Bloom where you are planted

Bloom where you are planted.  Afforested in 1972, the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas have become home to native plants of Saskatchewan.  The forest provides a unique biome, and soil for even the rarest of species.

Rose in the Richard St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Small Yellow Lady’s Slipper – Cypripedium parviflorum Courtesy James St. John cc2-0

Bee

Right now, write down 20 things you are grateful for in the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional park.

What are five ways the afforestation areas can help you find health and happiness?

How old are the old-growth areas of the afforestation areas?  How many trembling aspen bluffs are there?  Are there other trees which were not afforested?

“There is no mystery about the succession of forest-growths, nothing in Nature is more plain and simple.  We cannot but admire her wisdom, economy and justness, compensating in another direction for any disadvantage a species may have to labor under.  Every kind of tree has an interesting history in itself. Seeds with a hard shell, or with a pulpy and resinous covering, which retards their germination, are often saved from becoming extinct by these means.” Mr. Robert Douglas, horticulturalist and forestry consultant.

To celebrate Arbor Day this Friday May 22, 2020 virtually, Coloring Page 2, a pdf file for free download. (preview first)  In this free coloring page, there is also a puzzle.  Can you find the two birds in the tree?  When you are out walking can you find the birds in the trees, and spot the woodpeckers?

Starting Sunday May 17 and continuing on until Sunday May 24, is arbor week.  Richard St. Barbe Baker..said to a lady once who wanted to plant a tree in his honour, “Madam, don’t plant a tree, plant a wood.”  And here, in Saskatoon, we have planted an afforestation area named in honour of Richard St. Barbe Baker, biologist and botanist, environmental activist and author.

Art is for everybody. 

Arbor Day Safe Forests Go Fund Me Page to support our trees in the afforestation areas!

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

  Canada Helps

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)

1./ Learn.

2./ Experience

3./ Do Something: ^***

  Canada Helps

The children and nature movement is fueled by this fundamental idea: the child in nature is an endangered species, and the health of children and the health of the Earth are inseparable.Richard Louv

 

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” — Jane Goodall

Arbor Week is here

Today is the first day of Arbor Week!

Hon. Dustin Duncan, Minister of the Environment has proclaimed Friday May 22, 2020 the very first Arbor Day in the Province of Saskatchewan.  Yay!

The Trembling Aspen is also referred to as the Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx) May 25, 2019

Richard St. Barbe Baker OBE, Hon. LL.D. F.I.A.L., For.Dip.Cantab., ACF (9 October 1889 – 9 June 1982)

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

During the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic we cannot safely host a group tree planting ceremony.  So, we did the next best thing, we are hosting a virtual forest protection event!

Isn’t it great to have safe forests to enjoy the natural, recreational, and health benefits of forests?  Come on board!  We have successfully with the help of our sponsors raised money to mitigate illegal vehicle trespass from the west side of the afforestation area!

Thank you to the City of Saskatoon Environmental Grant, Expocrete, EcoFriendly Saskatchewan, Fatlanders Fatbike Brigade, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas, Sask Energy, SaskOutdoors, and the amazing citizens of Saskatoon for rallying around with donations and grants in support of park protection!

Guess what?  There is now an Arbor Day Safe Forests Go Fund Me Page to support our trees in the afforestation areas!  We are so close to having a means to barricade entrance by motorized vehicles at the west side area to prevent illegal trespass and illegal dumping!  It would be fantastic to be able to level the ground and gravel the surface of this low-lying area for the vehicle barriers.  We just need that little bit more!  With your help during Arbor Week, it will surely make a grand difference.

Wouldn’t it be ever so nice not to have another huge community volunteer clean up?  Don’t get me wrong, it was amazing to turn around the eco-system, and see the forest and the environment restored to a healthy eco-system without trash.  But it will be ever so nice to not have those drive in hauling their  trash into a park by those too lazy or cheap to go to the landfill.  Then huge community clean ups are not needed any longer!!!   Yay!!!

