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Plants of the Peninsula Monthly Workshops for Kids and Families!
This is a collaboration with Blue Hill Heritage Trust, Blue Hill Public Library, and Community Friends.
Wild Sun Catchers is a monthly program for kids and families that celebrates the wild plants of the Blue Hill Peninsula, and teaches a stewardship ethic for the land and its many inhabitants. We focus on a different plant and the relationships it has with other species each month. Activities, songs, stories, recipes, and more are shared as part of the lesson.
To view out most recent listings and upcoming programs please see the BHHT Facebook or the Libraries interactive online calendar.
Outcomes we hope to have:
Some of the many people we collaborate with on the peninsula:
MEEA Conference Presentation Recording 2021
2023 Programs
JANUARY: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for a workshop on sensitive fern. Landere will teach about the ecology, anatomy and wildlife connections of sensitive fern. We will be joined by special guest Kirsten Rickert. Kirsten will lead participants in creating a mandala using sensitive fern fertile fronds, spruce cones and other natural materials.
FEBRUARY: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for a workshop on White Pine. We will be gathering around a campfire, learning about fire safety, and making “Porcupine Bread”, or pine-sugar corn cakes. Landere will share a story about the ecology and natural history of the white pine tree and its wildlife connections. We will sing a fun song together about pine trees.
MARCH: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for a workshop on maple trees. We will learn to identify several species of Maple and explore some of the ways they contribute to their ecosystem as host plants for butterflies and moths. We will be joined by special guest Tim Laflam who will demonstrate how to tap maple trees for sap. Participants will have the opportunity to taste maple syrup and maple sap.
APRIL: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for a workshop on spring ephemerals and violets. Spring ephemerals, such as violets and many more, rely on an unexpected creature to help them disperse their seeds: ANTS! Join us to learn more about this fascinating relationship. Learn about why conservation matters and how we can also forage sustainably. Be prepared to make a fun violet concoction and listen to a fanciful story and puppet show by special guest Merrie Eley!
MAY: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for a workshop on fern. We will be joined by special guest Nell Houde from Wild Seed Project. Nell will teach participants about ferns and fern spore cultivation. We will play a fern life cycle game, search for ferns and plant fern spores using two northeastern ferns: the Christmas Fern and Northern Lady Fern.
JUNE: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for a workshop on yarrow. Yarrow is a beautiful pollinator plant full of herbal remedies! Learn about its story, why it’s often considered a weed, and how great it can be for the butterfly garden! We will be joined by special guest Brighid Doherty from The Solidago School of Herbalism on Deer Isle who will teach participants to make various herbal concoctions with yarrow including bug repellent, spit poultices, and tea.
JULY: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for a workshop on goldenrod. Participants will learn how important goldenroad is for wildlife and pollinators. Landere will tell a story about how we are connected to this plant in many ways (which does not include hayfever!). Special guest Ruth Fiske will teach the group how to make a bright yellow goldenrod natural dye and participants will get to take home a small ball of yarn
AUGUST: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for a workshop on huckleberries. We will learn about huckleberries, their wildlife and native plant value, make some huckleberry art, and pick some to eat! A special book called Berry Song by Michaela Goade will be given out to participants to take home supported by a grant from the Anahata Foundation. Please dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and bring sun hats and water bottles.
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2022 In-Person Programs are Back!!
MARCH: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for a workshop on maple trees. We will be focusing primarily on Red and Sugar Maple trees. Landere will demonstrate how to tap maple trees for sap. Participants will have the opportunity to taste maple syrup and maple sap.
APRIL: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for a workshop on pussy willows. Landere will talk about pussy willow’s relationship with different animals, insects and birds, the botany of these plants, and how to propagate them (each family can take one home!), before being joined by a special guest who will share a fun story about pussy willows. We will also learn and sing a song about pussy willows together and Claire will demonstrate a craft with this plant!
MAY: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for a workshop on shadbush. Landere will share information about the animals, insects, and other species that interact with shadbush as well as a bit about its history and folklore. Claire will read the story When the Shadbush Blooms by Carla Messinger and Susan Katz and illustrated by David Kanietakeron Fadden. We will be joined by special guest and artist Kirsten Rickert who will teach participants to make flower crowns using shadbush and other spring blossoms.
