Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Acorn
The Newsletter of the Salt Spring Island Conservancy Number 24, September 2003
2
Director’s Desk
Other changes this year has brought were
Changes the changes to our board at our Annual
General Meeting on May 27th. You will
As Summer changes into Fall, it is a notice on the President’s page that Peter
good time to look back and reflect on Lamb has taken over as President of the
how the Salt Spring Island Conservancy Conservancy. Peter was a driving force
has changed this past year. While our behind the Martin Williams acquisition so
President and some board members have it is wonderful to have an already active
changed, the greatest change has come board member take on this role. We were
from the donation and acquisition of local very fortunate to have had Bob Weeden
lands now stewarded in perpetuity by the as our President and even more fortunate
Conservancy. to still have him on our board in the new
role of Past-President. Other new board
On May 15th, the Salt Spring Island members include: Rachel Bevington; our
Conservancy announced the dedication new Secretary and Acorn Editor, who
of a 72 acre south Salt Spring Island you can tell from this issue is dedicated
gift of land donated by Cordula Vogt and talented; Nigel Denyer, who has been
of Salt Spring Island and her mother, busy getting our important covenant and
Oda E. Nowrath of Duncan. The land stewardship files organized this summer;
which has been named the Andreas Vogt and Linda Quiring, who has been
Nature Reserve, is being managed in an showing us her expertise on Salt Spring
environmentally sensitive manner by SSIC Island issues, most recently on how to get
to protect the land’s Garry oaks, Arbutus a photo of the board taken by this issue of
and wetland areas. In co-operation with the Acorn.
the Trail and Nature Club, a trail was
installed and has beautiful views of the Last but definitely not least, Robin Ferry
Gulf Islands, Fulford Harbour, as well as has taken on the position of Volunteer
Mt. Maxwell, Mt. Tuam, Mt. Bruce and Coordinator for the Conservancy. She
Mt. Sullivan. has spent many weekends this summer
organizing volunteers to sell tickets for
On August 8th, the Conservancy our 3rd annual bench raffle at the Saturday
completed a purchase of 50 acres of market. Robin started as Coordinator last
land from Martin Williams of Salt Spring spring by designing new volunteer forms
Island. Martin Williams, “wanted it left and updating the volunteer form at the
in its natural state” and also dedicated a back of this Acorn. Please mail it in or call
right of way across the remainder of his the office at 538-0318 if you would like to
parcel and separate residential lot to allow find our more about volunteering. With
access to the Jack Fisher trail network all of these changes,
from Toynbee Rd. The property will be we need your
managed by SSIC who spearheaded the help more than
fundraising campaign with the help of the ever.
Salt Spring Trail and Nature Club, and
the support of other conservation groups. -Karen Hudson
A huge thank you to all of our members
and friends who once again have shown
their amazing support by donating to this
purchase!
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Conservancy Interests
off the royal robes and meet the land as or pretend to be tone-deaf. Maybe we
equal partners in the business of living, shouldn’t expect the impossible, but
what does that mean in terms of everyday we can try for something beyond the
action? usual. Suppose, for example, we asked a
varied gathering of long time neighbours,
One more darkening step and I’ve First Nations people, artists, naturalists
reached my stopping place. Every and poets to give it a try? What we are
successful relationship is founded on attempting is to ask the mind to express
a respectful understanding, or at least the spirit, and imagination is the medium
on abiding search for understanding, between the two.
of the essential character of spirit of the
partner. The partner we want is land, As Wendell Berry’s novels, essays and
and its character goes deeper than slope, poems have shown readers so lucidly,
elevation, dryness, list the relation between landscape and
of flowers, or tally of person necessarily engages every part of
values. I struggle that person as it does every facet of the
for expression but land. To hold anything back is perilous.
I think land, The management plan has to embody
like a person, that completeness somehow. It isn’t easy.
has a song, Climbing out of the gentle twilight of
a melodic spirit and song, we feel the pitiless light
spirit, a of today’s realities magnify the things of
distillation rational intellect and muscle. We look for
of past rational things to do. We begin willy-nilly
becomings to speak of resources, interests, realities,
and future feasibilities and urgencies. That which is
possibilities. in the realm of meaning and story gives
way to what is tangible about this acre,
The hard part is this set of people, this moment. The song
to sense the land’s voice fades.
in its medium and express it in
ours. We can do it. Composers, painters, It is a commonplace, perhaps necessary,
poets and photographers have done it process. After all, we can only negotiate
a thousand times in serendipitous acts with real persons about choices available
Hip Bone of artistic expression. Earlier cultures now or soon. Can we remember that the
with apparent needs much greater and present and the plans we conceive in it
ears more sensitive than ours have sung just arrived from a contingent future and
about the essential spirit of Earth for will recede into an archived past? Can
millennia. But what lucky spontaneity or we continue to see today’s plan as an
the accretion of centuries of tradition have attempt to keep alive, through the harsh
done isn’t easy to do on demand with a weathers of our times, our intended ways
Conservancy committee. or relating to a land whose song we once
heard?
