Invasive Eats of Canada

Yukon I found out during my research that the Territories have minimal invasive species as their climate limits the spread of many of these species. It's extremely important for it to remain this way and remember not to transport species from place to place. Something else to remember is to clean off fishing equipment before moving it from one location to another. Fortunately, there are currently no animals of concern in the Yukon. I look forward to when I can visit this beautiful land in person and experience the breathtaking wilderness and views like none other in the world. Common Tansy Tansy Bug Repellant 1 cup fresh tansy leaves and flowers, packed 8 cups water Place water in a pot and bring to a boil on the stove. Add tansy leaves and turn heat off. Let tansy sit in hot water until completely cooled. Strain the water into a labeled spray bottle and dispose of tansy into the garbage. Spray on plants and flowers to repel insects. Make sure to rinse edible plants off before con...

Purple Saxifrage                 Nunavut I haven't had the chance to visit Canada's Territories yet, but I definitely want to. Nunavut appeals to me for the rich heritage of it's traditional lands of the Indigenous people of Arctic Canada. The remote villages, accessible only by plane or boat seems so incredible to me. Canadian Olympian Clara Hughes wrote a biography called Open Heart, Open Mind. She describes her incredible adventure as she cycled across the Territories to train for the Olympics. It was an inspiring book that I've shared with friends and I highly recommend it. Fun fact about Nunavut's capital city, Iqaluit - Young Cora really appreciated this city as it's an exception to the rule of a 'U' always following a "Q" in writing. That's right Mme. Coolen, it's spelt Iqaluit, not Iqualuit! Common Barley (non native) Barley Soup (Vegan) 5 litres of water 2 cups pearled barley 2 large bunches foxtail barley 1 large onion, dice...

Mountain Avens       Northwest Territories I've always been fascinated with the Northern Lights and hope to be able to visit the Northwest Territories to see them with my own eyes. I've read about the landscape of mountains, lakes and rivers, the Arctic tundra and boreal forests that give sightseeing and exploration a new meaning. Not to mention the wildlife you won't see anywhere else in the world, like the Woodland Caribou. Out of all of Canada's provinces and territories, I've always thought that the Northwest Territories have the coolest license plates. That's right, they're shaped like a polar bear. The Ministry of Transportation is definitely on another level in the NWT compared to the rest of Canada! Creeping Thistle Thistle Zucchini Bread (Vegan) 1 cup applesauce 1 cup creeping thistle leaves ¾ cup brown sugar 1 ½ cups flour 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp baking powder Pinch of salt  3 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp nutmeg ¼ tsp cardamom 1 cup zucchini, grated ¼ cup a...

Pacific Dogwood    British Columbia My best friend Alyana lives in the Vancouver area and she was a great resource for making these recipes. I went and visited her on the West Coast last year and had a blast taking in all that the Pacific had to offer. As much as I enjoy travelling in groups or with my family, I've begun to appreciate my independence, going and doing what I want - when I want! I couldn't believe the biodiversity of all the different plants in BC compared to Ontario. I loved our hikes, bike rides and exploring the marvelous natural beauty of BC. Picking wild salmon berries and huckleberries and eating them on the go was something I wasn't used to. Since Aly was in Scouts for many years and has experience and knowledge in different areas than me, it was awesome to hangout and learn from her expertise and wisdom. She is one of the most resourceful outdoorsy people I know! Not going to lie, when I saw that Snapping Turtles are invasive in BC, I really contemp...