Jade Simpson
passionate gardener, learner
and educator
ABOUT
Having a strong passion for nature and sustainability, I am driven and enthusiastic about learning and leading. My extensive experience in programming, budgeting, and positively navigating situations makes me an excellent leader. I encourage you to take a look through my website to get to know me a bit more.
A Few of My Achievements
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I took part in a business project contest focused on addressing national food waste, and I'm proud to say I emerged as the winner. My proposal aimed at creating innovative solutions to reduce food waste on a national scale.
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Click the link below to see the full video:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBxqxZoSNY8&ab_channel=ResearchInnovationOffice
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Was chosen to participate on a panel through the organization Corenet (a non for profit real estate corporation) amongst three other women to have a discussion based on workplace balance.
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Click the link below to see the full video:
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Public speaking had long been a large fear of mine, so last year I chose to challenge myself to push that boundary by partaking in a course. Participation in this course required me to adapt and fine-tune my presentation skills and learn how to be comfortable presenting ideas as a group and individually.
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Project Soy Plus Winner 2024
Corenet Panelist 2022
Complete Masterclass Public Speaking Workshop 2022
Conducted Nature Hike for National Indigenous Peoples Day BGIS: Summer 2022
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On National Indigenous Peoples Day, I hosted a corporate event to celebrate the rich heritage and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. We reflected on colonization, honoured Indigenous culture and language, and supported land defence for a better future.
Individually Created, Organized and Ran Landscaping Jobs: 2021
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After many years of working alongside a company, I decided to give running my landscaping jobs a try. I was able to source, budget, consult and implement with different clients. All of these jobs have been rewarding experiences.
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Successfully Ran & Organized a Day Camp: 2017
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With my love of summer camp, I decided to try and run my own. Through advertising, recruiting participants, structuring and organizing I successfully ran my day camp for a group of 10 girls ages ranging from 7-10 years.
Was an Ambassador of Canada for Rotary International: 2016
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With a love for travel and learning I applied to the Rotary International Youth Exchange program and was selected to represent Canada for a year abroad in Japan, where I was immersed in the culture.
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Recommended Reading:
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National Audubon Society Field Guide Collection
For hours, these books have captivated me throughout the seasons. These are excellent guides for those who want to learn how to identify plant and mushroom species, 10/10 would recommend. My favorite is hard to pin down, but I've been hooked on these for years now.
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The Gardeners Companion to Medicinal Plants: Kew Royal Botanic Garden
Like many of you, I have been making mud-pies in the garden since I was a child. My fascination with the nutrients and healing properties provided by the earth hasn't diminished with age. This book is filled with natural remedies (see Witch Hazel post below to see one of their recipes), and the traditional uses of plants, flowers and herbs. This book is filled with amazing and elaborate history that is so captivating even if you are not interested in herbal remedies. Definitely a good book to have on hand!
The Small Garden Handbook: Gay Search
Starting and planning new garden spaces can be extremely intimidating. This book, The Small Garden Handbook is an amazing reference point for ideas and solutions to help you navigate these new tasks. It is compact and can easily fit into your gardening bag and come along to site visits and meetings with clients to share concepts and ideas. If you are in the market for a pocket sized garden prophet, this is the book for you.
The Design Pathway for Regenerating Earth: Joe Brewer
As a global society we are on the brink of a planetary collapse, however Joe Brewer's book "offers genuine hope.". Throughout the narrative Brewer takes the reader through new systems that weave insights of community, human cognition, holistic landscaping and education. This book is an amazing and deep dive into a new possibility of living.
Friends from the Gardens
Workshops I have attended:
Mycology: Beginner
Tree Grafting
Seed Starting Workshops
Recipes:
Staghorn Sumac Tea:
Sumac is a wild shrub native to North America and the odd that you have seen it on a majority of your walks is very likely. Those who have sensitive skin or severe allergies please avoid them.
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Although the plant's berries have a fuzzy feel the Sumac fruit is technically edible but should be prepared in a particular way for optimum enjoyment.
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The fruit is most delicious when it becomes a maroon colour (typically from late summer to early fall). Use the berries to add a natural flavouring to pies or steep them in cold or room temperature water.
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If the berries are boiled in water or the temperature is too high it can bring out the tannins in the fruit and develop a bitter taste.
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