I’ve never heard of a management
planning process that began by listening
for forest to sing. Usually a consultant
drafts a plant and consultants tend
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Conservancy Interests
People, individually, are the source of the The forest, though containing some old
only worthwhile ideas and passion in this trees, is mostly in its youth. Its foliage is
world. But people, individually, are both catching carbon dioxide and sunlight,
fickle and mortal. storing the carbon as woody stems and
limbs, and exhaling oxygen.
How, then, can a good idea- in this case, This is the time in a
the idea a good land stewardship- be forest life when it is a
given a chance to endure long enough to temporary carbon
match natures majestic pace of healing, sink, giving
diversification, and systemic change? Ralph and Jean
an excuse to
Our answer is to make the idea the get green
mandate of an institution, which has credits and keep the
every chance to outlive any individual, smokestacks belching not this century but
and to build an umbrella of legal later, in old age, or even more abruptly
conservation covenants held by two during a fire, the balance between not
other, independent, institutions. The growth and not decay will switch, and the
organizations become an enduring home carbon dioxide will be back in circulation.
Continued on page 22 7
Conservancy Interests
passed beneath the surface of Wrangellia Reserve from the south and from glacial
(they were “subducted”) and were refugia in B.C., where topography had
accreted in come instances to Wrangellia protected them from glacial scouring, and
or to the North American Terrane. possibly from elsewhere on the feet of
birds and other animals and by wind and
Such collisions sound dramatic and water. The reserve was not always at its
they were, however, the results of such present height, having been depressed at
impacts required millions of years to least 150 m by the weight of the glacier,
develop. The hills of Salt Spring Island: nor was the level of the ocean always at
”The Rock”, were elevated during the what we now consider “sea level”. Melting
process of such impacts and thereafter of the glaciers resulted in a rise of the
level of the ocean and the land itself rose
(rebounded) once the enormous weight
of the glacier was removed through glacial
retreat.
humus developed beneath the trees, Such surfaces may not be revegetated
which supported multiple life forms and until they are shaded by plants which
protected the soil surfaces from abrupt gradually colonize the area from the edges
climate changes. In the mid-1800s, land of a clearcut. Before that time, however,
was progressively claimed, or “owned”, the best view sites first and then the
and the island developed to its present others would be occupied by “big-box
form. houses” and, quite likely, the residual
Gary Oak (Quercus garryana) would
Within this century, the Vogt Reserve was either be in the way or
owned by Colonel Bryant and his family, would
who farmed the area for a time and by
MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. Thereafter, timber
on the land was harvested through the
first deployment of a feller-buncher (mass
mechanical harvester).
Operation Herbivore
Continued from page 12
13
Environmental Policy
14
Environmental Policy
by the stalkful, and stunning in distant out our trails. The roads we build for our
display. machines to carry heavy loads fast aren’t
comparable, of course, but this hiking
The meadow’s core seems to be a collage trail up Red Mountain should be. Like an
of a dozen abundant species jumbled animal trail, it guides the single unaided
together. Tall cinquefoil is everywhere. So body along its hours of travel. Its sinu-
are speedwell, alpine forget-me-not, yel- ous windings through trees, over rough
low lousewort, penstemon, and the pink- ground, and up or down steep grades
red alpine paintbrush. A vexing of differ- reflect the stride and posture, weight and
ent sunflowers looms out of the carpet, muscle distribution of our bodies. Unlike
sending us on a futile hunt for names in the deer trail, however, this recreation
our botany. The ecologist in me insists trail responds to our knowledge of the
that there must be patterns in the jumble damage human feet can cause on frag-
and reasons for them. Judy points out ile ground - hence the switchbacks, the
that the globeflower, now bearing only boardwalks across seep
a ball of naked achenes after petal-fall, and rill. There’s another difference. Even
seems common only in the wettest places. this trail, though designed for leisure
Mostly, though, we can’t puzzle out the hours, is laid
fine patterns. For some reason it doesn’t out
matter as much as it used to. Maybe I’m to lead
happier to find mysteries, now, than an- people
swers. from a com-
mon origin
Deer love this summer meadow, as drop- through neutral
pings and trails tell us. Their clearest trails distance to one or
connect one copse of trees with another more destinations, usu-
around the meadows edge, not across it, ally panoramic viewpoints.
