Sunnybrae Community

SEPTEMBER 2020 (Continued from page 18) Our first, and ongoing, task is to raise awareness about the specific housing needs in our region. We fully supported the CSRD housing needs assessment, and we are planning a virtual community gathering in the fall with Urbanics, the consultant, to continue to shine a spotlight on housing needs and housing solutions. We are in negotiations with a housing developer to launch our first collaborative housing project – perhaps as early as this fall or early winter. We are willing to work closely with the CSRD as a community housing partner. Even though the regional district doesn’t have the resources or mandate of a big city (or, indeed, the financial clout of provincial or federal governments), CSRD can work creatively with community groups to take positive steps right across the housing spectrum – just as the housing needs assessment has recommended.

Stay tuned for information on our upcoming virtual housing meeting, as well as our plans for more much-needed affordable housing in our region. You can read the entire Urbanics housing report here:

Michael Shapcott is President of the South Shuswap Housing Society and Executive Director of the Sorrento Centre. You can connect with him by email at michael@sorrentocentre. All Season Vacation Rentals in Seymour Arm

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Sunnybrae Community Association

By James Clark

The landscaping is coming along here at the Sunnybrae Community Hall. A huge thanks to L. Turner Contracting for their generous donation of landscaping rock! And a big thanks to Glen Haines, one of our community volunteers for putting all the time in to lay all the rock on the front banks of the hall. The amazing contributions and donations we have had over the season have really helped us to achieve this FireSmart project without breaking the bank: which I'm sure many non-profit organizations and small businesses can relate to this year. So thanks again to L. Turner Contracting, the CSRD, Buckerfields of Salmon Arm and all our Sunnybrae volunteers! With this project coming to a close, we will be moving on to establishing a Covid-19 protocol for the hall. At present the hall is still closed, and all public rentals have either been cancelled or rescheduled for 2021. At the moment the Sunnybrae Coffeehouse will not be resuming as usual in October. The board of directors will continue to de

velop protocol that is in line with the Provincial Health Order, however there is no anticipated opening date for the Community Hall at this time. Please keep up to date with our news at the Sunnybrae Community Association page on Facebook, or via our website: www.sunnybraecommunityassociation.com In the meantime we hope everyone is enjoying what seems to be the tail end of the summer, and that you are all staying safe and healthy! Best wishes from the Sunnybrae Community Association.

Garden Design for the Home Ignition Zone

By Barbra Fairclough

Designing your garden with fire safety in mind will make your garden an asset that will increase the visual appeal as well as the safety of your home. The area within 10 meters of your home is considered a ‘home ignition zone.’ Here are some design and maintenance considerations to reduce the risk of fire.

The garden nearest to your house should be separated into smaller areas by the smart use of hardscapes such as walls, pavers, walkways, driveways, and decks. These fire resistant zones break up more combustible areas into smaller areas slowing the advance of fire.

Pathways can improve sight lines and provide texture contrast to softer plant textures. By laying a curved pathway you can create points of interest. Where the curve turns out of view it is an invitation into the garden to see what lays beyond. Walkway surfaces built with non-combustible pavers serve as fire barriers that mitigate fire movement.

Mulching with stone next to the

Euphorbia - Photo credit Barbra Fairclough

house creates a non-combustible apron around the home. Consider a clear pathway around the house that sets plants apart from the home.

Boulders can provide good bones for the garden that make it interesting all year long. They can separate garden spaces and reduce the amount of watering as well. Stone laying is an artform unto itself. This can be a whole new area of discovery in designing your garden.

Resist planting trees such as cedars next to the house. Coniferous trees such as pine, cedar, juniper, spruce is not recommended to be planted in the home ignition zone. Conifers are generally thought of as highly flammable. Len Youden, CSRD Firesmart Coordinator, notes that this is a highly common issue that is often overlooked.

Fire resistant plants that are low growing, with high moisture, fleshy leaves such as Euphorbias (Spurge) and Sempervivums (Hens and Chicks) are good choices for the area around the home. Semi evergreen perennials are good choices. Avoid plants that produce seasonal brown foliage or have twiggy woody debris.

Ornamental grasses are excellent companions with rockery and stone. They soften hard surfaces and bring movement to the garden. Be mindful of varieties that have a brown dormant season. Grasses can shed dead foliage and spent leaves and flowers that will be ignition points. Low growing well behaved three or four season grasses such as Festuca (Fescue) or Hakonechloa (Hakone) grass varieties are solid choices for low growing, multi season interest. Remember there are no fireproof plants.

Choosing fire resistant plants and keeping them properly maintained will ensure brown debris does not build up. Youden says the key to reducing fire risk is looking for ‘ember traps’ such as the space under your steps that gather dead needles or leafy debris. (Continued on page 21)

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(Continued from page 20)

Lawns should be kept green through the summer months. Take care to install your lawn on a topsoil with a minimum finished depth of 3 inches. An even layer of topsoil will support a Hens and Chicks - Photo credit Barbra Fairclough healthy lawn that needs less associated with specifwater and nutrient. ic remediation tasks that

In the outer yard extendimprove fire safety. Youden ing 20 meters or so beyond says“ Even if the homethe home ignition zone, owner completes the work deciduous trees slow the themselves, they may be movement of fire. Decidueligible to receive a rebate ous trees are not resinous for the completed work as it like conifers, so they are is outlined ahead of time in not the same ignition the assessment.” points. Deciduous trees Properties are given a with smaller, easy to comrating associated with risk post leaves are easier to and if the home is deemed maintain. to be a “moderate” or high

Remove tree branches er risk, the homeowner may up to the height of 2 meters. qualify for a rebate of up to This will prevent’ ladder$500 for any improvements ing’ that helps a ground fire made. Check the program quickly move into the tree for details. canopy. A thoughtful approach

Wooden sheds, wood to your garden design and piles or any other features maintenance will make garthat are combustible should dening easy and it will look be located away from the good throughout the seahome into the outer yard sons. You will find local area. information in the

Youden says a free FireSmart Guide to LandFireSmart assessment is the scaping and the Firesmart first step to see where you Homeowners Manual. It may qualify for financial will help you look at garsupport for completing dening in a whole new way. work on your home or Sign up for a FireSmart property that reduces the assessment at https:// risk of damage or loss due www.csrd.bc.ca/firesmart to a wildfire. or email The assessment infiresmart@csrd.bc.ca cludes a monetary value

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