News

Get to know our staff – Madeleine Bray

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 April 21, 2021

MLF: When did you start working with Maple Leaves Forever, and what is your role?

MB: I started working with Maple Leaves forever in the summer of 2020 to help administer the Thank You Rebate program part-time.

MLF: Where are you located?

MB: I work remotely out of my apartment in Toronto!

MLF: Maple Leaves Forever has a team of part-time employees – most of us have other jobs. What other roles/jobs do you have and how do they relate to MLF?

MB: Outside of my work with Maple Leaves Forever, I work for Forests Ontario in the Education department, developing educational materials and presentations. Part of my job is coordinating Ontario Envirothon, which Maple Leaves Forever has been a long-time supporter of.

MLF: Do you have a favourite tree (either a specific tree or a species of tree)? Why?

MB: Sorry, maples! My favourite species of tree is white pine. There’s something about the swoosh and general shape of them that always interested me, especially if they’re growing out of the rocks around a lake.

MLF: What is your favourite season? Why?

MB: My favourite season is definitely autumn. Crisp, rainy days spent among late-blooming goldenrods and changing forests are my favourite, and I always love a good autumn storm.

News Staff Profiles

Sweet Spring – Maple tapping and syrup production

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 April 1, 2021

A Spring Message from our Executive Director, Deb Pella Keen

Maple tapping

This spring’s cooler start is keeping maple syrup flowing through sugar bushes and keeping producers across Ontario happy.  The colder nights and warmer days have created the perfect conditions for making maple syrup – welcome news following last spring’s unusually warm temperatures, which impacted overall production.  

This time of year is known as Ziinsibaakwadoke Giizis, or the Syrup Moon, when sap begins to flow from the trees.  Maple syrup has been cherished by Indigenous peoples for centuries and was one of many gifts shared with early settlers.

Today, Canada makes over 75% of the world production with more than 8,600 producers of maple syrup across the country.  So it is hardly surprising that we have come to know maple syrup as something uniquely Canadian.  There are a lot of imposters in your grocery aisle, but there’s only one that you can turn over and see just one ingredient – that pure, delicious maple flavour, that tastes better and comes with a bonus of vitamins, minerals and plant compounds.  That is what really sets it apart from the imposters!

A few facts about maple syrup making:

  • Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is the most commonly used native maple.  It has the highest sugar content and longest sugaring season
  • Sugaring season typically runs from March through April, with an average of 20 days over a 6-week season
  • 40 litres of sap is required to make 1 litre of syrup
  • Each tapped sugar maple tree can produce about 1 litre syrup
  • Bumper sap years depend on the growing season of the previous summer to store as much carbohydrates as possible
  • Cold nights and warm days are critical to get sap flowing
  • Maple syrup season ends when the buds on the branches begin to swell.  After this the sap will begin to have a bitter aftertaste.

Canada has a syrup grading system which is based on colour, not quality, or more specifically, the amount of light transmission.  In general, the lighter the colour, the more delicate the maple flavour, but flavour may also vary by growing region, because of factors such as tree genetics, weather conditions, and processing techniques.  My favourite grade is Amber – we like maple syrup with a bit more intense ‘maple’ flavour.

With many of us staying closer to home these days, and venturing into local food production (gardens, chickens etc.) there has also been a increased interest in trying out maple syrup making on a small scale. If you have access to a few mature sugar maples, there is a lot of guidance on how to tap trees,  the size and number of taps. 

Our family tapped 4 sugar maple trees this spring and are producing our own home grown syrup.  It is very labour intensive but hugely rewarding. 

Maple syrup time is also a time when many Canadians plan to visit a sugar to home to see how it is done commercially or for education purposes.  Unfortunately, many tours are cancelled this spring, but you can find more information here.  todoontario.com/maple-festivals/

For more information please see the following links:

Happy Sweet Spring!

Deb Pella Keen and the MLF Team

All About Maples News

Get to know our Staff – Allison Hands

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 February 12, 2021
Allison at a Tree Planting event, Claireville Conservation Area

MLF: When did you start working with Maple Leaves Forever, and what is your role?

AH: I started working with MLF partway through 2019, helping out with administering the Thank You Rebate program. I work remotely out of Guelph.

MLF: Maple Leaves Forever has a team of part-time employees – most of us have other jobs. What other roles/jobs do you have and how do they relate to MLF?

