05/26/2026
Last year (2025), a massive ice storm scuttled plans for members of the Toronto Scouts to remove a prolific garlic mustard invasion from Honeywood Ridge. This year on May 2nd, despite an early-morning snow cover, a hardy and enthusiastic group of Beavers, Cubs, and their adults arrived to tackle the task. Garlic Mustard is best removed before it blossoms. Left on its own, the prolific invasive crowds out native species and turns diverse ecosystems into monocultures which in turn adversely affect native flora and fauna.
This was no run-of-the-mill garlic mustard pull. Grant Wigle, a.k.a. Hawkeye, Contact Scouter for the 433rd Toronto Beavers, came organized with a camp stove, propane tank, and water for hand-washing! Of course, all supplies had to be hauled approx. one km. up a significant grade to our site. After removing eight large plastic bags of Garlic Mustard, we were treated to hot water and soap for hand-washing, hors d'oeuvres, hot chocolate, and hot dogs! Best of all was the camaraderie that grew from an important and meaningful job well done. We’ll be back next year.
Image Captions
1. Beginning the uphill trek with supplies.
2. The view from the top.
3. Tending to Garlic Mustard around the tangle of last year’s storm damage.
4. Removing Garlic Mustard from along the trail.
5. It takes a lot of Garlic Mustard to fill eight bags!
6. Hawkeye heating hot water and preparing hot chocolate and hot dogs, on a day that was anything but hot!
7. Handwashing.
8. All hands got washed.
9. Gathering stove-side at work’s end.
10. Sharing food, stories, and camaraderie.
