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
Free the Fern Member, Teresa Gagné, offered to help design trail signage for our Free the Fern conservation effort. She will be printing and laminating these signs for placement along the Champlain Heights Trail in the areas we are stewarding. Thank you Teresa for your… Read More »Trail Signage
Today Free the Fern member, and UBC student, Damian Assadi, went for a walk with me in neighbouring Champlain Heights Park. This is a park just north of the Champlain Heights Community Centre. It is an oasis of native plants – beds of salal, oregon… Read More »How Old is that Douglas Fir Tree?
Since forming Free the Fern in January 2021, we have been tracking our volunteer hours and invasives removed via a google form. So, I took a look at our totals today. From January 15 to June 1, 2021, Free the Fern volunteers have spent 256.50… Read More »Wow! That is a lot of Invasives!
Since meeting Paola Coloma, resident of Cartier Place in Champlain Heights, I have been impressed with her passion for volunteerism and warm, genuine nature. At the start of May, she set a goal to remove the invasive ivy and Himalayan Blackberry from the edge of… Read More »Volunteer Spotlight: Paola Coloma
On May 29, 2021, thanks to a Neighbourhood Small Grant, Free the Fern member, Martin, was able to host a Let’s Root Out Invasives” event at Alexander Laidlaw Co-op, adjacent to the Red Alder Trail. Ten volunteers, including five Free the Fern members, signed up… Read More »Let’s Root Out Invasives!
Walking down Champlain Heights Trail there have been many signs of spring. I am in awe of the bright green of the young vine maple leaves above me. Behind Kinross Creek Co-op, I see the deep pink of the first baldhip rose unfurling its petals. Farther… Read More »Signs of Spring