A new MVFN Membership Year begins April 1st and so it is time to renew your membership or perhaps to become a new member of MVFN for the 2018-2019 season!
We invite you to renew or become a member to . . .
Be a voice for nature; MVFN is a member group of the Ontario Nature Network
Participate in our canoe/kayaking program, nature walks, nature watches, citizen science efforts and outings
Enjoy monthly natural history talks/presentations January-April & September-November in Almonte
Support our conservation initiatives and environmental education programs
Volunteer on a committee or special project or on our Board of Directors
NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS
Please complete a membership form (click here for printable membership form) and send with a cheque for your membership dues to: MVFN, Box 1617, Almonte, ON K0A 1A0. We cannot accept e-transfer of funds at this time. Or, you could complete a form and renew your membership (cash or cheque) at one of our upcoming meetings/nature talks in Almonte (check details for the February 15th and March 15th talks on our Calendar of Events).
If you have any questions about your membership status, please contact Membership Committee member Elizabeth Veninga at
Please continue to visit our website, join us on Facebook, pick up a brochure at one of our events, or contact Brenda Boyd, MVFN President (613-256-2706) to learn more about what the Club is offering, or to volunteer your time, knowledge, and ideas.
NOTE: information below is from an article in the December 2017 newsletter of the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust (MMLT)
“Byrne Big Creek Preserve Making Great Progress”
The MMLT launched a campaign on Giving Tuesday, Nov 28th, to raise funds needed to acquire and manage a wonderful 100-acre parcel of land near McDonald’s Corners. The property was left to the MMLT by Joel Byrne, naturalist, poet and long-time supporter of the MMLT, the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists and the Macnamara Field Naturalists’ Club.
The next night, MMLT hosted an evening at the Barley Mow to remember Joel Byrne and to celebrate his wonderful gift of what will become the Byrne Big Creek Nature Preserve. The Campaign received a ’jump-start’ when Irene’s Pub in Ottawa pledged to match donations up to $5000. The crowd was delighted when the campaign passed the $5,000 target. In fact, this achievement inspired another offer to match the next $5,000 in personal donations. Then the President of the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists, Brenda Boyd, took the floor to make a very substantial gift to the campaign.
Brenda Boyd (middle), President of the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists (MVFN) presents a donation to Howard Clifford and Mary Vandenhoff of the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust while a cut-out of the late Joel Byrne looks on approvingly. The contribution will help to make the Byrne Big Creek Nature Preserve a reality
The Big Creek Campaign hopes to raise $48,500 to cover acquisition and future stewardship costs. The response to date has been truly remarkable. As of mid December, approximately 80% of the goal had been donated.
MMLT is so grateful to all who have come forward with financial support and is appealing to those who might still wish to contribute to this campaign to help us reach the campaign goal. Plans are also underway for fundraising events in the New Year to close any final gap. For those wishing to contribute to making this dream a reality, please visit our website at mmlt.ca and click on Byrne Big Creek Preserve Campaign.
Congratulations to MMLT for this amazing accomplishment of coming so close to the fundraising goal for Joel’s property, in such a short period of time!
The 2016 “Trees for Hub Hospice” initiative is an excellent opportunity to help the environment, create habitat for birds, butterflies etc., while supporting a wonderful cause for the community.
“With assistance from local horticultural experts Ed Lawrence, Al Potvin and Ron Ayling, Hub Hospice is able to offer a selection of shade, flowering and fruit trees suitable for our area at very reasonable prices.”
“Trees for Hub Hospice Campaign” news release: Thanks to the generosity of the Mississippi Mills Chamber of Commerce, Hub Hospice Palliative Care is carrying on the legacy of this greening initiative as a fundraiser to support home palliative care services. With assistance from local horticultural experts Ed Lawrence, Al Potvin and Ron Ayling, Hub Hospice is able to offer a selection of shade, flowering and fruit trees suitable for our area at very reasonable prices. By buying a tree through the Trees for Hub Hospice campaign, you can beautify your property and the community, help the environment, and support your neighbors in need.
Trees sized up to 10 ft. tall are priced under $100 and include fertilizer, compost and an informative planting seminar. Cleaner air, cooler buildings, better water quality, reduced soil erosion, and increased property value are just a few of many great reasons to plant trees.
