Huron County Backyard Ecosystems

10/24/2026

🎉 Our FINAL winner of 2026! 🎉

A huge congratulations to Dené Coombs, winner of our final draw of the year!

I especially want to recognize Kyle Haccius of Branch and Berry Permaculture, who stepped up when we unexpectedly needed someone to help us finish this campaign on a high note. And wow, did he deliver! 💚

Kyle generously donated two seasonal, 2-hour consultations, giving our winner the opportunity to learn about their own property, identify native and invasive plants, explore seed harvesting, plant propagation, climate resilience and so much more.

Having knowledgeable, passionate people like Kyle working right here in our community is something worth celebrating. His generosity, enthusiasm and commitment to helping others create healthier ecosystems are exactly what this campaign is all about. I have personally been blown away by the work he and his team did on my own lawn. Please show Branch and Berry Permaculture some love! 🌱

And to EVERYONE who participated this year — thank you!

Every photo you shared helped raise awareness of the incredible things happening in ordinary backyards across Huron County. Every native plant added, every conversation started and every neighbour inspired brings us closer to our goal.

60,000 native plants in Huron County - A plant for every person!

That's what is all about!

Thank you to our generous sponsors, our participants and everyone who helped spread the word throughout 2026. The draws may be finished for the year, but the mission certainly isn't!

10/23/2026

Last chance to enter!!! Hurry while the weather is still nice! Draw* takes place at 8:00 p.m.! Snap your photo of the native plant you added this year in Huron county and tag me!

10/11/2026

One thing I’m especially thankful for this year is having local people and businesses who genuinely care about the same things this little project is trying to accomplish. 🌱

If you missed my earlier post, Kyle Haccius and The Branch & Berry Permaculture stepped up in a big way to help us finish off the 2026 campaign with an amazing grand prize.

That means a lot to me.

It’s one thing to have a good idea or a mission you care about. It’s another thing entirely to have people in your own community willing to support it, donate their time and expertise, and help make it possible.

I’m also just really thankful that we have local options for this kind of work.

I hired Kyle and his team myself this year to help install new native plant beds on our property, and they exceeded my expectations. The work was done carefully and professionally, everything I wanted preserved was treated thoughtfully, and they even took care of a few little unrelated messes around the property while they were there.

The price was fantastic too, and I’m already hoping to have them back for another project.

So this Thanksgiving, I’m feeling very grateful that people like Kyle are doing this work locally — and even more grateful that he cared enough about this mission to step in and support our community with such a generous prize.

Sometimes something not working out really does lead you exactly where you were supposed to end up. 💚🌿

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone — and thank you to everyone who has planted, shared, donated, encouraged someone else, or supported in any way this year.

10/06/2026

As another growing season comes to an end, making it a great time to gather seeds for the Huron County Library's Seed Library!

To learn more about seed saving and how to donate them to the library, visit: https://www.huroncountylibrary.ca/seed-library/

10/06/2026

Shout out to my Huron East followers! What an easy way to

Ready to plant something that gives back? 🌱

Huron East residents can take part in the Tree Power Program and purchase native trees selected to support shade, cleaner air, greener spaces, and long-term energy conservation.

Trees are available for $20 each and can be purchased online at: https://abcashop.ca/product/tree-power-huron-east/

Tree pickup:
📆 Saturday, October 17, 2026.
🕘 9 AM to 11 AM.
📍 Town Hall parking lot in Seaforth, at the corner of Victoria St. and Gouinlock St.

Let’s grow a greener together. 🌳

Order your trees by Thursday, October 15, 2026 (while supplies last).

Details: www.huroneast.com/treepower

10/06/2026

Invasive species of plants negatively impact tourism and recreation. Learn how in this article by Bayfield residents Renee Sandelowsky and Helen Varekamp: https://www.abca.ca/post/?ID=1704

10/06/2026

10/04/2026

A little humble update about our FINAL draw of 2026. 🌱

Our original grand prize couldn’t be confirmed, so I reached out to someone who has been a great friend and ally in this mission — Kyle Haccius of The Branch and Berry Permaculture. Honestly, I’m a little embarrassed I didn’t ask him from the outset, because this prize feels like such a perfect fit.

I always say that sometimes when something doesn’t work out… it turns out it really DID work out.

We’re extending the FINAL draw to October 23rd — my birthday! 😜🎂

🌿 GRAND PRIZE 🌿

Kyle is generously offering TWO seasonal 2-hour consultations with The Branch & Berry:

🌱 SPRING SESSION
• What your garden needs — and what YOU want from it
• Garden scout
• Native species identification
• Invasive species identification
• Resource integration, including local nurseries, OWSL, VASCAN and more
• Winter-sown native plant seedlings — details TBD

🌱 SUMMER SESSION
• Native species identification, including summer bloomers
• Harvesting spring seeds
• Preparing seeds for storage or donation
• Plant splitting
• Hedging and topiary tutorial
• Indigenous awareness and acknowledgement
• Drought-tolerant plants
• Adapting your garden to a changing climate

If the winner decides they’d like even more help afterward, additional work can also be booked through The Branch & Berry, Landscapes and Labour division at standard rates.

To enter:

🌿 Plant a new native plant anywhere in Huron County in 2026
🌿 Take a photo
🌿 Share it publicly and tag Huron County Backyard Ecosystems /

One plant counts.

Kyle, thank you for stepping up and supporting this grassroots project in such a generous way. 🌱💚

Final draw: October 23rd!