Today, Saturday, June 7, 2025, we had a beautiful, sunny stewardship event. 16 volunteeers (4 of them first-timers!) gathered at the Douglas Fir Teaching Garden to help remove invasive plants from along the Champlain Heights Trails.
Free the Fern Director, Robin, was the co-lead today, assisting our Executive Director, Grace. We welcomed everyone in the garden in a circle. Acknowledging our stewardship effort as being an act of reconciliation through restoration. As, we are helping remove invasive plants that were introduced with colonization, and restore native plants that were traditionally harvested for food, medicine, and weaving. Robin then lead us in a circle, with everyone sharing their names, pronouns, what brought us here, and offering a stretch.
Once we were limbered up, we grabbed our gloves and headed down the Champlain Heights Trails. When the trail forked, near the playground, we decided to divide and conquer. One group, led by Robin, focused on removing invasive wild chervil. While, a second group, led by Grace, focused on removing ivy, Himalayan blackberry, and a bit of perwinkle. Together, we succeded in clearing 3 green bins (3x360L = 720 L) of invasive plants! Amazing!
Thank you to everyone who came out to help today: Chloe, Cole, Connie*, Dom*, Ellie, Erin, Evan*, Genevieve, Grace, Jeannine, Lynell, Robin, Samantha*, Sylvia, Veronica, and Westley.
*first time volunteers with Free the Fern
We are greatful to Park People for providing funding for this event.