For more information, please contact the Trees for Hub Hospice Campaign Team by email at
Nature Network News: Best Practices Guide to Natural Heritage Systems Planning:
“Ontario Nature’s Best Practices Guide to Natural Heritage Systems Planning is now available for download from the Ontario Nature website. Or download pdf here: nhs-guide-web. While provincial regulation promotes the planning of natural heritage systems – and even mandates it in areas like the Greenbelt – many municipalities are failing to do so. In these jurisdictions, natural areas are fragmented to the detriment of biodiversity. Ontario Nature’s new guide is designed to remedy this situation by identifying the best planning examples and providing insightful analysis from which other municipalities can learn. For more information about the guide, contact Josh Wise at . “
Rekindle Your Love of Trees Replant Our Local Forests and Public/Private Spaces
Brisk sales, over many years, of both deciduous and coniferous trees during Arbour Week indicate that Mississippians have been faithfully planting young trees. This wonderful trend is more pressing now than ever since within the next 5 years we are going to lose most if not all our ash trees to the Emerald Ash Borer.
The Beautification Committee of Mississippi Mills is offering a challenge to residents to increase our planting efforts leading up to Canada’s 150 birthday in July 2017.
This gives us 4 planting seasons. We are setting our target at 2,000 trees per year.
For information about a variety of Mississippi Mills walks and talks you can participate in contact .
Tree Champion Award
Saturday, April 26, 2 pm, Appleton Bay Park.
Join in the celebration as Alison Ball, Tree Champion of 2014, plants a tree with a fancy shovel. This will be followed by a Tree Walk with Rob Cretien and an opportunity to learn about the Appleton Wetlands and the Shoreline Cleanup.
Tree Walks & Talks
Tuesday, April 22 – Blakeney, 6:30 pm – Mini walk with Ed Lawrence followed by tree film night at Cornelius Berg’s house (194 Blakeney Rd). Meet us at the Blakeney mailboxes at 6:30 sharp.
Thursday, April 24 – Clayton, 10 am. Start behind the Clayton Community Centre and continue on a loop across properties belonging to Pat and Peter Laurich, Guido and Tanya Patrice, Sylvia Sirrett, Cliff and Lynda Bennett, and Jo Sutton.
Friday, April 25, Pakenham, 6:30 pm on the Martin farm at the end of Comba Lane.
Saturday, April 26, Appleton, 2 pm with Rob Cretien. Meet at the Appleton Bay Park.
Sunday, April 27, 2 pm, Almonte, Strathburn Trail, with Ron Ayling. Meet at Strathburn and Malcolm St.
Tree Talk & Bike Ride
Sunday, April 27, 9:30 am. Meet Jeff Mills, Ed Lawrence and Neil Carleton at the Palms, Mill St., Almonte for a fun-filled, info-filled
easy tour.
Tree Talk Dr. Ian Nadar
Wednesday, April 23, 7 pm Almonte Old Town Hall
“Little Green Monster” or “What to do about the Emerald Ash Borer?” Dr. Nadar has many years experience in urban forestry in the areas of pest and disease control. He was head of the Dutch Elm Disease control program for the National Capital Commission for more than 25 years. He was the Manager of Parks & Forestry for the city of Rochester, New York for almost 10 years. His work there included oversight of 135 parks and more than 200,000 street trees. Rochester has one of the best city forestry divisions, receiving the “Tree City USA” award.
Pitch In – April 22-27
Let’s get ready for spring by picking up garbage along rural roads, town streets & in Mississippi Mills parks. PITCH-IN can be done on your own anytime during the week of April 22-27th or join us downtown Almonte, Saturday, April 26th
9:00 am-Noon.
PITCH-IN bags available at Nicholson’s Sundries, Pakenham, Clayton General Store, Appleton Mail Boxes, Baker Bob’s, the Recreation and Culture office at Almonte’s Old Town Hall
2014 Tree Sales
“The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The next best time is today.”
Big Trees
Mississippi Mills Chamber of Commerse Pick-up your trees on Sat. April 26 at the municipal office, 9 am – noon.
Visit mississippimills.com/trees for a catalog of beautiful, nursery grown trees – flowering, shade and fruit. You’ll even find planting tips!
Order by April 18 online at www.mississippimills.com/trees or phone Kathryn at 256-7886.
Little Trees
Mississippi Mills Beautification Committee 3 and 4 yr old transplants – Fraser Fir, Colorado Blue Spruce, White Spruce and 2 yr Eastern White Cedar for $3 and 4 yr White Pine $4
To order please call Bonnie Hawkins, 256-1077 by April 18.
Rain Barrel Sale
Neighbourhood Tomato Community Gardens are selling 220 litre rain barrels for $55. Order at www.rainbarrel.ca and pick up at the municipal office on April 26.
For further information contact, Tiffany MacLaren, Town of Mississippi Mills Community Economic & Cultural Coordinator .
