March 23rd, 2023 Join us for a field trip to the SṈIDȻEȽ restoration project and the TEMOSEN carving shed on Thursday March 23. It will be an exciting day connecting with Indigenous knowledge keepers and experiential learning on the land. For this day long field trip, our wonderful community bus Read more…
I joined the Mayne Island Conservancy many years ago because their members are concerned about the land and the future of the earth, and take action where they live. When I joined the Conservancy Board in 2022, I did so because I believed the Conservancy would be a good organization Read more…
What does it mean to be a naturalist? Naturalists observe nature in its various forms, most often plants or animals, often investing considerable time in communicating the results to a popular audience. In the case of plants, a naturalist will study the location and growing conditions of a plant, and Read more…
Were you inspired reading ‘Braiding Sweetgrass’ or are you a fan of renowned ethnobotanist Nancy Turner’s research on Indigenous peoples’ knowledge of plants and environments? Then you might want to attend a Mayne Island Conservancy presentation January 7th, 2023, at the Ag Hall with Judith Lyn Arney and Sarah Jim Read more…
If you stand underneath a large Douglas fir this time of year, it may not be as quiet and still as you’d expect. Chickadees peck at the cones, chittering juncos scavenge fallen seeds, a nuthatch clings upside down on the trunk and regards you curiously, flickers hunt insects in the Read more…
Ethnobotanical gardens are landscapes that feature culturally relevant native trees and understory plants while also functioning as places that revitalize traditional knowledge. We are happy to announce that the PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation, W̱SÁNEĆ artists, W̱SÁNEĆ Curator Rose Spahan, the Mayne Island Conservancy, and the Campbell Bay Music Festival Society are Read more…
If you’re enjoying the mild fall, you are not alone. Some native plants have evolved to take advantage of the remaining warmth and sun during this normally wetter end to the growing season. There are several annual wildflowers that germinate in the fall and establish leaves before hunkering down for Read more…
There are few things in life that provide as much satisfaction as watching plants grow. Many of us first experience this as small children, peering down at germinating bean seeds in classrooms scented by washable paint and warm peanut butter sandwiches. The small act of planting can have an impact Read more…
Did you know that we have six native species of flowering members of the onion family here in British Columbia, four of which you might encounter when out on the trails of Mayne Island? The most common is nodding onion (Allium cernuum), and the ones seen less often are Hooker’s Read more…
This is part three of the “Below Our Feet” series, exploring the mysterious workings of the Rhizosphere, which is the region of soil shaped and surrounded by plant roots. In the last article, we met some of the most common soil animals and learned about the vital tasks they perform Read more…