The Wood

Being in nature can be a meaningful spiritual experience; a red tailed hawk's piercing cry, the acrid smell of pine on a hot summer’s day, the startling first appearance of a mariposa lily in dappled shade. These are Creator God's gifts to us, but often we are too distracted or busy to notice. We need to slow down to see. 

The Wood is a tender landscape—peaceful, unique, and beautiful. This low elevation Okanagan woodland is home to song birds and mammals, wildflowers, understory plants, and mature Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir. In the past year we have seen evidence of bear, and experienced an magical encounter with a Moose cow and calf. Coyote and white tailed deer are common visitors. Tanager, wren, pileated woodpecker, cedar waxwing, vireo, white crowned sparrow, and towhee make their home here. Wildflowers in spring are simply spectacular. Each season has its gifts.

Wildlife trails crisscross The Wood, providing a way to walk among the trees and enjoy the natural beauty while protecting adjacent areas from impact. We are considering how these wildlife trails might sustain a future contemplative pathway, with seating and art installations for times of personal reflection.

A land stewardship approach is vital in all we do. We ask you to join us and step with care, to help protect this sensitive ecosystem we call Feeny Wood.

LAND STEWARDSHIP AT FEENY WOOD

OUR BACK STORY

When we first arrived at Feeny Wood, it was with a vision to live a new season of life with hospitality, offering what we had been given for the sake of others.

We came as an artist-poet and a landscape architect-planner. We are on a spiritual journey with social mindedness, family values, entrepreneurial spirit, and family of origin stories. To be good stewards was modeled to us growing up. We were and are influenced by the land and the good stewards she sustained — farmers, hunters, fishermen, hikers, gardeners, campers, artists, musicians, and writers — our desire is to honour the values instilled in us going forward.

We arrived here recognizing the paradox of “land ownership.” We came to this remarkable woodland acknowledging we are uninvited guests on the traditional, unceded territories of The Syilx People of the Okanagan Nation. In all things we do we wish to tread lightly, with respect, in the context of our greater community. We are investigating what that might mean going forward. 

HABITAT DISCOVERY

Living in a woodland adjacent to two other woodland parcels is a remarkable daily joy, and it brings an overwhelming sense of responsibility. There is a richness to discover here as we learn about inhabitants of this place. In our first winter here we saw white tail deer, coyote, evidence of moose, bear, and a myriad of birds. Tree frogs serenaded us on warm summer evenings. Strange mounds of dirt lead us to discover new to us creatures — pocket gophers. The discovery continues.

The fauna was equally stunning, and in our first spring-summer-fall we wandered through the wood in awe of its ever changing tapestry of floral life, mushrooms, and grasses. We began identifying species. We became aware of invasive plants. We began to learn about indigenous plant uses. We are still learning about fire safety and woodland management best practices.

Foraging began from the first time we picked and tasted Saskatoons fresh from the meadow. Now we forage for Red Currants, and Elderberry. Rowan and Oregan Grape are next on our wish list. Preserving small batches of jams and jellies, while leaving plenty for the needs of woodland creatures, is becoming a meaningful and something to share.

A STEWARDING PARTNERSHIP

We are thrilled to announce that Feeny Wood has entered a partnership agreement with the Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Society. Given the magnitude of what we have begun, and our intention to be good land stewards into the future, the OSS gives us courage along with their practical support:

“Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship is a grassroots environmental non-profit that exists to promote voluntary conservation, stewardship and enhancement of important habitats on private lands and within the communities of the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys.”  

Our partnership with the OSS means we have initiated a fieldbook to record wildlife species encounter here. You can enter your own observations in our fieldbook when you visit the Bothy on retreat. You may be first to note a pileated woodpecker, or the annual return of the moose cow and her yearling calf.

Because of our partnership with the OSS we will undertake future woodland remediation projects, which you can actively participate in. We will share more information with our subscribers as these projects are more clearly identified. To find out more, subscribe below.

Did you know the Okanagan Similkameen region is home to some of the greatest concentrations of species diversity and species at risk in Canada, and is one of Canada's most endangered natural systems? We didn’t know that, but now we do. Having OSS as a partner helps us to make informed and meaningful decisions for this land we are committed to stewarding.

For more details on this amazing organization and their initiatives, see their website https://www.osstewardship.ca/. For as little as $10 you can become a member.