Join us this summer for two delightful tree-related summer climate reads.

On Wednesday July 8th, we will discuss The River Has Roots - a fantasy novella - written by Amal El-Mohtar about the love of trees, words and each other.

Wednesday July 8th, 2026 8pm ET

In the small town of Thistleford, on the edge of Faerie, dwells the mysterious Hawthorn family.

There, they tend and harvest the enchanted willows and honour an ancient compact to sing to them in thanks for their magic. None more devotedly than the family's latest daughters, Esther and Ysabel, who cherish each other as much as they cherish the ancient trees.

But when Esther rejects a forceful suitor in favor of a lover from the land of Faerie, not only the sisters' bond but also their lives will be at risk…
(*From Macmillan Publishers*)

On Wednesday August 5th at 8pm ET we will discuss When the Forest Breathes: Renewal and Resilience in the Natural World by forest ecologist Suzanne Simard.

Wednesday August 5th, 2026 at 8pm ET

On **Wednesday August 5th** at 8pm ET we will discuss *When the Forest Breathes: Renewal and Resilience in the Natural World* by forest ecologist Suzanne Simard.
Suzanne Simard is a Professor of Forest Ecology at the University of British Columbia and the author of the book, Finding the Mother Tree.
She returns with a book that, drawing on rigorous science and neglected Indigenous wisdom, places nature’s own cycles of renewal at the center of a powerful vision for the future of our forests.
*When the Forest Breathes* is an emboldening declaration that when we take responsible steps, reversing the effects of climate change is within reach. In elegant prose teeming with reverence for the natural world, Simard shares with all of us the gift of her ingenuity, commitment, and optimism.
*(From Suzanne Simard’s website)*

I think the combo of these two books will be lovely reads for the beach, riverside, forest or park this summer. Hope you can join us! Remember to subscribe at pluggedinpodcast.ca to receive updates.

Our 5th Annual Climate Care Retreat

During the last weekend of May 2026, our climate care book club gathered for our 5th annual retreat in Creemore, Ontario.

We sang along with folk songwriter and activist Luke Wallace at a fundraising concert for the Collingwood Climate Action Team, we practiced Qigong with Diane Gribbin and yoga with Caylin Sun and we walked the land and bathed in the forest, guided by our generous host Monica Branigan.

We ate beautifully nourishing food, sat by the campfire under the rising blue moon in the east and Venus and Jupiter’s in the west. I learned how to identify an eastern Bluebird, smelt wild native bergamot, and decided Redbud are my new favourite tree species.

We came together to share, lead, support, learn, nurture, and nourish. It was glorious.