Connecting to the place we live through what we grow: that is the inspiration behind this interactive and engaging Bowstrings event, held out-of-doors at the Mountain School.
Join this celebration of local ecology! The next gathering is planned for Saturday, June 3, 2023.
The inaugural gathering took place June 19, 2021. The rain held off while over 50 participants learned and shared about native seed and plant propagation. “The exchange brought together a diverse group of people genuinely interested in the ecology of the Bow Valley,” said Banff Canmore Community Foundation (BCCF) board member Sandy Last (Her organization helps sponsor the re-occuring Spring event). Also present were two Indigenous storytellers. They introduced the crowd to new ways to appreciate common species like kinnikinnick and silverberry.
Chris Braisby, a native plant specialist, spoke to the value of replacing introduced species with plants that belong and thrive locally. Not only do they contribute to a healthy ecosystem, they are often easier to grow. As an added bonus, they are less likely to be devoured by the deer and bears with whom we share our Rocky Mountain home. Intrigued? Learn more in this short PDF introduction. Go on a Medicine Walk with the Bow Valley Food Alliance, another one of our partners and supporters.
Illustration by Jane Newman