JUNE: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the library for a workshop on dandelions. Landere will teach about the ecology, history and folklore of dandelions and demonstrate a craft of making cordage with the stems. Participants will have the opportunity to drink dandelion tea and learn some recipes for using dandelions. We will also sing a song about dandelions together!
JULY: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for a workshop on Rugosa Roses. Landere will teach about the ecology, history and folklore of Rugosa Roses. Participants will have the opportunity to make and enjoy rose salve and rose soda! We will sing a song about wild roses together as well.
AUGUST: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for a workshop on goldenrod. Landere will share information about the animals, insects, and other species that interact with goldenrod. We will be joined by special guest Brighid Doherty, founder of The Solidago School of Herbalism on Deer Isle. Brighid will teach about the medicinal qualities of the plant, share a poem and how to make tea and infused vinegar or oil. There will also be a craft of making sun prints of goldenrod and making butterfly cut out crafts!
SEPTEMBER: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for a workshop on oak trees. Landere will teach about the ecology, history and folklore of oak trees. Participants will have the opportunity to make acorn dolls. We will read a poem about oak trees and sing a song together as well!
OCTOBER: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for a workshop on apple trees. We will teach about the ecology, history and folklore of apple trees and make a yummy apple recipe! We will also do some apple crafts and learn a fun apple song. Special Guest, Molly DellaRoman, will be joining us from 5 Star Orchard in Brooklin!
NOVEMBER: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for a workshop on native seeds. We will be learning about different types of native seeds and their importance for wildlife. We will make seed balls, play a seed mystery game, sing a song about seeds and more! Some of the seeds we will be focusing on are milkweed, rose hips and asters.
DECEMBER: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library to learn how to make a wreath using local plant materials such as balsam, cedar, pine and spruce along with winter berries and pine cones. We also talk about the history off wreath making in Maine!
VIDEO LINKS and Program Descriptions
for 2020-2021
During the Pandemic: Switch to Videos and Kits
During the pandemic we have switched over to video format for these workshops instead of in person gathering at the Blue Hill Public Library. Other community partners joined us to share their knowledge with us and often there are three or more of us sharing on each video! The videos offer ways to celebrate, cook, craft, identify, learn about, and engage with the Plant of the Month! See our videos from the past below.
NEW ADDITION TO Wild Sun Catcher VIDEOS! We are excited to announce that starting in September, 2020 we will be offering CRAFT KITS with materials to make the craft or project demonstrated in the video. Register with Claire at Blue Hill Public Library: claire.malina@bhpl.net, if you would like a kit!
BLOG POST: Sumac in January Workshop
WILD VIOLETS -MAY: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for an online workshop on wild violets. Landere will teach kids and families about the natural history and folklore of wild violets, and where to find and identify them. She will also demonstrate how to make candied violets. Claire will share information about plant illustrating and a Maine botanist. Don’t miss the special puppet performance by Merrie Eley of “The Violet” by Suzanne Down. Wild Sun Catchers is a monthly program for kids and families that celebrates the wild plants of the Blue Hill Peninsula, with focus on a different plant each month.
DANDELIONS – JUNE: Welcome to Wild Sun Catchers Online! Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for an online workshop on dandelions. Landere will teach kids and families about dandelions, how to identify and where to find them. She will share some recipes you can try at home and demonstrate how to make dandelion tea. Claire will share information about dandelions from the book “Ubiquitous : Poetry & Science About Nature’s Survivors” by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Beckie Prange. She will demonstrate how to make a nature journal and some fun ways to decorate it. Wild Sun Catchers is a monthly program for kids and families that celebrates the wild plants of the Blue Hill Peninsula, with focus on a different plant each month. It is a collaboration between Blue Hill Heritage Trust and the Blue Hill Library.