as if a deep racial memory of wolves made It does not visit dens or noontime
the deer shy of wide openings. If so, in- retreats, it doesn’t seek cover from preda-
stinct and reality are at odds, because the tory eyes, it doesn’t sacrifice efficiency of
cougar’s ambush is still a threat. travel to access food sources.
Ground squirrels love the meadow, Which reminds me that Judy and I have
too, but their trails tell a different story. our own goals for the day, and must move
They radiate from burrows built on low on. We are more like browsing wanderers
mounds of deeper, drier soil in or near than racers; still, we do want to reach the
the meadow. Having eaten, trampled, or top of Red Mountain and follow a new
buried with excavated soil most plants on trail bck to camp by end of glorious day.
the mounds, the watchful squirrels, bolt- Camera tucked away, binoculars slung
upright, watch with wide-angled vision around necks, we shrug more comfort-
for prairie falcons and coyotes. At this ably into our daypack straps and set off.
morning hour they improve the shining Meadows call to me more than any other
moment by chewing mouthfuls of a very landform does. I can wander in thorough
high-fibre diet. enjoyment for hours up desert washes
and through close-knit forests, absorb-
As I trace the choices of wild instinct I ing the brilliance of sun and palette of
realize how differently we humans lay earthy colours of the one and the cool
Continued on page 19 17
Regional Insight
GSX Hearings
Continued from page 18
that contrary to the Joint Review Panels ceeding with this project are simply too
view that it was not in their mandate, that high”. David Anderson, Minister of the
indeed the Terasen Proposal was seen by Environment launched Environmental
all the Federal intervenors as an alterna- Week in June of this year which purports
tive energy source and therefore well to encourage Canadians to take action for
within the interpretation of alternatives our environment. As Islanders, we can
to the proposed project. However, later take pride in setting a high standard in
that month, the Joint Review Panel rec- this regard. Before the NEB hearings drew
ommended approval of the Georgia Strait to a close, the legion of company lawyers
Pipeline Crossing. and sundry staff , as well as the 3 mem-
bers of the NEB Joint Review Panel were
Disappointment, dismay and concerns exposed to one of the most extra-ordinary
continued to be expressed for the sur- demonstration of how Islanders really feel
vival of the 78-82 remaining killer whales about their environment and what they
known to traverse the waters between the had done to express it.
Southern Gulf Islands and Puget Sound.
Recent stastistics show a 20% decline We came out of the Hearing room after a
between 1995-2001. Of interest, recently, day listening to those who would make
Sept 2nd. samplings of harbour seals, of it an industrial site, an economic op-
seen as markers for the overall health portunity. Arrayed around the foyer of
of killer whales show high percentages the Mary Winspear Centre glowed the
of toxic contaminants which only adds maps, Islands of the Salish Sea, executed
to the cumulative adverse effects on the in the most glorious and diverse man-
more vulnerable species. In July, cumu- ner by the artists of the Gulf Islands. The
lative effect was denied by the Review contrast was stunning, the message clear.
Board. A newly organized grass roots This is how we view these Islands and all
transboundary stewardship group based that live among them and we will go to
in Washington state, oversees the Orca inordinate lengths to preserve and protect
Pass International Stewardship area. They them. David Anderson, Herb Dhalilwal,
stated that “ the ecological costs of pro- Sheila Copps. Jean Chretien et al, are you
listening?
Meadow on Red Mountain
Continued from page 17
greenness of the other. But forests trun- and exuberant life.
cate my eager glance, hem me in, make
me whisper. Deserts teeter on the brink As a boy I waded through daisy and
of desolation, their times of lush beauty timothy reaching my waist, smelling the
may only be hours long. They make me incomparable odour of crushed grass,
squint. But the meadow in all its guises - hearing grasshoppers ratchet away. Just
saltmarsh, prairie gem, unmown hayfield, ahead a bobolink rose and poured its
or subalpine garden - draws me in. Maybe melody through the limpid air. It was as
this is an upwelling atavism, a universal if a flower had lept skyward and begun to
submemory of early human days when sing, and I was forever enchanted.
the savannah stretched far and far and we Cathedral Provincial Park. For location
gathered seeds and bulbs, gazelles and see Ashnola River Quadrangle 92H/1,
bustards from the rich meadows. Surely it at 49/40 N, 120/12 W. We visited it July
is the beauty of combined space, colour, 21-25, 2003.
