February 26th

Backyarding is a new trend identified by the TurfMutt Foundation. It is officially defined as the act of using the family yard to safely engage in everyday activities. Those include: social gatherings, celebrating milestones/holidays, working, studying, playing, exercising and relaxing. During the pandemic, our yards and other managed landscapes have become a safe haven for […]

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February 23rd

“Backyarding,” the new trend to move many indoor activities — from working in an office or classroom to dining and recreation — to the great outdoors, is growing. Under pandemic conditions, yards and other managed landscapes became a safe haven for social gatherings, celebrating milestones/holidays, working, studying, playing, exercising, relaxing. “Your own backyard is nearly […]

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February 18th

According to a recent poll conducted for the Nature Conservancy of Canada, 94 percent of Canucks are turning to nature to relieve anxiety and stress during the pandemic. It’s a trend that is especially prevalent with women and young families. The study polled 2,000 Canadians. According to the survey results, three-fourths of Canadians say spending […]

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February 16th

In a recent study, European researchers discovered that people living on streets that were lined with more trees purchased fewer antidepressants. The study was conducted in Germany. Street trees, the scientists say, are important to maintaining biodiversity in urban green space. But until now, little was known about their effects on mental health. By studying […]

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February 12th

“Backyarding” has become a way of life over the last year as homeowners have gotten really creative with ways to utilize their lawns, gardens, patios and decks. Case in point? “Yardi Gras” in New Orleans. Because of the pandemic, the traditional parades celebrating the annual festival have been scrapped. Instead, Mardi Gras has become the […]

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February 10th

During the pandemic, green spaces have become a source of resilience in the midst of restrictions on where and how we can gather, work and learn. In addition to turning to our own backyards to connect with one another and nature (a.k.a. “backyarding”), people are also utilizing parks more than before, according to a recent […]

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February 3rd

  Every February, Heart Month brings attention to the importance of cardiovascular health. Did you know spending time in nature – including your own family yard – is good for your heart? Here are just a few of the reasons why. A review of research published between 1976 and 2017 found consistent associations between greater […]

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February 1st

Over the last year we’ve all developed an even greater appreciation for our family yards as we used our own personal patches of nature to get away from our screens and connect with one another and nature. Dogs like Mo-Mo – whose favorite place is the family yard – have known it all along: there […]

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