“Our future is in our children; the future of the world is in their

hands and in the hands of their children. Let us train them wisely,

and see that the understanding and appreciation of trees is part

of their heritage. ” Richard St. Barbe Baker

Help to create safe green-space for outdoor place-based learning activities for student guardian programming.

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

You Tube Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

You Tube George Genereux Urban Regional Park

 

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

Canada Helps

1./ Learn.

2./ Experience

3./ Do Something: ^***

 

“St. Barbe’s unique capacity to pass on his enthusiasm to others. . . Many foresters all over the world found their vocations as a result of hearing ‘The Man of the Trees’ speak. I certainly did, but his impact has been much wider than that. Through his global lecture tours, St. Barbe has made millions of people aware of the importance of trees and forests to our planet.” Allan Grainger

“The science of forestry arose from the recognition of a universal need. It embodies the spirit of service to mankind in attempting to provide a means of supplying forever a necessity of life and, in addition, ministering to man’s aesthetic tastes and recreational interests. Besides, the spiritual side of human nature needs the refreshing inspiration which comes from trees and woodlands. If a nation saves its trees, the trees will save the nation. And nations as well as tribes may be brought together in this great movement, based on the ideal of beautifying the world by the cultivation of one of God’s loveliest creatures – the tree.” ~ Richard St. Barbe Baker.

“Our future is in our children; the future of the world is in their

hands and in the hands of their children. Let us train them wisely,

and see that the understanding and appreciation of trees is part

of their heritage. ” Richard St. Barbe Baker

“I believed that God has lent us the Earth. It belongs as much to those who come after us as to us, and it ill behooves us by anything we do or neglect, to deprive them of benefits which are in our power to bequeath.” Richard St. Barbe Baker

 

 

Health is wealth

April 7 is World Health Day
For people one would say that “Health is wealth”.  The COVID-19 pandemic has brought an especial awareness of the health of the human species.  Hoping today is finding you and yours healthy and well.

Children enjoying their time collecting leaves in the autumn forest.

The Trembling Aspen is also referred to as the Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx) May 25, 2019

“Who plants a tree loves others than himself” Richard St. Barbe Baker. For the love of trees.

National Sweater Day First Thursday of February

A very interesting thing has come to light also, because of this tragedy; wild animals wander through deserted cities under Covid-19 lockdown. “This is the habitat they once had and that we’ve taken away from them,” said Marcelo Giagnon

“It gives us an opportunity to see what it might be like if we do reduce our movements,” said James Pagé, the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s species at risk and biodiversity specialist.

As humans retreat to their shelters in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, wild animals are having a rare opportunity to come out of their shelters.

“God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls. “-Mother Teresa

As we consider our human species health in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is good to be cognizant also of the health of the animals who live locally, and have less and less areas for their habitats and homes.

Reflecting on the health of the human species health during the COVID-19 pandemic, consider the health of the planet.

Health is wealth for animals, and the planet.

“You can gauge a country’s wealth, its real wealth, by its tree cover.”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

Today is Tuesday,  April 7, and coming to the close of the first week of Earth Month. This year’s Earth Day 2020 theme is Climate Action.

Did you know, that protecting the habitat of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, and George Genereux Urban Regional Park as the urban footprint grows ever larger exponentially, that  being aware of the environment will stop the extirpation and extinction of endangered species.

The horned grebe and barred tiger salamander are listed as a species of special concern by the Committee On The Status Of Endangered Wildlife In Canada – an Independent Advisory Panel to the Minister Of Environment and Climate Change. The Red-necked Phalarope, Baird’s Sparrow and Grasshopper Sparrow are special concern, and Bobolink, Bank Swallow is threatened nationally under the federal Species at Risk Act SARA Schedule 1. The provincially listed small yellow lady’s slipper is another species in need of environmental guardianship. Protecting critical habitat is thus a key concern.  So, where exactly do the small yellow lady’s slipper grow in the afforestation area?

“The most beautiful gift of nature is that it gives one pleasure to look around and try to comprehend what we see.” Albert Einstein

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:

Canada Helps

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 SW 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 / e-transfers )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!

Canada Helps

1./ Learn.

2./ Experience

3./ Do Something: ^***