Otter Brook in winter (Ed Robinson photo) Unless you spent the holidays in the Southern Hemisphere, you know that we finally are experiencing one of those deep freeze winters that balance out a couple of mild years. There will be no golf in January, your snow plow guy is on speed dial and your partner… Read more
Curtis Farm Preserve: A braided history
One of a series of articles exploring the natural and human history of Harpswell Heritage Land Trust’s protected land. When we began walking Flossie, our newly adopted dog, on Harpswell Heritage Land Trust’s (HHLT) Curtis Farm Preserve, I wondered who the Curtises were and what they grew. By diving into public records online, I now… Read more
Dave Hackett: Deep roots in Harpswell’s and HHLT’s history
One in a series of profiles of people who played a key role in the first 35 years of the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust. Despite the underlying rocky ledges and the relatively thin layer of topsoil found throughout the town, roots run deep in Harpswell. For example, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust (HHLT) grew out of… Read more
]Eirwin Soltesz photo In an earlier article, I described the lovely Cooper’s hawk. Here we will learn more about the smallest member of the same family, the sharp-shinned hawk. These birds, along with the sparrow hawk and goshawk, are members of the genus Accipiter from the Latin word accipere, meaning “to grasp.” The Accipiters are… Read more
By Monique Coombs, Director of Marine Programs for the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association On November 28, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission voted to extend the moratorium on Northern Shrimp for a fifth year in a continued attempt to allow the stock to rebuild. After receiving a scientific update that showed declines in the health… Read more
Ron Davis: Dedicated Trail Vounteer
For many of us, working at a desk eight hours a day, working outside is a joy and an antidote to looking at a computer screen. For Ron Davis, a retired Navy engineer and current piano tuner, building and maintaining Harpswell Heritage Land Trust (HHLT) trails is a delightful way to enjoy nature and meet… Read more
A History of Skolfield Shores Preserve
Look around you at Skolfield Shores Preserve and consider all the history that has occurred at this site over the centuries. For 10,000 years this place has been a stopping place for Native Americans along their travel route from the forest, down the rivers and along the shore to Cape Cod. To travel from inland… Read more
Welcome to the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust Lending Library
The lending library is located inside the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust office at 153 Harpswell Neck Road. Our hours are variable. You’re welcome to stop by whenever you see a car in the parking lot or give us a call before you come to make sure we’re there to let you in. Our number is… Read more
November finds us enjoying the last of the foliage season, but it can be a busy time getting our homes and lawns cleaned up for winter. It is also a time for action if you have valued deciduous trees. Once the weather turns colder, we will begin to see large numbers of the invasive winter… Read more
Mary Ann Nahf: Conservation Champion
Partner Profile: Mary Ann Nahf, Harpswell Conservation Commission By Victoria Boundy, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership All communities have their conservation champions. The Town of Harpswell is fortunate to have Mary Ann Nahf as one of theirs. Mary Ann moved to Maine in 2000 and joined the Conservation Commission a few years after that, in order… Read more