
in our area. It is the one area of natural forest we have. Our plan is to build on that to encourage even more wildlife than we currently enjoy.
We encourage our guests to participate in these environmentally-friendly practices:
- Maryholme is a bottled-water-free facility. We encourage guests to use the water from the water cooler, which we refill from the kitchen tap (municipally-treated and safe to drink), or use the glass water pitchers, or bring their own refillable water bottles and use our tap water...
- We are scent-free and we encourage guests to be considerate of those with chemical sensitivities by not using incense, air fresheners, perfumes, or strong scents, etc…
- We make our own environmentally-friendly laundry soap (with soap flakes and sprigs from our cedar shrubs), room freshener (apple cider vinegar, essential oils, cedar sprigs), household cleaners (apple cider vinegar, cedar sprigs), and insect deterrent sprays (water, essential oils)
- We hang our laundry to dry outside in the fresh air as often as is possible
- Groups are welcome to use our plates, cutlery, mugs and glasses rather than bringing disposables.
- If bringing disposables, please ensure that they are compostable or recyclable. If you have questions about where to purchase, please inquire.
- We are happy for our guests to use our cloth napkins rather than bringing paper serviettes.
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Overall Actions for Grounds Management
• Pesticide free • Removal of invasive weeds • Native plants in natural areas • Reuse of natural materials wherever possible: e.g.wood chips, small logs, compost, leaf mulch We used gravel, stone and topsoil from the property to do any back-filling or landscaping |
Learn about the specific actions we have been taking...
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