This week, Joanne welcomes master gardener Ingrid Janssen to the podcast to discuss the inspiring work being done by Little Forests Durham, a nonprofit organization focused on planting Miyawaki mini forests throughout Durham Region.

About Little Forests Durham

Little Forests Durham is a volunteer-run community non-profit organization based in Durham Region, Ontario, Canada, focused on giving tools, knowledge, and support to people, communities, organizations and local authorities to plant Little Forests in their neighbourhoods and communities.

Topics Covered

• Ingrid's background as a Durham Master Gardener, seed collector, and advocate for native trees
• How Little Forests Durham was founded in 2024 and inspired by Little Forests Kingston
• What a Miyawaki mini forest is and how the method aims to compress forest succession into 20-30 years
• Why these forests are planted using dense layers of native trees and shrubs to mimic a natural forest community
• The importance of soil preparation, including cardboard, compost, and mulch to suppress weeds and build fungal-rich soil
• How sites are chosen through collaboration with municipal staff, parks departments, and local partners
• Why publicly accessible land is a priority for Little Forests Durham projects
• The logistics behind site prep, including access for trucks, compost delivery, mulch spreading, and volunteer coordination
• How volunteers help with planting days, often in large numbers, making it possible to plant hundreds of trees and shrubs in a short time
• Why planting design still matters, even in a more naturalized system, with careful placement of canopy trees, understory trees, and shrubs
• The realities of maintenance, including weeding, invasive species removal, tree protection, fencing, and monitoring for drought
• How mini forests help address climate change by increasing biodiversity, cooling urban spaces, and creating habitat for wildlife
• The role of partnerships with organizations such as Rotary Clubs, conservation authorities, Green Communities Canada, Greenbelt Foundation, and Trees for Life
• The group's ambitious goal of planting 30 mini forests by 2030 in Durham Region
• How listeners can support the effort through volunteering, joining the team, donating, or helping bring projects to their own communities
• The idea that homeowners can create smaller-scale versions in their own yards, known as pocket forests
• Ingrid's love of native trees, with a special mention of her flowering dogwood, grown from seed she collected herself

Takeaways and Tips

• Mini forests do not require huge spaces. Even a small corner of a park or a backyard can support a meaningful planting.
• Native trees and shrubs matter. They support biodiversity, wildlife, and long-term ecological health.
• The Miyawaki method is about community. It brings together people, plants, fungi, wildlife, and local organizations in one shared effort.
• Good site access is essential. Successful projects need room for compost, mulch, tools, and tree delivery.
• Volunteer-friendly planning makes all the difference. Clear layouts and simple planting instructions help create a positive experience.
• Soil prep is key. Cardboard, compost, and mulch help suppress weeds and create better conditions for young trees to thrive.
• Maintenance matters. The first few years require protection from rabbits, trampling, invasive weeds, and possible drought.
• Climate action can be local. You don't have to wait for large systems to change. Communities can begin by planting trees where they live.
• Small efforts add up. Whether it is joining a planting day, donating materials, or creating a pocket forest at home, every action helps.

You can find Little Forests Durham online at www.littleforestsdurham.ca and on Instagram, and Facebook.

Have a topic you'd like Joanne to discuss?

Email your questions and comments to [email protected], or connect with Joanne on her website: down2earth.ca

Find Down the Garden Path on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @downthegardenpathpodcast.

Down the Garden Path Podcast

On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low-maintenance as possible.

In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide. Get your copy today on Amazon.

Don't forget to check out Down the Garden Path on your favourite podcast app and subscribe! You can now catch the podcast on YouTube.