The Ontario Horticultural Association (OHA), a charitable organization that encourages interest in gardening and related environmental issues across the province, has featured the Long Point Biosphere Region’s North Shore Resilience Project in its Summer 2025 Newsletter Trillium.
The Trillium article written by the Biosphere’s Conservation Director Sarah Emons and Laurene Via, a member of the Port Dover and Woodhouse Horticulture Society, describes work being done to restore sand dunes by planting native grasses on the southern shore of Long Point.
The piece, entitled Coastal Gardening: An Initiative to Prevent Wind and Water Erosion Along the Northern Shore of Lake Erie is illustrated with many captioned photos and supported by information on the project, which is a partnership with volunteer landowners, Norfolk County, and volunteer gardeners from our area.
Those involved plant native grasses such as Beach Grass, Little Bluestem and Switch Grass to catch and hold sand and, in turn, build dunes on Long Point. The grass-filled dunes protect the beach and properties from storm surges, high water levels and powerful winds, as well as allowing beaches to grow and remain healthy by storing sand.
Through the OHA newsletter, gardening enthusiasts in horticultural societies and like-minded organizations across Ontario will learn about the Biosphere project which also involves significant research, engineering, and outreach programs as well.