AH: My role with MLF only requires a few hours per month so my primary job is Forests Ontario where I manage education programs, including the Ontario Envirothon which Maple Leaves Forever has been the lead sponsor of for over 4 years! Forests Ontario has a number of programs all of which aim to engage students in learning about the forests and the forest sector in Ontario and Canada. Through our programs, including Ontario Envirothon, Focus on Forests, Forestry Connects and Tree Bee, we teach youth about forest careers, environmental science and forest management.

Allison Hands

MLF: Where is your favourite place to explore nature in Southern Ontario?

AH: I like spending time on the Niagara Escarpment for the views in particular. But if I had to pick a favourite place to explore nature I would go further north near Chapleau. I grew up going to a camp near the wildlife reserve and really love canoeing on the non-windy days.

MLF: What other hobbies and interests do you have?

AH: Jarring is an annual tradition we have in my house as I am addicted to tomatoes – we also starting doing pickled green beans, peaches in syrup and hot peppers this year. As well I am a passionate recreational level soccer player, was starting to pick up target archery before the pandemic and I do love to try baking new exciting recipes.  

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Ken Jewett and Maple Leaves Forever Celebrate 20 Years of Advocating for the Native Canadian Maple Tree

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 February 3, 2021

The Ontario Woodlot Association featured Maple Leaves Forever in their quarterly publication, the Woodlander, last month.

Excerpt:

“Ken Jewett, Ontario’s champion of the Canadian maple, celebrated his 90th birthday last month. His Birthday fell on National Tree Day in Canada, a happy coincidence considering Ken’s longstanding commitment to Canadian trees.

Over 20 years ago, Ken realized that the distinctive native maples that once lined the rural roadsides and laneways of Ontario were in decline. Many of these iconic maples had been planted as a result of a government program in the 1870s that gave farmers an incentive to transplant trees from their woodlots alongside rural roads and property lines. This gave rise to a legacy of quintessentially Canadian native maple-lined roads in rural Ontario.

With these trees beginning to die off, Ken felt a strong desire to save and promote Canada’s arboreal emblem, the maple tree, as a symbol of national pride and identity, and restore a part of Canada’s natural heritage.

Ken founded Maple Leaves Forever in 1997 and formalized its establishment in 2000. For the last 20 years, Maple Leaves Forever has advocated for and supported the planting of Native Canadian Maples in
increasing numbers across the rural landscape of southern Ontario…”

Read the full article [PDF]Download
News Press

Get to know our staff – Mary Bella

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 January 20, 2021
Mary Bella

MLF: When did you start working with Maple Leaves Forever (MLF), and what is your role?

MB: I have worked with MLF since January 2014, when I came on board to attend to the website and manage social media. It was pretty satisfying to come in and breathe some life into MLF’s online presence. In early 2020, our marketing lead Emad resigned, and my role expanded to that of Marketing Manager. I began designing print ads, postcards and brochures, as well as coordinating their printing, placement and budget. I really enjoy the wide range of tasks and the combination of teamwork and independence that I have working with Maple Leaves Forever. 

MLF: What has been the most interesting thing you’ve learned/done working with MLF?  

MB: I loved managing our video project in 2017, celebrating Canada’s 150th Birthday. I helped with the procurement, messaging, and reviewing/editing process. The parts that we filmed at Ken Jewett’s (the founder of Maple Leaves Forever’s) farm stand out as great memories for me, as part of the MLF team. The video (made by West&Social) turned out just beautifully, and I am proud to have been a part of it! 

MLF: Maple Leaves Forever has a team of part-time employees – most of us have other jobs. What other roles/jobs do you have and how do they relate to MLF?

MB: I have operated my own web design business, Maestra Web Design, for the past 20+ years and designed nearly 200 websites. It’s contract work – flexible and variable – so my ongoing work with Maple Leaves Forever provides a bit of stability, and also a chance to hone other skills apart from web design. It’s also been great to work as part of a team, as my website work is typically independent and self-directed.

MLF: What is your favourite season? Why?

MB: I love Fall. After the heat of the Toronto summer, it feels so good to wear socks and sweaters and feel comfortable outside. The colours are gorgeous and the crispness in the air energizes me!

MLF: How has the pandemic affected your work and routine?

