2016 Project Areas

In addition to planting the gardens, there are several sites where we may plant trees, shrubs and plants traditionally employed by Métis people. Below are pictures of these locations and the potential plantings.

Welcome to 2016

Parks Canada Red Chair at Riel House

It's half way through April and we're champing at the bit. Can't wait to have our planting bees on June 4th and June 11th.

In addition to planting the Kitchen Garden and Produce Garden with more heritage varieties, we anticipate planting several fruit trees that Métis people would have traditionally used for food. Also, we'll look to identify a couple of spots where native plants can be harvested for their material.

Here are proposed activities for 2016. I have also added the document to our Documents tab.

Coppicing

When you explore the Riel House property, you will find several locations where trees have been removed for safety reasons. If the tree is not dead, then new straight shoots immediately begin growing from the edges of the stump. Initially, we treated these shoots as an annoyance and cut them back each year.

Tree removed in September 2015

Coppicing is a wood management technique from pre-historic times. After the tree is cut down, the shoots that grow back are similar in size and straight with no branches or knots. These shoots can be used for basket weaving, pegs, arrow shafts, or poles of a consistent diameter depending upon the type of tree and the frequency of harvesting. For a North American perspective, see M. Kat Anderson's Tending the Wild. 

We have a requirement at Riel House for bean poles. And consequently a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate coppicing.