On Sunday April 19th, we joined artist Sharon Kallis and the Stanley Park Ecology Society's (SPES) Stewardship Team in a creative and unique habitat restoration initiative at the The Nature House on Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park!

We celebrated an early Earth Day knitting English Ivy into stabilizing and anti-erosion bio blankets for the SPES. English Ivy is considered an invasive species as it is very lively and, if left undisturbed, has the power to choke out a tree over time. Himalayan Blackberry is also tremendously invasive as it spreads across the ground shooting roots like like wild fire if not maintained. Stanley Park has a significant amount of English Ivy and Himalayan Blackberry plants that continue to grow throughout the park. Knowing that these species continue to threaten the overall well-being of the park, Sharon Kallis, along with SPES, created a program to upcycle this abundant species in a way that gives back.

Check out some photos of us knitting bioblankets. As locals stopped in at the event and took their turn knitting the ivy, the blankets were more than four foot long sections.

This was also a great opportunity for us to get out in the community and do some networking. We were lucky enough to spend some time chatting with Martin Borden, a local filmmaker, artist and educator. Our conversations were inspiring and filled with possibilty; we left quite excited about the chance to possibly work together in the future. If you're interested in learning more about Martin and the work he does in our community, check out his website here.

We also had the pleasure of connecting with Sharon Kallis. A local artist, ecologist and non-profit founder, Sharon was an absolutely pleasure to meet. Her passion for art and the earth inspired her to create eartHand Gleaners Society, "an arts based organization that fosters ecological diversity and community." Their mission is to, "develop environmental education by fostering hand-based skill development through the creative arts, pursuing creative ways of reducing green-waste through up-purposing of waste stream materials and invasive plants." Without a doubt this Earth Day event made this vision a reality. To learn more about Sharon Kallis and eartHand, check out their website here.

In the afternoon we were invited by the SPES coordinators to help clear out English Ivy and Himalayan Blackberry from designated sites. We jumped on this chance without a second thought. Altogether we helped clear about 3.3 cubed meters. Here are some photos.

All in all it was a great Earth Day celebration and are grateful to have been a part of this community event.

For more photos and stories, check out our facebook page. In the meantime, #youllfindusoutside.

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