Free the Fern

So, exited for our nonprofit to be featured in Park People / Ami·es des parcs reports. We are grateful to be part of their Cornerstone Parks network.

Want to learn more about the amazing work we are doing with Free the Fern? Then check out our Report on Park Stewardship prepared by Park People / Ami·es des parcs. file:///C:/Users/17788/Desktop/FreeTheFern/Documents/Park%20People%20-%20Cornerstone%20Program/Park%20People%20Public%20Reports/FreetheFernReport_2024.pdf #southvan #stewardship #volunteer #nonprofit #environment #invasivespecies #nativeplants #community

Come join us for our monthly Invasive Pull this Saturday, June 1, 10am-12pm. We will be meeting at the beautiful Douglas Fir Teaching Garden on the Red Alder Trail in South Vancouver. Our focus will be on removing invasive plants (Himalayan blackberry and ivy). Bright vests, gloves, tools, and refreshments will be provided. All ages and abilities are welcome! Sign up on our events page: https://lnkd.in/gZjW9phV

Loved learning about how to transform ivy vines into paper last weekend, with artists, Masumi Rodriguez and Elena Kirby. Eleana studied traditional washi papermaking in Japan over 7 months. At our free public workshop they shared how to gather, boil, blend, and process the ivy into beautiful handmade paper. Check out more about the process on our blog: https://lnkd.in/gnxmmRqA

Honoured to have had Metis herbalist and educator, Lori Snyder, partner with us for a Healing Salve Workshop last weekend. “Instead of decolonizing, I prefer reclaiming my ancestory & sovereignty (I am responsible for my knowledge)” Read more about the workshop on our blog: https://lnkd.in/gWFyzT_B

It was a pleasure to partner with artist Marisa Pahl to run a Douglas Fir Watercolour Workshop today. Together we explored the Douglas fir tree through poem, story and art. https://lnkd.in/gMHj3Xj7 Thanks to Park People / Ami·es des parcs for making free workshops like this possible. What a joy to be able to connect to nature in our community. #southvan #art #nature #trees #community #workshop

For those who enjoyed our recent Buds, Branches, & Bark walk in partnership with Julia Alards-Tomalin (or if you didn't get a chance to attend), check out her upcoming walk in Stanley Park on February 24, 2024: https://lnkd.in/gVvTa-8R #vancouver #education #FREE #walk #events #nativeplants

As part of our Healing Forest Project we have partnered with Coast Salish artist, Andrea Fritz of the Lyackson First Nation to design a fern t-shirt and bag. 100% of all money raised by donations for t-shirts ($30) or bags ($20) will go to the Urban Native Youth Association and their important art, wellness, and education programs for local Indigenous youth. The t-shirts are printed on high quality, sustainable cotton fabric by local Burnaby printers, Pressing Matters Sizes xs-2xl available. Donate via e-transfer or cash and pickup locally in South East Vancouver or at an upcoming Free the Fern event. Place an order here: https://lnkd.in/gPPkyxkV As Squamish educator, Matthew Williams, says "we measure wealth not by how much we have, but by how much we can give". Let's support each other and the healing work in our community❤️ Thank you to Park People / Ami·es des parcs for making this Healing Forest Project possible. #southvancouver #fern #tshirt #fundraiser #indigenous #youth #support #local #community

Thank you to BCIT instructor, Julia Alards-Tomalin, for leading a Buds, Branches, and Bark Walk on January 20 along the Red Alder Trail! 19 participants gathered to learn how to identify plants in Winter. The key, Julia shared, is to examine the buds, bark, branches, and also use your sense of smell. Plants grow from the tips of the branches out, and the top most bud on a branch is called an apical bud. The bud is covered in a hard bud scale that protects it like armour. When that bud scale falls off, the leaves and flowers are able to unfurl. Also, there are tiny holes along a branch, called lenticel, that allow the branch to "breathe". Amazing! Together, we walked through the Red Alder Trail and learned how to identify Red Alder, Big leaf Maple, snowberry, oceanspray, and osoberry. We had a surprise visit by a red breasted sapsucker who was pecking at a Big leaf maple tree just above us. In addition, we were surprised by a plump grey squirrel who ended up breaking a branch and falling to the snowbank (don’t worry, he was back up and climbing the tree a moment later). We concluded our walk with some wonderful hot tea and snacks. Thanks so much to Julia for sharing all your incredible knowledge with us!! You have opened our eyes to a whole new way of looking at plants in the Winter ❤️ This free community event was possible thanks to funding from Park People / Ami·es des parcs. Photo credit: Kevin Jinn of Carleton Landscaping #southvan #winter #nativeplants #walk #education #event #community #nature

On Sunday, Dec 17, Free the Fern hosted our third annual, Light up the Night in Champlain Heights event! Approximately 125 locals come out to enjoy a lantern procession, led by the Carnival Band, along the beautiful Red Alder trail. We partnered with 11 local artists to create lanterns to display. Following the procession, we all enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies (baked by many local volunteers!) Free the Fern is happy to be able to organize this wonderful, family-friendly event for the local community! Thank you to Park People / Ami·es des parcs for providing funding support. https://lnkd.in/e5EVhSJs #community #event #free #trail #lanterns #artists #connectingpeople #art #nature