You’ll notice something decidedly different at the 46th annual Sidewalk Sale this Saturday, August 20 in downtown Huntsville. A section of Main Street will be sporting a new green coat – one made of grass.
It’s part of the Green Street Challenge, a partnership between Come Alive Outside, Landscape Ontario and the Downtown Huntsville BIA, which aims to “get people off the couch and living healthy, active lives outside”. Almost 7000 sq. ft. of sod will be laid between West and King Streets.
“They provide the sod, we provide the volunteers, and after the event the sod will be donated to Habitat for Humanity,” said Helena Renwick, the BIA’s Executive Director. At least 50 volunteers will be needed to lay the sod in the morning between 7-8:30am and pick it up at the end of the day between 5-6:30pm. Everyone is welcome to show their community spirit – there will be coffee, treats and music, too.
And what will happen with the sod after the event is over? Habitat for Humanity Ontario Gateway North plans to sell it to local landscapers, nurseries, construction companies, private businesses or DIYers – contact the Huntsville ReStore Manager, Jason Pritchard, at jpritchard@
It’s one of the more unique and bulky donations we’ve ever received, but we’re happy to have been selected as benefactors. We think it’s an important initiative the Huntsville BIA has spearheaded by promoting kids and adults alike to stay active and enjoy the outdoors. Any money made selling the sod will go directly to the Huntsville build currently underway on Irene Street.
David Morris, CEO of the regional Habitat affiliate in a release
Main Street will be closed between Brunel and Centre from 7am to 6:30pm for the Sidewalk Sale. Head downtown to enjoy live music from Douglas McLean, The Fernglen Fiddle Heads and Papa John Witterick, dancing demonstrations from JJ Dance Studio and the Muskoka Dance Academy, and great deals at downtown businesses. The sale runs from 9am to 5pm.
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Well said Brian. It gives the folks from downtown Toronto an opportunity to see grass that you don’t smoke for the first time!
Well said Lea. What a fabulous initiative by the Downtown BIA. Every measure was taken to ensure the sod would remain in excellent condition; the road was watered down prior to it being laid and then the grass was watered again. Sod is very hardy, it sits on skids at building stores for weeks on end and with a little TLC flourishes once laid and watered.
Thank you BIA for thinking outside the box and bringing a unique fun initiative to our town.
C’mon Brian, lighten up.
Let’s try some new things to put Huntsville on the map as a unique draw for visitors. The event was well planned with lots of enthusiastic volunteers helping out. Grass is pretty hardy and once placed it will come back with watering and warm weather.
Congrats to all involved!!
I hate to be negative here and maybe the social benefits are enough to justify this but what we have here is a lot of work to lay sod in an untenable environment, leave it there long enough to stress the sod pretty badly, especially if it is a hot sunny day, and then a lot more work to take up this (now second quality sod with a decreased chance of actually growing) and move it to another location. Then the area the sod was placed will need cleaning again to pick up the residual dirt that ideally would have stayed with the sod.
I’m just not sure this is worth the effort but I guess we are about to see. The question to watch for is if this sod actually does get placed in a final resting spot by Habitat and actually grows. If this is not the case then probably artificial sod should have been the choice for this event.
Rugged Earth Property Maintenance and Management is the company bringing this to Huntsville!
Partnerships between the BIA & Rugged Earth have made it happen.
Come Alive Outside is the donating organization.
Looking forward to this!