Below is a (somewhat random) selection of environmental topics I've covered over the years. If you have a project you'd like to work with me on, please feel free to get in touch with me through my contact form.
How Earthworms Are Changing Our Forests
Publication: Harrowsmith
When we think of invasive species, earthworms rarely come to mind. And yet earthworms are foreign invaders that were first introduced to this country by European settlers hundreds of years ago and have been making their home here ever since.
Wild About Bees
Publication: Harrowsmith Magazine
When Canadians think of bees, it’s typically the much-loved honeybee that springs to mind. And while there’s no question that honeybees play an important role in our culture, they are just one of more than 800 species of bees found in this country, a figure that often takes people by surprise.
The Upside of Wildfires
Publication: Kootenay Living Magazine
We have a tendency to see forest fires in a negative light when they threaten our property or our safety but, from an ecological perspective, wildfires can be potent forces of renewal and regeneration.
For Birds' Sake
Publication: Harrowsmith Magazine
If you think citizen science is for the birds, you're not far off.
Our Forests Are on the Move
Publication: Harrowsmith Magazine
When we think about species migrating, our minds conjure up images of birds flying south or herds of elk moving from their winter ranges to the landscapes that will support them throughout the summer months. Rarely do we think of trees relocating from regions where they have lived for hundreds or thousands of years to ones where they have never before been seen.
Growing Native
Publication: Kootenay Living Magazine
Incorporating native plants in gardens has benefits far beyond appreciating diverse forms of beauty. Consider, for instance, the unpredictable weather Kootenay residents have grown to expect in recent years.
The Notorious Bark Beetle
Publication: Cottage Magazine
It's hard to live on a rural property in Western Canada these days and not be aware of the mountain pine beetle epidemic that's decimating pine populations throughout British Columbia and parts of Alberta.
Citizen Science
Publication: Kootenay Living Magazine
Citizen science is taking the world by storm, and the Kootenays are no exception. And while the definition of citizen science can be a bit flexible, it generally refers to community members collecting data that professional scientists can then use in their research.
British Columbia is in for a Fiery Future
Publication: Harrowsmith Magazine
Following back-to-back devastating wildfire seasons, many British Columbians have started to ask an important question: Is this the beginning of a future filled with smoke and fire?
Ticked Off
Publication: Harrowsmith Magazine
If you live anywhere in Canada these days, there's little doubt you've been exposed to a barrage of media reports about how the ticks that carry Lyme disease are spreading northward through our country with breathtaking speed. And, like so many shifts we're seeing in nature, climate change is getting the lion's share of the blame.