Please note this just in: you may want to postpone your visit to the Fairly Trail because on April 14th and April 15th they will be doing major repairs. Vandals damaged the trail- this breaks my heart. Please check the Facebook page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=south%20mountain%20fairy%20trail
When I first went on the South Mountain Fairy Trail with my daughter’s Girl Scout Troop, I was inspired and I wanted to meet the “real fairy” who created this natural art museum in the forest. If you are unfamiliar with the Fairy Trail, it is a trail in the South Mountain Reservation near the Millburn Public Library. It seems, at first glance, like an ordinary, moderate hike through the Reservation, but if you open your eyes and alert your senses you will see evidence of tiny forest creatures living, working and playing there. In a hollowed tree you might see a small wood house with a porch, a living room, and a tiny wood couch with pillows made of mushrooms! Upon further investigation, I discovered that these fine miniature habitats were all the work of a real live fairy and “Parent With the Purpose,” Therese Ojibway. Her “purpose” began as a way to calm her son. Since then, the Trail has also inspired others to both bond with and be respectful towards nature.
Therese is a local mom (having lived in both Maplewood and now Millburn) and last week my family and I were fortunate to have her take us on our own guided tour of the South Mountain Fairy Trail. We learned that Therese has been coming to the trail since her autistic son, Clinton was a child (he’s now 26) - the woods had a calming effect on him and she noticed that he could navigate through the trails easily. Growing up, Therese was also inspired by such stories as “Thumbelina” - in particular the image of Thumbelina flying on a bird through the the trees like a Queen flying through a wooden palace.
Throughout the years she noticed that many hurricanes and storms left trees and logs on the ground. One particular tree had a large hollowed out section, and so Therese began to use natural pieces such as twigs, rocks and blades of grass to make swings, tables and beds. She aimed for the piece to look “like it could be made by forest creatures.” As the forest is full of endless materials, Therese continued to build.
Today the trail has over 30 different houses (or "exhibits" as she rightly refers to them). There is a Wig Wam and 
tepee in a Native American area, a Hobbit house and even a windmill. Some of the materials are brought from other natural places (seashells for instance), but she aims for all the materials to be natural and biodegradable.
Until a few years ago Therese worked in secret and enjoyed watching kids and families as they took delight in the magical houses that seemed to appear overnight. However, since Therese visits the trail at least once a week to maintain the artworks, people started to catch Therese in the act. Therese explains, “They would say, ’oh I love the place and I’ve been photographing it for years’ and so I thought I would enjoy seeing some of other people’s pictures and I created the Facebook page. Then a reporter from the New York Times contacted me and so I became public.” After the New York Times article, more and more Girl Scout Troops, residents and even tourists came to the trail.
Therese delights in watching others enjoy and discover the trail. In the past people left her notes and even their own houses (though restrictions have since been put in place requesting people not do this anymore in order to limit litter or damage). She says, "once I saw a whole family working on a house - dad, mom and kids were weaving grass between twigs, gathering materials…I was so happy to see all the natural teamwork.” Her favorite was when, “a kid left me a note and also a tooth! I wrote back that I was honored as a Forest Fairy to get a Tooth Fairy note.”
Although Therese does enjoy the creativity, The South Mountain Conservancy and Therese ask that people come and enjoy the pieces, but not disturb them, and there is now a “Leave No Trace” policy in place to protect the houses and the woods, including signs asking people to not add to the houses. Therese suggests using the houses for inspiration to make your own Fairy Wonderland for home use, and to strive to "make sure it looks as though a forest creature made it out of the fruit of the Earth (such as leaves, twigs and vines)”.
Therese has inspired many in the community to discover nooks and crannies in nature and make their own pieces of art. In fact, you’ll notice that the Macaroni Kid calendar has some Fairy Events. On Saturday, July 22nd you can even meet Therese Ojibway herself when she leads the “Fairy House Workshop” at the Maplewood Public Library.
Thank you, Therese, for creating a magical, mystical, and inspiring place for our youngsters and for grownups alike!
Locust Grove Parking Lot
(Across from the Millburn Free Public Library
200 Glen Avenue)
(If you make a fairy piece on your own or at one of the libraries, feel free to post it on the Macaroni Kid Summit Short Hills SOMA Facebook page and/or the South Mountain Fairy Trail page).
