Elevator version:
Calcium is an essential nutrient, particularly for tiny creatures called daphnia. They filter the water in our lakes, and without daphnia we would have serious algae problems. Calcium is also vital for trees, particularly sugar maples. Without enough calcium, it’s like the trees are half-asleep even in summer.
In Muskoka, years of acid rain has washed a lot of the calcium out of the soil and the lakes. We’re already seeing the results of this.
One way to get calcium back into the system is to add it directly to the soil. Trees can absorb some of it, and some of it will get filtered through into the lakes.
Wood ash is a fantastic source of calcium. Spreading it in the forest is a great way to get it into the soil and the lakes.
Most wood ash currently goes into the landfill. This project aims to set up a collection system that will get ash into the forests, where it can do the most good.
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