friendship – Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. George Genereux Urban Regional Park.

Help Me!

Cardiovascular benefits, and heart health forest walking

Richard St. Barbe Baker L.L.D, O.B.E. photo credit University of Saskatchewan. University Archives and Special Collections. Richard St. Barbe Baker Fonds MG71.

St. Barbe was eighty-six when I first met him. …

“Help Me” he said simply.

Help me! He took on the struggle and greatness of the planet itself in that moment.~Gaea Laughingbird Weiss. New Age. November 1982

Have you ever taken a moment to delve into the heart and soul of Richard St. Barbe Baker? Spend a moment and read through his personal correspondence, many and several articles about St. Barbe, tributes and memorials upon his passing. These and more can all be uncovered at the University of Saskatchewan, University Archives & Special Collections, Richard St. Barbe Baker fonds, MG 71

“Trees are sensitive to thought vibrations and sometimes visibly recoil from people who do not love them. Many believe that should a tree have to be felled or even heavily pruned, there should be an understanding wit the tree deva. ~Richard St. Barbe Baker in Trees for Health and Longevity. Forward by Kenneth T.H. Moore M.B., B.S., F.R.C.S.

Richard St. Barbe Baker was responsible for planting some 26 trillion trees during his lifetime. Organizations, and people committed to the legacy of St. Barbe continue his life mission even today.

“It took a long time to find a suitable site for such an important memorial.” The Richard St. Barbe Baker Memorial Wood, Charnwood Borough.

Richard St. Barbe Baker OBE, Hon. LL.D. F.I.A.L., For.Dip.Cantab., ACF (9 October 1889 – 9 June 1982) received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws on 6 November 1971 from the University of Saskatchewan. This honour was followed by an appointment bestowed by Queen Elizabeth II as Officer of the Order of the British Empire OBE in 1978.

“[Richard St. Barbe Baker said,] I am going to Saskatchewan where I began as a young man, studying forestry at the university, homesteading and planting the first trees. I don’t know if I will go beyond there.” He paused and looked at me in that direct way he had, reading my mind, for I had been wishing to speak with him of death. “Is there anything you wish to say to me in my condition? he asked.

“Do you mean as you are about to die? I [Gaea Laughingbird Weiss] responded.

“Yes,” he said…..

When I left, he said, “Pray for me,” and I felt waves of love move through me, as if from lifetimes of friendship.”

“~Gaea Laughingbird Weiss. New Age. November 1982

Why did St. Barbe, a world wide traveler, choose Saskatoon, specifically with due thought, care and attention, as his resting place? Why did St. Barbe honour Saskatoon with his presence in June 1982 and ever after? How does Saskatoon take the time to repay this great and terrific honour? It is truly humbling to learn about St. Barbe and to always feel a great privilege to walk in the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area named out of respect in his memory.

“Many scientists have a spiritual perspective that remains hidden from public view until their later years or their death. Not so St. Barbe, who integrated rigorous scientific understanding of trees, and the place of forests in planetary ecology, with a profoundly spiritual understanding.” Gaea Laughingbird Weiss. New Age. November 1982

Paul Hanley, a personal friend of St. Barbe, a freelance writer, and environmentalist, has written a biography on this internationally known forester, Richard St. Barbe Baker. Contact Paul Hanley for more information about this book.

A bit of fog and hoar frost in the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Forest

Photo of Richard St. Barbe Baker Courtesy: University of Saskatchewan, University Archives & Special Collections, Richard St. Barbe Baker fonds, MG 71

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, Saskatoon, SK, CA

Richard St. Barbe Baker photograph courtesy University of Saskatchewan, University Archives & Special Collections, Richard St. Barbe Baker fonds, MG 71

For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park

For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

For more information:

Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits

P4G Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth The P4G consists of the Cities of Saskatoon, Warman, and Martensville, the Town of Osler and the Rural Municipality of Corman Park; planning for areas around the afforestation area and West Swale outside of Saskatoon city limits

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′
Addresses:
Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A
Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A
S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A
NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063
Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot
Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com
Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map
Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)? with map

Pinterest richardstbarbeb

Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Facebook: StBarbeBaker

Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Facebook: South West OLRA

Twitter: StBarbeBaker

Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail)

Support the afforestation areas with your donation or membership ($20.00/year). Please donate by paypal using the e-mail friendsafforestation AT gmail.com, or by using e-transfers Please and thank you! Your donation and membership is greatly appreciated. Members e-mail your contact information to be kept up to date!

