Little Forests Kingston

Meeting this week is a Forest Walk

Instead of a zoom meeting this week, let’s meet for a Forest Walk! Join us at 7:00 am on July 3rd at McCullough Park (off Homeward Avenue)… NOT the McCullough Park off Portsmouth).

Bring a little bag you can use to collect a handful of forest soil (or a mushroom or anything else that captures your senses) to gift to the forest floor of one of the Little Forests.

Little Forests happenings

Preparing the land at Lakeside: We had two small workbees this week to spread the leaf and yard waste compost donated by Tomlinson’s Organics. One last workbee sheduled Sunday July 4 7:00 am. We’ll be moving that last of the compost onto the forest floor, weeding out the pasture grass that managed to make it through the wood chip layer, and moving some stumps into the forest. Bring your bathing suit if you’re brave enough to join in for a swim afterwards at nearby Everitt Point Park.

Preparing the land Wolfe Island: No pictures yet, but it sounds like the forest floor at Wolfe Island is now prepped after two workbees last week.

Forest floor, Forest walks

Restoring the forest floor using woodchips: “It is the forest floor, more than the trees that define a forest. The forest floor does not exist without the trees, but a forest is not a forest without a forest floor.” Capital Land Trust in the States now restores forests in Islands rather than grids because they’ve changed the way they prepare the forest floor. Like us, they use woodchips. To help convert a larger area of soil into forest floor, they spread woodchips as deeply as possible across the area they will be planting (Islands) instead of their previous method of mulching trees individually. “The wood chips mimic all of those leaves, branches, needles, etc. that fall from the trees in a forest.The wood chips cool the soil, provide homes for small critters and provide habitat for fungi to grow. The more wood chips you can put down the better the result.” They’re also thinking about adding stumps and logs in the future to help restore forest soil.

Speaking of stumps and logs: Stumps and logs (also known as coarse woody debris) are an important part of the forest floor ecosystem, “provid[ing] food, shelter, protection, cover, and substrate or climate amelioration for many species.” We’ve been collecting stumps and logs. Let’s add some to our forest floor!

What impact will Earthworms have: Many of us think that Earthworms are great for improving the soil. But Earthworms are an invasive species already living on the land in which we’re planting the Little Forests. The image above by Great Lakes Worm Watch illustrates the difference between a forest floor invaded by Earthworm, who quickly eat the litter and duff layer. What impact will Earthworms have on our care of the Little Forests we plant?

We have a new word for that feeling when travel makes everything new. Liam Heneghan, a professor of environmental studies, writes that “One thing I’ve noticed over the years of bringing my students to Ireland — my homeland — is that they pay rapt attention to the little things. This heightened and delighted attention to the ordinary, which manifests in someone new to a place, does not seem to have a name. So I have given it one: allokataplixis (from the Greekallo meaning ‘other’, and katapliktiko meaning ‘wonder’). In Modern Greek katapliktiko and the related word katataplixiecan be used to register astonishment… Allokataplixis, as I use the term, is the gift, usually unacknowledged, that the traveller offers to the places they visit.” This makes me wonder… is there a word in Anishinaabemowin or Kanien'kéha?

Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard: I’ve just started to read Suzanne Simard’s new book. Here are a couple of quotes that struck me:

“The forest is wired for wisdom, sentience, and healing. This is not a book about how we can save the trees. This is a book about how the trees might save us.”

“By understanding their sentient qualities, our empathy and love for trees, plants, and forests will naturally deepen and find innovative solutions. Turning to the intelligence of nature itself is the key. It’s up to each and every one of us. Connect with plants you can call your own… Here’s a simple and profound action you can take right now: Go find a tree-your tree. Imagine linking into her network, connecting to other trees nearby. Open your senses.”

“Ecosystems are similar to human societies — they’re built on relationships. The stronger those are, the more resilient the system.”