Earth Day at the Brick Works 2024

Times:

Item Drop off

• April 18 and 19: 12pm – 6:30pm
• April 20: 9am – 12pm

Ticket Sales

• April 18 and 19: 12pm – 6:30pm
• April 20th: 9am – 3pm

Event Time

• April 20th: 11am – 4pm
• Location: The Pavilions

Cost:

• Early bird tickets: If you drop off your clothing items on April 18 and 19, you can purchase a ticket for $5. 
• Day of tickets: $15 (please note that sales will end at 3pm to ensure that all ticket holders can participate in the event).  

Join us on April 20, to do your part in helping to divert clothing from landfill and have some fun while doing it!

By participating, you’re contributing to the reduction of textile waste and helping to promote a circular economy. It’s a chance to give a piece of clothing that you’ve outgrown a new life and get a little something for yourself in return.  

If you’ve attended one of our Drop, Swap and Shop events in the past, this one is going to be a bit different. It’s a mini version of the event and we are taking it back to the basics. We will only be accepting clothing, shoes, and accessories in good repair. No homewares, books, or tech will be accepted.

Learn more about how you can get involved here.

Time: 9am – 1pm

Location: TD Future Cities Centre

Open year-round, the Saturday Farmers Market connects people in Toronto to local Ontario farmers and producers. There are so many environmental benefits of shopping at your local farmers market including reducing food miles, producing less waste and ensuring that the food that you eat is produced using sustainable farming practices. Learn more here.

If you’re interested in ways that you can become a zero waste shopper at the Farmers Market, here are some options:

• Dine in with reuable plates and cutlery: If you’re staying at the Market to enjoy your meals and snacks, just ask the vendor for a reusable plate and cutlery at the point of purchase. Simply return used dishes to a designated dish bin before leaving (located with the waste receptacles). 
• Bring your own (BYO): Customers are encouraged to bring their own clean containers, mugs, produce bags and shopping bags. Just let vendors know you brought your own when shopping. Some of our vendors even provide a discount when you bring your own!  
• Return for reuse: Our awesome vendors often reuse their packaging! Feel free to bring back clean bottles, jars, egg cartons and baskets the next time you visit the market. Return, reuse and reduce! 
• Have your coffee in a Muuse insulated cup: Forgot to bring your own travel mug or cup? No problem! Just scan out a Muuse cup for FREE! Muuse cups can be used with any of the vendors offering beverages. Sign-up takes 30 seconds, and you have up to 30 days to return. Scan again to return used cups to a return bin located with the waste receptacles or return to over 50 locations throughout Toronto – see map at muuse.io/toronto for more details. 
• Take out with a Muuse to-go container: Just like the cups above, you can take market snacks and meals to-go in a stylish reusable container. Just scan to borrow a free container from Muuse! 

Time: 10am – 5pm (drop-in anytime!)

Location: Building 14

Bring your well-loved books and exchange them for new literary adventures.  Discover hidden gems and contribute to a sustainable reading community. Don’t miss this chance to refresh your bookshelf and celebrate the joy of reading in a cozy and eco-friendly atmosphere.

Time: 10am – 3pm

Location: The Children’s Garden

Join us in the Children’s Garden during Weekend Nature Play to take part in nature-based arts and crafts. There will also be learning stations about composting, recycling and more!

Time: 10am – 12pm

Location: Tiffany Commons

Spring is almost here and that means it’s the perfect time to take in our natural surroundings. During this activity, participants will log nature observations around the Brick Works through the free app, iNaturalist.

The Bioblitz will kick off with a tutorial on iNaturalist. Evergreeners will have an info table set up in Tiffany Commons where you can check in to learn about the app and start the activity. 

We invite you to view the film “Kiss the Ground” and attend Jocelyn’s presentation on how “Healthy Soil Helps Fight Climate Change”.

‘Kiss the Ground’ A film by Josh Tickell and Rebecca Tickell

Viewing times: 11am – 11:45am and 2pm – 2:45pm

Location: The BMO Atrium

The solution is under our feet. Narrated and featuring Woody Harrelson, Kiss the Ground is an inspiring and groundbreaking film that reveals the first viable solution to our climate crisis. 