QR Code FOR PAYPAL DONATIONS to the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. — Paypal

Payment Options

Membership : $20.00 CAD – yearly
Membership with donation : $50.00 CAD
Membership with donation : $100.00 CAD

1./ Learn.

2./ Experience

3./ Do Something: ^***

“The future of the planet concerns all of us, and all of us should do what we can to protect it. ” Wangari Maathai.

“It is with a spirit of reverence that I approach God’s Creation, this beautiful Earth. The ancients believe that the Earth was a sentient being and felt the behavior of mankind upon it. As we have no proof to the contrary, it might be as well for responsible perople to accept this point of view and behave accordingly.”~Richard St. Barbe Baker

Clean, Green Community Scene!

It all adds up, indeed. Good deeds such as cleaning up the community parks are truly contagious

It looks like a fantastic day for the clean up scheduled at the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area on Saturday, July 9, 2016, indeed! The honourable Councillor Pat Lorje, who has done so much for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area already, will come out to the community volunteer clean up day. As well as representatives from the Meewasin Valley Authority will also bring Meewasin greetings! The Saskatoon Singing Circle, an affiliate of the Sacred Web Singers will arrive to bring some great tree songs to the volunteers in appreciation of the wonderful works to restore the forest.
Power-Of-Parks-Infographic-w
The Saskatoon Community Public Health Nurse will take care of any safety concerns, and the Saskatoon City Police Community Liason Constable has also been involved with the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area clean up site inspection.

There has been an amazing response from the business and corporate community, and prizes will be randomly drawn at the end of the shifts a fantastic opportunity to offer to the volunteers appreciations for their time offered at the clean up! Remember to pick up your certificate as well before leaving, we truly wish to thank you kindly for coming out and participating.

Additionally, the weather looks like it will cooperate, so all in all, it looks like a very promising day to see immediate and tangible results from trash removal to restore the forest. It is so exciting to look forward to a public space where children, youth, and adults can gather to appreciate the forest in tidy and sanitary conditions. There is no doubt about it, protecting nature, wildlife and wild places is a great environmental community project. Cleaning the waterways and the riparian forest, protects animals, birds, fish, and plant life from the contamination that litter brings. The clean up also sends a powerful message to users of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, that someone cares about this piece of land and the West Swale wetlands, and that this is not the right area to dump their unwanted trash.

There will data cards for this summer Great Canadian Shoreline “Scavenger Hunt” to record just what has been dumped in this amazing forest. Large jugs of water and juices will be available to replenish the water bottles you bring along. Remember your cloth canvas gloves. Gardening gloves or work gloves work much better than plastic or rubber gloves. If plastic or rubber gloves are needed, they will be supplied. Wear you closed toe shoes and footwear and come dressed for the weather which looks like a grand day for the cleanup which is fantastic!

We truly look forward to meeting you at the South West Off Leash Recreation Area parking lot at 8:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, 2016 for the Clean, Green Community Scene. You will have the opportunity to meet like-minded people, and possibly start great friendships. Everyone who comes out will have a great sense of accomplishment, pride and stewardship of the environment. An important benefit of the clean up will be reduced pollution in the West Swale wetlands which directly impact the South Saskatchewan River.
The clean up will have the following impact

“Improves the appearance of an area that was
previously neglected, abandoned, vandalized,
or misused.
Allows community members to use and
enjoy the improved area more than they did
before the cleanup.
Strengthens the community ties of those
involved in the cleanup.”Source

By taking part in the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area clean up, you will help create a public open space ~ an urban regional park~ which is vibrant, healthy and safe! It all adds up, indeed. Good deeds such as cleaning up the community parks are truly contagious, and will have a huge impact on this amazing green space of Saskatoon as the city grows to 1/2 million by the year 2023.