MB: To be honest – I work from my home office 99% of the time anyway, so the pandemic hasn’t really affected my office work much at all. Now that my clients are all familiar with ZOOM I actually see them more than I did before! Of course, I’ve had to upgrade our home internet plan to accommodate all the streaming with my teenaged boys and my husband being home all the time!

Mary in costume for Canadian Opera Company’s Fall 2019 production of Dvorak’s RUSALKA.

My “Other life”  is as a musician – I sing periodically with the Canadian Opera Company Chorus and conduct a women’s choir in my neighbourhood – and these activities have completely shut down. Likewise my husband Michael Colvin, who is a full-time opera singer, is currently on forced ‘COVID hiatus’. Our musical life, like the whole industry, is in suspended animation, and that has been really tough. Apart from watching lots of Netflix, I have cultivated a few new hobbies including watercolour painting and hand-lettering – very soothing and creative outlets during these long winter evenings.

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Q&A for Potential Nursery Partners this week!

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 January 8, 2021

Maple Leaves Forever’s Nursery Partner Program offers nurseries and customers a special incentive to sell, purchase and plant Native Canadian Maple Trees. We will promote your nursery as part of our program, and your customers can access our 25% Rebate on purchases of eligible maple trees (restrictions apply). View Rebate Details here.

You can review our Nursery Partner Requirements here on our website.

As part of Landscape Ontario’s online conference Congress Connect January 12 – 14, Maple Leaves Forever will be presenting ZOOM Q&A for potential nursery partners on Thursday, January 14th at 9:45am. Please contact our Nursery Liaison Caitlin Ayling at nurseryliaison@mapleleavesforever.ca for details to join the Q&A, and to submit questions in advance.

You do not need to attend the Congress to join the meeting, but please consider it! There are over 140 exhibitors and counting, and many fascinating presentations as part of the 3 day conference. The Marketplace is free to register and will be available online all year, while the video presentations will be available to paid ALL ACCESS PASS Conference registrants for the year.

See you at #LOCongress this week! Register today at LOCongress.com

News Questions & Answers

Winter Update from our Executive Director, Deb Pella Keen

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 January 6, 2021
Deb Pella Keen

I hope this finds you well and enjoying some recharge time at the end of a unique and challenging year. At Maple Leaves Forever, 2020 was a very successful year as we continued to provide support to those programs that are important to our mandate.  This year we supported the planting of almost 1400 native Canadian maples along roadways and laneways across rural southern Ontario! Thank you to all who participated in the program and are caring for those trees as part of our unique cultural landscape.

In addition we supported forest education at the secondary school level with Forests Ontario Envirothon program and the planting of over 175 native maples by the Highway of Heroes project in Picton.

We have had some significant staff changes in 2020 and hope you will join us in congratulating our long time “tree guy”, Carl Mansfield on his retirement.  He will be missed, but fortunately for us, he is just a phone call away and continues to support our mission whenever he can!
 
We are happy to announce that we’ve added two new and very capable part-time members to the MLF team: Andrew Cowell (currently working full-time as a municipal arborist) and Caitlin Ayling (currently working as the IPM and Plant Health Technician at NVK Nurseries).
 
Andrew, as MLF’s  Arborist, will focus on our outreach to the public, handling inquiries about tree care, site conditions etc.  Caitlin, as MLF’s Nursery Liaison, will focus on developing nursery partnerships  and advocating for native maple production in various forums.

New staff – Caitlin Ayling, Nursery Liaison and Andrew Cowell, Arborist

As the winter settles in and the leaves on the forest floor are covered in snow, it is time to pause and be grateful we live in a country that has universal health care and supports native tree planting through various programs such as ours  and the recent federal announcement to plant 2 Billion trees over the next 10 years.

We wish you all the best for your good health and good growing conditions for trees in  2021!

– Deb Pella Keen on behalf of the Maple Leaves Forever Team

News

Rockwood Forest Nurseries joins Maple Leaves Forever’s Partnership Program

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 January 2, 2021
www.rockwoodforest.com
905-301-4115

We are very excited to announce the newest addition to our Nursery Partnership Program: Rockwood Forest Nurseries!

