Beavering On! At a snail’s pace, I belly crawled down the bank toward the beaver pond. Pushing the fresh aspen branch in front of me, I screened my approach as much as possible. The big male eyed me from the water, clearly uncertain how to respond to this unusual visit. Nearly breathless with anticipation, I… Read more
On a late May evening, the Land Trust hosted the fourth and final event of its Climate Resilience Series, supported in part by Casco Bay Estuary Partnership. The timing of this event was celestial — that is, the focus was on the monthly high tide which would be coming in the following days. There was… Read more
It was cold in the dark October woods, thank goodness for my down jacket. As dawn crept slowly over the horizon behind me a faint glow began to light the trees. My eyes picked up movement just in front of me but not a whisper of sound. Frozen in my seat I sensed a patch… Read more
It’s time for our annual Summer Restaurant Raffle! For the fifth year in a row, you can enter to win a gift certificate to a local eatery and support your land trust at the same time. We are raffling off prizes valued at $100 each, with more prizes than ever! You can choose which prize(s)… Read more
We appreciate everyone who participated in the June edition of our This Week in Harpswell project – over 75 photos submitted from 25 talented Harpswell photographers! Now the fun part.. Vote for your favorite photos via the link below and we will announce the winners in a few weeks. Stay tuned, and thanks again to… Read more
What do you do when you see a big, fat dandelion staring at you in an area of your garden that you have just cleaned up for the spring? Do you ignore it? Or, do you attack it as soon as possible? That’s what we members of Harpswell Invasive Plant Partnership (HIPP) face all during… Read more
When plans were first drawn up for a trail system at the Curtis Farm Preserve, two loops were envisioned: one around the field and a second through the woods and along the shore. Trail construction – especially with an eye to habitat preservation – takes time, commitment and resources, not only to lay out the… Read more
June 7-8, 2025 Are you looking for an excuse to spend time outdoors? Consider the Harpswell Hiking Challenge as a way to get outside and get to know both HHLT and town-owned trails and preserves. This year’s challenge covers eight trails (four if choosing the modified route), including four of HHLT’s preserves. Don’t forget to… Read more
People sometimes ask where I find ideas for my monthly columns, as if I might soon be running out of story lines after more than 12 years. It occurred to me that they might be gently suggesting it is time for me to cease and desist, fading away like an old soldier. The simple fact… Read more
What more could you ask for? A lot, it turns out! At a recent presentation at the Schiller Center, Bowdoin College’s Coastal Studies Center on Orr’s Island, and in conjunction with the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, the public was invited to learn about a study being conducted by the Basin Oyster Project. Professors Cait Cleaver… Read more