Happy International Bog Day!

Yesterday I became part of the Lower Mainland Green Team, a group of people from all over the Lower Mainland BC who get together once a month to help an environmental group, non-profit organization, charity or city tackle an environmental issue that needs co-operation and teamwork to get done. A common task is to remove invasive plant species. Over time many species have been brought to Canada that dominate areas and cause native plants to die. Ecosystems can change because of the plants and they can really adversely affect habitats.

A glorious day yesterday took us to Delta Nature Reserve, helping a local group tackle an English Ivy problem. The reserve sits beside Burns Bog, the largest peat bog on the west coast of North America, abundant with unique flora and fauna. Most of it is closed to public as it is a treasured area, and is thought to be a major regulator of the regions climate. The Delta nature reserve is to the east of the bog. Ivy was brought here by Europeans as an ornamental plant. I’m sure our ancestors didn’t realise the impact it would have on some habitats, but it can grow in dense patches, form a thick ground cover that suppresses native tree seedlings, and engulfs and kills lower branches of trees due to heavy shade. The extra weight of the vines and evergreen leaves causes the host tree to be much more susceptible to blow down from winds or heavy rain, snow, or ice. It may also harbour a plant disease called Bacterial Leaf Scorch, which harms elms, oaks, and maples. Without its natural predators to keep it at bay, ivy has gone for it! So how could we help with this? To pull out as much as we could! After short instruction from the local conservation group, we collected clippers, gloves and saws, and got to it. It was actually very physical, pulling at ivy with all your might. It was hard to get to the roots of the ivy, being a creeper and entwined itself with everything in sight, but very satisfying and therapeutic to get it out. I did feel a bit sorry for the ivy; I’m sure it didn’t intend to cause such trouble as it elegantly glided its way through the forest.  It is a beautiful species, and at the end of the day survival of the fittest has led it to it’s tyranny of the other plants. But it really is necessary in this area, taking over everything. Some people worked on the trees, cutting the ivy at the bottom of the tree which would cause the ivy higher up to die. Those of us working on the ground pulled, wrestled, tripped over and rolled up big piles of ivy for 3 hours, by which time we were shattered! The pile of ivy at the end was impressive, but really, we just scratched the surface. However at least it gives plants and trees in that small area we covered a bit of breathing space and some freedom. Meanwhile the massive ball of ivy we collectively pulled out will be picked up by the city and disposed of, and after being compressed will measure about 16 cubic yards.

Actual removal of invasive plants is very important, but so is preventing their spread. Many invasive plants including ivy are still sold at garden centres, and even if just in people’s gardens the berries can be eaten by birds and passed through without damage, to far away places not expecting an ivy invasion! Thankfully there are groups including the Invasive Plant Council of BC who encourage people to get involved in tackling the problem, and work closely with the Lower Mainland Green Team.

Unfortunately there are no more removals in August but we will be back in September at the Pacific Spirit National Park for more! Until then I might have a look around my garden and see if there is any ivy or other contrary collections not quite where they should be, and maybe you should too :)

                                            Ivy pile at end :)

                                               Before

                                            After

                                                     A walk in Burns Bog afterwards

The Canadians know how to do food.

Falafel wrap with houmos, tzatziki, and tablueh; Macaroni cheese with crispy breadcrumbs; Cherry Dr Pepper slurpy; Yam fries with chipotle mayonnaise; Gooey cinnamon rolls; Granola with vanilla soy milk; Key lime sorbet; Hashbrowns with hot sauce; Crispy BC gala apples; Fresh salad with honey mustard dressing; Fizzy sour cherry chews; Saag paneer dopa; Blueberry jam; Mediterraen pizza with extra feta; Custard pie topped with strawberries; Chipotle mushroom fajitas with coriander hot sauce, guacamole and soured cream; Jalapeno and cheese scone; Pecan caramel shortbread; Honey wheat bagles, Pretzels covered with berry yogurt; Cheddar and feta omlette topped with fresh tomatoes and parsley; Berry flavoured popcorn; Veggie dog with fried onions and bbq sauce in a wholewheat roll; Mint chocolate fudge; Pear, gorgonzola and blue cheese gelato; Sweet potato sushi; BBQ'd aubergine marinaded in olive oil and garlic; Red potato salad with spring onions; Quinoa and vegetable warm salad; Orzo and sundried tomaro salad; Veggie burger with red onion chutney and goats cheese; Apple, blueberry and pecan muffin; Jamaican patties; Peanut butter cups.

Happy Canada Day :)

Friday July 1^st marked Canada’s 144^th birthday, celebrating the formation of the country in 1867. Of course let’s not forget that Canada was inhabited by First Nations people for thousands of years, until the Europeans showed up bringing disease and claims of rights to the land. Spain, Portugal, France and Great Britain got stuck in, trading, taking resources, marrying, hunting bison to the point of extinction, causing starvation, and tussling over who had more right to be there. Both France and Britain made alliances with First Nations people in the hope of winning more, but Britain generally did pretty well out of it. It was a relatively peaceful takeover, but it really couldn’t have been that nice being told to assimilate to European culture and being classed as culturally, religiously, politically and technologically inferior, as well as being shoved off their land. With the country progressing in a way the Europeans wanted, sometime in the late 19^th century, General Governor someone or other decided it was about time to call on her majesty’s loving subjects throughout Canada to join and celebrate the formation of a country called Canada.

People didn’t start celebrating the day until the first half of the 20^th century, and only then sporadically. It wasn’t until 1958 that it became an annual do, and it seems to have grown ever since. So what do people do on Canada Day? Some went to mass pancake breakfasts, watched street parades, and fireworks. Others watched outdoor concerts and ate at salmon bbqs. Some people decided to gather in the middle of the city and openly celebrate marijuana together. I chose to see what that was all about.

Outside Vancouver Art Gallery, a downtown square had turned into an open cannabis farmers market, an event to celebrate the plant, and a public call for the end of prohibition. Stalls sold marijuana cookies and brownies, seeds and seedling plants, and smoking paraphernalia. Organisations had stalls with petitions for the legalisation of the plant, and some organisations fighting for marijuana for medical uses. As well as the official stalls there were guys and gals openly selling weed and joints, prepared with huge quantities, dressed in Canadian flags and merry outfits. There was a stage set up with bands and marijuana advocates making speeches. It was pretty surreal, relating to the UK where police arrest stats would be sky high at such an event. Curious about this, I talked to a cop who was standing nearby, observing the crowds. Asking why this is allowed, he explained that people were protesting, and they have the right to protest. He said there were 6 of them on duty; no more were needed as trouble is unlikely. The only time they would intervene is if things got out of hand. ‘What would getting out of hand mean?’ I asked. He replied ‘You know if people took over the streets, like at the riots. But people are unlikely to do that here. These people aren’t drinking alcohol, these people aren’t aggressive’. With this positive attitude, the acceptance for this event was clear, and it was reciprocated, with organisers thanking police for allowing their freedom of speech and also their presence at the event.

It was an insightful Canada Day celebration to be at, very different, great for people watching, and generally entertaining. It is very much part of the culture here; France have their wine, Belgium have their beers, Newcastle has it’s broon, and BC has it’s bud. Vancouver is a city that takes a progressive stance on marijuana as well as other things. I’m not sure the Governor who called on this celebration in 18-something, sitting with his glass of legal high, would approve of ever have imagined such an event, and would certainly not have partaken….would he?!