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HomeAuthorsDebora Kuchme

Articles by Debora Kuchme

About Debora Kuchme
After a 30-year career as a fashion designer, Debora worked at Horticultural Design for over a decade. Now with her concerns about climate change, she hopes to help local gardeners find positive solutions for a greener and healthier neighbourhood. As a board member of the Bayview Leaside BIA, she created the Bayview Pixies, a volunteer group introducing sustainable gardening practice to Bayview.
An image of a red planet.
Gardening

How will our next councillor deal with climate change?

November 1, 2024 Debora Kuchme

The Don Valley West for Environmental Action is a group of concerned residents who want to know how our next councillor will deal with our rapidly changing environment. And I do too!  Back in July, …more

The St. Cuthbert's Gard'n Angels. Photo Hedy Sellers.
Gardening

Shout-out to the St. Cuthbert’s Gard’n Angels!

October 1, 2024 Debora Kuchme

Back in June, the gardens of St. Cuthbert’s were among those featured in the Leaside Garden Society’s Magical Garden Tour. On that sunny Saturday afternoon, more than 200 visitors enjoyed sipping lemonade and meandering through …more

Dog Strangling Vine.
Gardening

Beware the dog-strangling vine invader!

September 1, 2024 Debora Kuchme

Dog-strangling vine (DSV) does not strangle dogs, but it does strangle plants and trees and can quickly overtake native plants to become the dominant plant in any ecosystem. Native to Eurasia, DSV is a member …more

The Schneider pond.
Gardening

Ever think of adding a pond to your patch of paradise? I have!

August 1, 2024 Debora Kuchme

Mother Nature creates the most elegant ecosystems, and perhaps one of her most enchanting is the pond. This is where rock, soil and water join forces to support life in extraordinary ways. A pond is …more

Progress is made in the garden. Photo Cheryl Vanderburg.
Gardening

It’s a jungle out there! A garden out of control

July 1, 2024 Debora Kuchme

Around 15 years ago, my green buddy, Cheryl Vanderburg, decided to do a backyard makeover. She’s always been drawn to natural gardens, and if you’ve read any of her many Leaside Life ‘Litterati’ articles, you …more

Rolph Road Kids ready to dig in. Photo Alexandra Stefanoff.
Gardening

First Leaside school to get a Butterfly Canoe!

June 1, 2024 Debora Kuchme

It should come as no surprise that Rolph Road Elementary School is the first school in Leaside to have a Butterfly Canoe. After all, this is a certified EcoSchool with Gold EcoSchool status. Carol Lee, …more

A rooftop garden. Photo by Jason Rokosh.
Gardening

Green ambition – Jason Rokosh scales the heights

May 1, 2024 Debora Kuchme

Living walls, green façades, rooftop gardens. Just imagine the possibilities beyond the usual lawn. Meet Jason Rokosh, whose green creativity takes him – and his clients – to new places, and all to improve the …more

Photo By: Peter Tucker.
Gardening

Earth Day brings the return of the Bayview Pixies!

April 1, 2024 Debora Kuchme

They’re baaaaack! The Bayview Pixies, that is, only this time, it’s to bring gifts and a little piece of magic to every garden in the community, and not just Bayview. In celebration of Earth Day, …more

The Doris White Children's Garden. Photo by Kathi Davies.
Gardening

A gardener’s legacy blooms in Leaside

March 1, 2024 Debora Kuchme

There’s a charming perennial border stretching along the northern fence of the St. Cuthbert’s vegetable patch. I saw it last fall when I was doing the Harvest Report there. It’s small, compared to the other …more

Congratulations to Sara Escallon- Sotomayor, who won this year’s $2,000 Leaside Garden Society Scholarship award.
Gardening

A “green warrior” wins the LGS scholarship!

November 1, 2023 Debora Kuchme

Congratulations to Sara Escallon-Sotomayor, who won this year’s $2,000 Leaside Garden Society Scholarship award. She’s a graduate of Leaside High, a North Toronto elite soccer player, coach, tutor and my new green hero! Sara has …more

Posts pagination

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Digital Edition

Barbara Klein, front, and the business students responsible for creating Leaside Eats. Photo Anna Kravtchenco.
In the Spotlight

Leaside Eats!

by Susan Scandiffio in Community

Barbara Klein is one of those teachers.  A teacher who inspires her students. A teacher who brings out the absolute best in them and provides them with unique opportunities while meaningfully tying in course content. ...more
Recent Posts
  • Announcing the Canada Proud Leaside Proud Flag Contest!
  • The Ghost Party – Young Poet’s Corner May 2025
  • Taking action at City Hall to protect Torontonians
  • A Walking Tour of Bennington Heights
  • Honouring Bill Pashby, helping make Leaside strong and Canada proud
  • Patriotism from the past
  • Leasiders unleashed their patriotism during Canada’s Centennial
  • And speaking of elections….
  • O Canada! O Leaside!
  • “Pie queen” perfects the very Canadian butter tart
  • A warm welcome from our new TDSB Trustee
  • Canada counts! And Leaside is still a neighbourhood of neighbours!
  • This Canadian champion was “made” in Leaside
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