Kiss the Ground reveals that, by regenerating the world’s soils, we can completely and rapidly stabilize Earth’s climate, restore lost ecosystems and create abundant food supplies. Using compelling graphics and visuals, along with striking NASA and NOAA footage, the film artfully illustrates how, by drawing down atmospheric carbon, soil is the missing piece of the climate puzzle. 

This movie is positioned to catalyze a movement to accomplish the impossible – to solve humanity’s greatest challenge, to balance the climate and secure our species future. 

Healthy Soil Helps Fight Climate Change – A Presentation by Jocelyn’s Soil Booster

Time: 11:55am – 12:45pm

Location: BMO Atrium

Healthy Soil Helps Fight Climate Change – A Presentation by Jocelyn’s Soil Booster: Soil is the Solution that can solve the climate crisis now! Understand the science behind why microbes make the difference, then learn how to implement regenerative growing, climate change-fighting techniques on your own balcony or backyard. Jocelyn Molyneux, BBA., BSc., MASc., founder of Wastenot Farms & Jocelyn’s Soil Booster, will engage with attendees through a lively, interactive QnA session after the film, ensuring you take home a new toolkit full of hope and practical tips for growing healthier plants, people and planet!

Time: 10am – 3pm

Location: The Pavilions

THEN AND NOW, as part of a year long 100th anniversary celebration of Toronto Field Naturalists and their mission. Photos taken by their members 30 – 50 years ago (they have an extensive photographic archive) will be exhibited alongside images captured recently by their members from the same vantage point. The aim is to showcase the positive changes that have occurred over the years, such as forest growth and restoration of locales devastated by industrialization.

Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Location: Evergreen Garden Market

Cost: Free

No pre-registration required!

Join us for a introductory workshop lead by Sean Smith of Crooked Farmz as we dive into the world of soil microbiomes and the role of compost tea in container and in-ground gardens. No prior knowledge is needed for this workshop—just a passion for gardening and a desire to learn more about nurturing healthy soil.

During this workshop, Sean will address the following key questions:

• What is compost tea?
• What are the benefits of using different types of compost tea in my garden?
• How do I apply the compost tea to my garden?
• What is a foliar spray, and how can I use compost tea as a foliar spray on my plants?

By addressing these questions, our workshop aims to equip you with the knowledge and practical skills needed to incorporate compost tea into your gardening routine effectively. Come explore the wonders of compost tea and its transformative potential for your garden!

Time: 11am – 3pm

Location: Tiffany Commons

Bike down to the Brick Works and learn some tips and tricks about bike tune-ups.

Time: 11am – 4pm

Location: Attendees can pick up their Litter Pick Up Kits from the Welcome Centre in Building 14 (the Garden Market building).

Help us clean up the surrounding Don Valley Park and trails on Earth Day! During Litterfest we’re asking for your help to pick up trash at the Brick Works. Every piece of trash that’s removed means one less dangerous item for our animal friends to come into contact with.

We have partnered with Muuse to create Litter Pick Up Kits that will be available for you to borrow from the the Welcome Centre. You can drop off your trash bags and kits at the same location by 4:45pm. Here’s how it works:

1. Scan QR code to sign out kit.
2. Take litter grabber and garbage bag.
3. Check in with the Welcome Desk to find out the areas that need litter pick up.
4. Begin picking up litter.
5. Return to Welcome Desk with garbage bag to be properly disposed of.
6. Scan QR code to return kit.

#PlanetVsPlastics

Time: 4 workshop time slots available

• 9:45 am – 11:00 am
• 11:30 – 12:45
• 1:30 – 2:45
• 3:15 – 4:30

Location: Bricks and Bites Kitchen

Cost: $10 + tax

Take park in an introductory ink making workshop! In this 75 min workshop we’ll explore the art of sketching with inks crafted in collaboration with nature. The focus will be on sharing knowledge about ink recipes and practicing the Honorable Harvest. Participants will have the opportunity to paint with a diverse range of inks, including Acorn-cap, Black Walnut, Wild Grape, Buckthorn, kitchen scraps, and pantry spices. Engage in the creative process with materials such as onion skins, red cabbage, turmeric, paprika, and other natural elements. Don’t forget to bring reclaimed bottles to take home samples of these unique inks. This workshop will be led by Alexandra Iorgu. 

To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.