The Alchemy of Wings

Fàilte/Welcome! My name is Melissa Bettcher and you have found my personal blog, The Alchemy of Wings.

I reside here on Treaty 6 Territory ,amiskwacîwâskahikan (Beaver Hills House), also know as Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I am the descendant of immigrants to these lands and was born and raised in the Badlands of Alberta. I am committed to Reconciliation through accepting and acknowledging that my ancestors have played a huge role in the destruction of biodiversity where they settled and for the violent removal and abuse of the Indigenous people from their homes on the land. My work in restoring biodiversity, reducing my personal impact on the natural resources of this land, and using my skills and passion to educate others to do the same is only one step on this life long journey.

I have been in love with the natural world for as long as I can remember. My friends and family joke that if they can’t find me, they only need to locate the nearest grove of trees and that is where I would be found, looking for mushrooms and talking to the bees. My number one dream is to run away to a cabin in the woods and be that eccentric old wise woman with all the plants and animals that people seek out for sage advice and a great cup of tea (or mead).

My spiritual practice is very important to me and although I do not hold to a particular path or faith, I do consider myself to be a Hedge Druid and incorporate my Pretani/Celtic, Germanic, and Slavic heritage into my practice and daily life. I am also exploring my African ancestral line through my fourth great grandfather who had escaped enslavement in the American South.

To this blog I hope to bring my own unique lens with intersections of Neurodiversity, Dis-ability, Queerness, and being a middle aged cis-gendered female.

My “creds”:

• I have a background in Adult Learning and Customer Service and am currently working on my professional certificate in Adult Learning with the University of Calgary. My passion is in Instructional Design and helping people learn in ways that work for their unique intersections.
• In 2014, I completed my training with the City of Edmonton as a Master Composter Recycler and have spent the last 10+ years helping my neighbours and friends in their waste reduction efforts and composting questions.
• I also volunteer with the City of Edmonton in planting trees and pulling invasive weeds when I can and recently signed up (2024) to be a Climate Connector for my neighbourhood.
• In 2024, I completed my training as a Pollinator Steward with Pollinator Partnership
• As a renter with no yard, I offer a unique perspective on Urban Gardening and Sustainable Urban Living even though I do not have formal horticultural training.

Memberships and Groups I belong to:

• Alberta Native Plant Council
• Edmonton Native Plant Society
• Nature Alberta
• Alberta Native Bee Council
• Bee Friendly Gardening (through Pollinator Partnership)
• Alberta Mycological Society
• Society of Alberta Asexuals and Aromantics
• Ancient Order of Druids of America (AODA)

The Journey Begins

Join me on an adventure of Sustainable Urban Living, Reconciliation, Re-Balancing with Nature, and honouring Earth Mother who gives us life. I hope you learn a little (or a lot) and find hope and inspiration for your own unique journey. In the end it is the journey that helps us grow and not necessarily the destination. As one of my favourite authors has written, ” Not all those who wander are lost.” J.R.R.Tolkien