02/05/2023
2023 Season Event Schedule
April
20-22 Low Low Tides and Seaweed Symposium: Harvest overview and guidance by longtime time harvester Kacie Loparto. Join in the (cold) water for identification, harvest and drying of wild kelp. Kanae Tokunaga, a Japanese researcher of artisanal kelp traditions and economies will present about the high value products and supply chains in different regions of Japan.
A presentation of the new Maine Seaweed Council ‘seaweed wild harvest guidelines’ by longtime industry leader Shep Erhart and join for a round table discussion at Reversing Hall.
Exhibition in Motel by Natalie Jeremijenko, and launch of the MycoBuoys with Sue Van Hook! Ritual procession of mycelium (mushroom) floatation we have grown at Smithereen Farm and supported by Seaweed Commons — read the position paper! A great time to tap into the project team while painting coating on the buoys.
May
19-20 2nd Annual Alewife Festival: Free fishing and free lunch with smoked fish, kids activities, biologist talks, cooking demos, painting, live music. 9am-3pm, Friday and Saturday. Made possible by co-sponsor Downeast Salmon Federation. Biologist talks by Kristin Underwood and Mike Manning of Downeast Salmon Federation. Presentation about MycoBuoys project with Sue Van Hook. Workshop on making and deploying open source water sensors in the Pennamaquan River with Don Blair
Live music from the Lamp Lighters band on May 20th.
4-native fish masterclass and Washington County culinary networking with Chef Bobby of Salt and Steel restaurant, Bar Harbor - made possible by Maine Coast Fishermen's Association and USDA Local Food Promotion Program grant.
“Bike like a fish” guided bike ride up the Pennamaquan, to visit the spawning lakes and connect with the Downeast Sunrise Trail. Kids' ‘bike safety rodeo’ hosted by Bicycle Coalition of Maine, loaner bikes and helmets will be available. Bike rentals / repair also provided by Mike’s Bikes. Reversing Hall and the book collection will be open for visitors this weekend.
June
5-7 Low Low Tides: with Kacie Loparto, wild harvesting seaweed, learn what it takes. Followed by a naturalist walk with Jordan Chalfert of Naturalist’ Notebook and Maine Natural History Observatory, seaweed cuisine workshop presented by Evan Mallett of Black Trumpet.
17-18 Medicinal Plants and the Commons: a round table with Susan Leopold and board members of United Plant Savers and Kyle Winslow of Maine Coast Heritage Trust, foraging walk with Rachel Alexandrou. Tuning into the wild, embodied awareness and sensory openness as foraging practice with dancer & movement teacher Nuria Bowart of The Field Center, VT.
24-25 ARRT art retreat: with Natasha Mayers, public is welcome to participate in ‘group painting’ on June 25, 9 am-noon (https://www.arrteam.org).
July
15-16 CCC Trails Camp: with AmeriCorps Environmental Steward Iviah McNally. Building forest trail with interpretive signage on the cultural, industrial and ecological power of the Pennamaquan River.
15-16 Dried Berries: Solar drying as food preservation! An exploration of value added processing for wild blueberries, traditions, innovations, technology and rules.
22-23 Algae/Thalassotherapy: Medicinal teas, mud rubs, sauna + SPA DAY at Smithereen Farm. RSVP required! Will be repeated as per demand.
29 Liberty Hall Open House: including a presentation of the Civic Halls of Hancock and Washington County, and roundtable discussion on the new National Heritage Area – Crystal Hitchings of SCEC, Tara Kelly, Maine Preservation, Mollie Cashwell, Cultural Alliance of Maine, Martha Piscuskas, Maine Arts Commission previously of Waterfall Arts
August
5-6 Wild Blueberry Weekend: cooking and baking workshop with chef Odessa Piper
11-13 Chokecherry + fireweed harvest: processing and sensual wild-foraged feast with Rachel Alexandrou. A time of extremely abundant wild foods and herbs, come out in the fields with the irresistible educator/ artist. (Spa day Sunday optional add on)
19-20 Natural Plastering Primer: Liz Johndrow of Earthen Endeavors teaches a plaster workshop for renovation. Using natural materials, traditional techniques, both DIY accessible approaches as well as high-end, historic preservation quality work. Co-sponsored by Maine Preservation and Mano en Mano (Spanish language instruction is available, as are scholarships)
20-26 CCC Trails Camp: willow and rain garden installation with AmeriCorps Environmental Steward Iviah McNally
26-27 Washington County Fair: Pembroke fairgrounds and Reversing Hall open house.
Date TBD Presentation for USDA Local Food Promotion Program: with Nicole Mason of Veritable Vegetable.
September
Cider Camp: Practically the whole month of September we’re harvesting apples and then cranberries- a great time to help out, harvest your own supply, press apples, family camping.
Date TBD Courtney Burns of BarTartine returns to Smithereen Farm for a harvest season pickle + fermenting masterclass. She will be working with native/naturalized ingredients of this region to lay out culinary approaches to getting them into greater circulation locally and into the world of commerce.
16-17 Bread baking: with Steven Boas, focus on natural leavening small bakery skills
22-24 MOFGA Common Ground Fair, Unity Maine 2 booths! Greenhorns @ Ag Demo and Smithereen Farm @ Agricultural Products areas.
October
Date TBD Seaweed Commons Assembly in partnership with Amy Franceschini and Futurefarmers artist collective at Institute of Contemporary Art at the Maine College of Art and Design, Portland.
Date TBD Civic Halls tour of Downeast Maine with Maine Preservation
Art by Andrew Long, NFA Vol VI contributor — commissions at [email protected]
Something for everyone.
Smithereen Farm Store (12 Little Falls Rd) coming into year 2 and thanks to USDA Local Food Promotion Program we are able to expand: more cheese, longer hours, more farms, more variety, more more!
Reversing Hall - a library with 8,000 books (4 Leighton Point Rd)
More news coming soon about the CCC Trails/AmeriCorps project and Natalie Jeremijenko's "MULTIVERSITY" -- watch this space!
Remember, U-PICK seasonal availability:
June- strawberries
July- blueberries
August- chokecherries
September- cranberries, apples
Until soon!
Severine & team
(After 15 years of woman-run Greenhorns, help us stay strong as we enter mother-run Greenhorns this May)
buy a book / fill out the survey / donate today!
