Recognition from SOUL’s Greener Greenspace Program!
Forêt Capitale Forest is proud to announce that we’ve been recognized as part of The Society for Organic Urban Land Care (SOUL)’s Greener Greenspace program for our work on the Red Barn Food Forest in 2022! SOUL is a Canadian organization that cares deeply about responsible land stewardship and started this program to share and inspire ecologically-focused land care across the country.
SOUL particularly appreciated the addition of our Tiny Forest Demonstration Plots and Seedling Area. The Tiny Forest will bolster native wildlife populations, and the Seedling Area aims to reduce our reliance on outside tree sources, thereby reducing our carbon footprint.
Winter Field Work at our Base of Operations
Even though Ottawa is covered in a thick layer of snow, field work is still happening at our Base of Operations! Maintenance of our trees is required no matter the conditions when you’re trying to grow Ottawa’s Urban Tree canopy.
Pictured above: Our FCF Director – Shelley, placing netting around trees to protect them from hungry deer and rabbits.
Thank you Innes and Natasha!
Thank you to two of our interns – Innes and Natasha who will be leaving us at the end of January. Your hard work has helped FCF grow our capacity exponentially and we cannot thank you enough!
Help us Build a Community Tree Hub!
In 2022, FCF initiated the development of a community tree hub that follows a circular management model of gathering and growing local tree seeds and seedlings. Our tree hub acts as a space where the community can participate in housing and growing trees from seed that would then be transplanted to their permanent location across the National Capital Region and Red Barn Community Food Forest. This year we both rescued and started more than 1,400 tree seedlings which were planted into their temporary home in our Seedling Area. These seedlings will be relocated to their permanent home in the coming year. Furthermore, we’ve hosted our first public workshop focused on the early stages of tree establishment and growth.
By establishing a community tree hub, we aim to build community knowledge and afforestation stewardship as well as increase the supply of resilient trees for the National Capital Region.
Help support our efforts to build a space where the community can be involved in all aspects of urban afforestation!