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In encouraging our wild edges, we quickly discovered some really interesting things. Some plants we had no idea were edible, some medicinal, some powerhouses for birds and attracting beneficial insects...

Pioneer plants and supportive plants for other plants around them. Some plants are host to very rare and specific butterflies. All loved by the Wild bees who share this place with us.

This brought about the thousand plant challenge on our farm Beginning in 2020. 654 plants identified and noted so far. It was originally an idea to chart the biodiversity on our farm, but now it has developed into something so much more important. These plants that share the farm with us are important in so many ways, that we have to go and research each plant in origin, what it’s purpose is. Some plants are very rare representiing a fraction of their traditional populations in our ecosystem. 

Some plants we have brought in that used to be here, and some of those were very important as part of the indigenous food system Before the ground was disturbed by settlement.

 Some plants we call ‘weeds’ now that have naturalized to our area were brought by the europeans as medicinal plants or with a purpose. 

This has been quite the journey of discovery with these plants and the wildlife that depends on them now. Many lovely edibles like black cap raspberry and saskatoons are a couple of super favourites....if we can manage to pick some before the birds find them.

We sometimes take this place for granted...and we are reminded of this when our members and friends say how much peace this place brings to them. 

Part of our future programming will involve learning to reconnect with Nature....the soil....and to ourselves. We need to look for the music and dance in Nature. it has been a tough couple of years for many. It is time to heal. 💚

We can see spring chorus walks, art events, and workshops in the future. Pretty exciting!

Sometimes we have native perennials we have to rehome, or trees that sadly won’t be allowed to grow in the hydro easement. They get too tall! But we love to scoop these baby trees into pots and offer them to our members and friends of the farm. Some need time to adjust to their new lease on life in the greenhouse for a season, some we can take as cuttings or have as transplants to go directly into the ground of their new homes. That feels pretty nice.

When we need to rehome some trees, or move some plants, we announce when and what we have.

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