Santosh Patel, Owner
Rockwood Forest Nurseries

“Rockwood has been growing trees, shrubs, evergreens, perennials, annuals and supplying other ‘green’ products such as mulch, soil and aggregates/gravel for over 30 years. We are based in Cameron, Ontario (Kawartha Lakes near Lindsay, Ontario) which allows us to serve residential (condos, cottages, homes) and commercial landscapers, landscape architects, arborist, garden centres, green roofers, city and municipalities, golf courses and plant lovers in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.” 

Santosh Patel has recently taken over as owner and manager of Rockwood Forest Nurseries. He brings a certain sincerity, dedication and integrity to his operations that pours over into his passion for native trees and plants. We are looking forward to working and growing with Santosh and his team, as we expand our connections into this new geographic location.

Interested in Joining our Nursery Partner Program?

We are pleased to announce an exciting new program for aspiring nursery partners. The new Trial Partnership Program has launched and we are looking forward to hearing from you! Is your nursery passionate about growing and promoting the use of our native maples? Do you share our vision of Ontario’s rural roads and laneways exploding with beauty and fall colour?

Reach out to us and let’s start this conversation.
We can’t wait to grow with you!

FIND OUT MORE
CONTACT US

News Nursery News

To Prune or Not To Prune Maples in Winter?

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 December 29, 2020

As your beautiful native maples drop their leaves and their branching structure becomes more evident, you may be tempted to perform some winter pruning. Generally, for deciduous trees, this would be the ideal time. When the trees lay dormant and the branches are more easily visible, it is very practical to perform the removal of dead, dying or interfering limbs. For maples, any pruning or wounds created during this period may cause an excessive loss of sap known as ‘bleeding’.

Photo Credit:
https://livinginaurora.ca/nature/bleeding-red-maple-trees-the-cry-after-winter/

Although this bleeding is not fatal to the tree, and is mainly an aesthetic issue, it can be an open invitation for harmful pests and disease to feed on the sweet sugary sap. This coursing liquid is mainly composed of water and nutrients that travel up from the roots to feed the buds as they begin to swell in preparation for spring. This pathway from roots to buds is made possible by the vascular system. A network of conducting tissues that support the movement of water, dissolved minerals and food throughout the tree. The pressure of this upward movement through the tree’s vascular system is greater in spring than in any other time of year due to the rise of outdoor temperatures.

Photo Credit: https://www.tcia.org/TCIA/Blog_Items/2015/How_to_Prune_a_Bleeding_Tree.aspx

Unless you’re tapping sugar maples in the anticipation of making syrup, native maple trees are best left untouched throughout late winter and into spring. The best time for pruning a maple tree is in mid-summer, when the leaves have fully expanded and have turned a dark green. The exception would be the removal of any dead branches, which can be done at any time of year, or those that are of imminent threat to person or property. This time of year provides a great opportunity to view the branching structure and make plans for any future pruning needs. Placing a ribbon or tie on any branches that need to be removed or pruned back can aid as a reminder once the leaves have flushed and the branches are not as easily visible.

For more information about how to properly prune your maple tree go to:

Pruning young sugar maple trees

Other Resources:

https://www.tcia.org/TCIA/Blog_Items/2015/How_to_Prune_a_Bleeding_Tree.aspx

Written by Caitlin Ayling, MLF Nursery Liaison and Andrew Cowell, MLF Arborist

Caring for your maple News

Niagara Escarpment Views Magazine features Ken Jewett and Maple Leaves Forever

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 December 4, 2020

Warm thanks to Niagara Escarpment Views magazine, who published a beautiful four-page feature on Maple Leaves Forever and our founder Ken Jewett in their Fall 2020 issue. Free copies of the magazine are available from local businesses and back issues can be viewed at NEViews.ca

Excerpt: “Have you noticed how country roads are lined with big old hardwood trees about 40 feet apart? It’s as if long-ago farmers and landowners were following a landscaping style guide. Yet these trees are not just the result of fashion. There was a financial benefit to planting them. In 1883 the Ontario Tree Planting Act gave 25 cents per tree that was still alive three years after planting.

“But the subsidy applied to roadways, where wind and snow interrupted traffic,” writes Patricia Bowley in her academic paper on farm forestry, published in 2015 in Scientia Canadensis, 38.

It was an influential piece of legislation. According to the 2018 Environmental Protection Report by the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, that Act resulted in the planting of 75,000 new trees. Often, these
trees were transplanted from interior forests and given space to grow large
on the edges of properties…”

Read full Article:Download PDF

View article as slideshow:

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