Today I was privileged to be able to attend a walk hosted by the Old Growth Conservancy Society on Cypress Mountain. Back in 1990 there was plan by the city mayor to turn the area on Cypress mountain, rich in rare old growth red cedars,… Read More »Old Growth Conservancy
Thanks to a Neighbourhood Small Grant, we were blessed to be able to have Lori Snyder, Métis herbalist and educator lead an Indigenous Plant Walk on Saturday, September 11 from 10-11:30am. She shared the traditional native usages of both naturalized and native plants, such as… Read More »Indigenous Plant Walk
September 2021 Free the Fern has launched a new Free the Fern Lending Library. Free the Fern members* are welcome to borrow books for free on a three week loan basis. We currently have 29 books in our collection. Books include popular best sellers such… Read More »Free the Fern Lending Library!
Yesterday, due to poor air quality from forest fires in the interior, we had to make the tough decision to postpone our Indigenous Plant Walk with Lori Snyder. Originally scheduled for Saturday, Aug 14, we have now rescheduled it for Saturday, September 11, 2021. It… Read More »Indigenous Plant Walk
Thanks to our keen volunteers, and the leadership of Free the Fern member, Teresa Gagné, on July 10, 2021 we began a Native Plant Propagation Project. We potted 17 softwood cuttings and each Free the Fern members are caring for 2 or 3 pots each.… Read More »Native Plant Propagation
The Vancouver City Engineering Department has marked dead trees that are a hazard along the Champlain Heights Trail and have begun the process of removing them, with the help of Davey’s Tree co. The process began on June 29, 2021 and is scheduled to continue… Read More »Tree Removal Begins
This spring, behind Kinross Creek Co-op, along the Red Alder Trail, I noticed a new weedsprouting. By May, it had formed a dense carpet along the east exit of Kinross Creek and wasextending, in patches, down the trail. It grew as tall as a foot… Read More »New Invasive on the Block
In honour of June being pride month and Indigenous History Month, I wish to make a statement that Free the Fern celebrates diversity and inclusion. Just like the forest thrives through diversity, so to do we as a society. I, the founder of Free the… Read More »Our Strength is our Diversity
Today, as I was walking along Champlain Heights Trail, gathering mulch in my wheelbarrow, I spotted an amazing old stump. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that it was not just a stump – but a whole ecosystem of life. There was a huckleberry plant full… Read More »A World in a Stump
We had a very successful Invasive Ed 101 event on Saturday, June 12. Despite the forecast being 70% rain, we woke up to to beautiful sunny skies. Our members, Kiki, Anne, Grace and Paola were on hand to set up our info table, with waiver… Read More »Invasive Ed 101