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Volunteers
20
Volunteers
21
Our Small Miracle
Continued from page 7
The next hundred years will be a time Meanwhile, another generation or two
of soil building, of a slowing down of of Salt Springers will be able to hike the
the rush of winter rain back to sea and dedicated trail from the pastoral perch
sky and a renewal of ancient seeps and of Shepard Hills and the Cranberry, up
springs. The array of plants and animals the madrone-and-fir slopes and along the
will diversify with time because forest piney ridgecrest to the breath-catching
arid openings provide places suited to view from the Mount Erskine overlook.
flowers, grasses and shrubs that break up Some may stop for serious study of
the otherwise monotonous dense shade natural processes; essentially all will
of a middle-aged fir wood. Depending on spend quiet moments absorbing whatever
the amount of vegetation eaten in Nature has the key to their souls. They
by deer and stray stocks, will be living the Martin Williams’ dream,
the next few decades and ours.
could bring back
native flower
and butterfly
species never
seen
there
now.
Recognizing Volunteers
My Experience on Salt their trash anywhere. In my country the
Spring Island trash isn’t recycled. The trash is buried
in places far away from the city. In these
I have been participating in an interna- places live poor people and the trash con-
tional volunteer work exchange program taminates their
under the auspices of Canadian Cross- environment.
roads International. I am from Bolivia. I
have been working at SSIC since May 26. In Bolivia the
I will continue to work until October 1st. farmers grow
I have learned about many things at SSIC only one crop
including: environmental issues, land con- over a large area
servation, native plants, birds, butterflies, of land. On Salt
reptiles, sea creatures and which habitats Spring Island
plants and animals like. I feel privileged the farmers grow
to have this opportunity to work in this different crops
organization. I am very grateful to all over a small
members of SSIC, especially to Karen area, this is
Hudson for all help that she has given me. much better for
In Bolivia the environmental organization Carola Suarez
the soil and organic farming.
does similar work except for land conser- It’s difficult in Bolivia to find organic food
vation. because all the farmers use chemical fertil-
izers and pesticides. I would want to teach
I have learned about Salt Spring Island the farmers in Santa Cruz –Bolivia about
culture including the people, customs, the importance of organic food for the
language, shared attitudes and lifestyle. health of the people and the health of the
environment.
On Salt Spring Island there is less pollu-
tion than in Bolivia. Street, parks, lakes I increased my awareness about organic
and beaches are clean for the most part. food, agriculture, environment and inva-
The people are responsible. They put their sive species, which I will share with others
trash in the container. In my country most when I go back to Bolivia.
street are dirty because people do not take By Carola Suarez
responsibility for their garbage. They put
Back row - left to right: Bob Weeden, Nigel Denyer, Rachel Bevington (Sectretary), Samantha Beare (Treasurer),
Jean Gelwicks, Doug Wilkins,
Middle row - left to right: Linda Quiring, Maggie Ziegler, Ruth Tarasoff,
Front row - left to right: Peter Lamb (President), Charles Dorworth, absent was Maureen Bendick (Vice-President)
Board Update
A summary of major items recently dis- Acorn: Appointment of Rachel Bevington
cussed by the Board. as Editor and an Editorial Committee to
provide assistance and guidance.
Vogt Reserve: Management Plan reviewed Endowment Fund: Preliminary discussion
and trail under construction of a proposed Fund for the Conservancy.
Williams Land: Title transfer completed Tenth Anniversary: Plans to celebrate,in
and Management Plan proposal received. 2004, the 10th anniversary of the found-
Cusheon Lake: Conservancy invited to ing of the Conservancy.
participate in discussions of potential Fall Retreat: Proposed meeting of Direc-
land acquisition near the Lake. tors and others to consider future strate-
Advisory Design Panel: Appointment of gies and priorities for the Conservancy
Conservancy representative to Panel, with
special interest in upcoming Channel
Ridge Village plans.
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Board Trends
President Vice-President
Peter Lamb (2005) Maureen Bendick (2004)
Treasurer Secretary + Editor
Samantha Beare (2004) Rachel Bevington (2005)
Nigel Denyer (2005) Charles Dorworth (2004)
Jean Gelwicks (2005) Linda Quiring
Ruth Tarasoff (2005) Bob Weeden, Past Pres. (2004)
Doug Wilkins (2004) Maggie Ziegler (2004)
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Volunteers
Featured Artist
- Kate Leslie
McLennan Road
June 26th, 2003
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An Invitation for Article Submissions to Items Needed by the
Upcoming Issues of the Acorn Conservancy:
We the Editorial Committee would like to invite you to send us any Donations of any of the following
articles that you can think of for publication in upcoming issues of would be gratefully appreciated:
the Acorn. As mentioned on page 21, we are trying to gather enough
material together to write a detailed history of the SSI Conservancy Office items
Ergonomic Chairs
for our 10th anniversary. We are also trying to include some types of Digital Camera
articles in every issue: a natural history article, a complexity article Laptop Computer
of some kind such as a book review or essay, articles on stewardship
Household Items
of the land, and articles about fundamental conservancy interests. Vacuum Cleaner
Fundamental conservancy interests include things such as political Electric tea kettle
policies, accountability and issues that go beyond borders. We also Small refrigerator
want to cover some of the issues that have a regional scale such as Other Items
those pertaining to the Fraser River delta or Puget Sound, for example. GPS Unit
If you have any ideas, write to us at ssiconservancy@saltspring.com or Computer desks
bevington@uniserve.com or PO Box 722, SSI, BC, V8K 2W3. Thanks!
Even Small Actions Can Help! Please remember to put your shopping receipt in the green Conservancy r
eceipt box at GVM, and to say “Community Chest #58” at the check out at Thrifty’s. You can also credit the
Conservancy when you take back your bottles to the Salt Spring Refund Centre (Bottle Depot at GVM). Every
little bit helps keep our programs running!
The Acorn is the newsletter of the Salt Spring Island Conservancy, a local non-profit society supporting and enabling voluntary
preservation and restoration of the natural environment of Salt Spring Island and surrounding waters. We welcome your feedback and
contributions, by email to ssiconservancy@saltspring.com or by regular mail. Opinions expressed here are the author’s, not subject to
Conservancy approval.
Editor and Layout:
Rachel Bevington
Membership Application Volunteer Opportunities
Board of Directors:
Samantha Beare (Treasurer)
Youth (Under 16) 1 yr @ $10 _ I would like to participate in the work
Maureen Bendick (Vice- of the Conservancy by volunteering in
President)
Senior, or Low-Income: 1 yr @ $15 _ 3 yr @ $45 _
Regular Single 1 yr @ $20 _ 3 yr @ $60 _ the following way(s):
Rachel Bevington (Secretary)
Nigel Denyer Regular Family 1 yr @ $30 _ 3 yr @ $90 _
Group/School 1 yr @ $30 _ 3 yr @ $90 _ • Office Work (Typping, Filing or
Charles Dorworth
Jean Gelwicks Business 1 yr @ $50 _ 3 yr @ $150 _ Computer)
Peter Lamb (President) • Information table at Saturday Market
Linda Quiring Name: ______________________________________ • Education Programs
Ruth Tarasoff Address: ____________________________________ • Annual Fundraising Events
Doug Wilkins
____________________________________________ • Information table at SSI Community
Bob Weeden (Past-President) Events
Maggie Ziegler
____________________________________________
• Joining the SSIC committee (Land
The Salt Spring Island Postal Code: _______________ Management, Fundraising, Membership,
Conservancy Phone: ______________________________________ Stewarship)
#203 Upper Ganges Centre,
E-mail: ______________________________________ • Other: __________________________
338 Lower Ganges Rd.
Mail: PO Box 722, SSI, BC
V8K 2W3 Please send me the Acorn via e-mail
Office hours : Mon/Wed/Fri the Salt Spring Island
Conservancy
9 am - 12 am
Phone: (250) 538-0318
This is a renewal for an existing membership
Fax: (250) 538-0319
Email: Donations Ganges P.O. Box 722
ssiconservancy@saltspring.com In addition to my membership fee above, I have enclosed Salt Spring Island, BC
Web site: my donation in the amount of: V8K 2W3
saltspring.gulfislands.com/
conservancy
$50 _ $100 _ $250 _ $500 _ Other ___________
Tax reciepts will be provided for donations of $20 or more
Printed on recycled paper
27
the Salt Spring Island
Conservancy
Ganges P.O. Box 722
Salt Spring Island, BC
V8K 2W3
40026325
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