WHITE PINE – JUNE bonus: Landere will teach kids and families about white pine, how to identify them and a song! She will demonstrate how to make white pine tea. Claire will share nature journal prompts and show how to make natural paintbrushes. We are joined by Hannah and Colby from Way of the Earth School (https://wayoftheearth.com) and they will demonstrate how to make a pine bark basket! The song shared is “The Pine Tree Song” by River Jones from a book called “The Children’s Forest” by Dawn Casey, Anna Richardson, and Helen d’Ascoli. Landere shares from “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Bonus:
ST JOHNS WORT – JULY: Welcome to Wild Sun Catchers Online! Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for an online workshop on St. John’s Wort. Landere will teach kids and families about folklore and history of this incredible plant. Claire will demonstrate how to press and preserve the flowers. We are joined by Brighid Doherty of Solidago School of Herbalism on Deer Isle and she will demonstrate how to make a tincture with St. John’s Wort. Wild Sun Catchers is a monthly program for kids and families that celebrates the wild plants of the Blue Hill Peninsula, with focus on a different plant each month. It is a collaboration between Blue Hill Heritage Trust and the Blue Hill Library.
LOW BUSH BLUEBERRIES AND POLLINATORS – AUGUST: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for an online workshop on lowbush blueberries. This month, we will also be learning about the pollinators that make these plants and fruit possible! Anna Wind from Magic Food Bus will demonstrate how to make a delicious smoothie and share a recipe for participants to try at home. We will be joined by another special guest, Alec Witham, who will teach participants about bees and give a tour of a local beehive. Wild Sun Catchers is a monthly program for kids and families that celebrates the wild plants of the Blue Hill Peninsula, with focus on a different plant each month. This program is free and is co-sponsored by the library and Blue Hill Heritage Trust.
RED OAK TREE AND ACORNS – September: Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for an online workshop on oak trees. Landere will discuss the ecology of oak trees and read a poem as well as demonstrate how to make an acorn doll. Special guest Merrie will share an acorn puppet story, “The Acorn.” Wild Sun Catchers is a monthly program for kids and families that celebrates the wild plants of the Blue Hill Peninsula, with focus on a different plant each month. This program is free and is co-sponsored by the library and Blue Hill Heritage Trust. For more information, email Claire at claire.malina@bhpl.net.
Bonus:
WILD CRANBERRIES – October
Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for an online workshop on cranberries. This month, we are joined by local business co-owner Kipp Quinby from Red Bog, an organic cranberry bog in Sedgwick. Kipp will teach participants about bogs and cranberries! There are two fun crafts this month: cranberry printing with Claire and dyeing cloth with Landere.
Bonus:
STORY: Three-Red-Witches-and-the-Cranberry-Bog-5.pdf
CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS: Three Red Witches and the Cranberry Bog-5
ASTERS – November
WREATH MAKING – December
Kids and their families are invited to join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for an online workshop about making your own wreath. Blue Hill Heritage Trust invites you to collect greens for your wreath from any of their trails, as long as it will not be for commercial use. The Surry Forest is a great location to harvest many of the following greens: cedar, balsam, pine, spruce, etc. Participants may enjoy decorating their wreath with pine cones, winterberries, sea shells, and more!
BALSAM FIR – January
Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for an online workshop on balsam fir. Participants will learn how to identify balsam fir trees and their ecology, followed by a demonstration of two fun projects, making sachets and decorating wood cookies (cross sectional slices of small trees) that can be made into ornaments or necklaces. Claire will also teach participants a fun song to help with the identification of trees.
Bonus:
Wood-Cookies and the Art of using a Bow Saw-2
SEAWEED: February
Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for an online workshop on seaweed. This month, we will have two special guests! Kipp Quinby is back to teach about different types of seaweed found in the Blue Hill area. She also will be demonstrating a fun project of pressing seaweed onto paper to make a print or card. Local business owner of Atlantic Holdfast, Micah Woodcock, will share information about seaweed and some delicious recipes.
BONUS STORY: The-Fairy-and-the-Seaweed-Garden.pdf
RED AND SUGAR MAPLE – March
Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for an online workshop on maple trees. We will be focusing primarily on Red and Sugar Maple trees. Landere will demonstrate how to tap maple trees for sap. This month, we will be joined by special guest Tim Laflam, who will share how to boil sap to make maple syrup!
BONUS:
Sugaring Handout by Tim Laflam
HORSETAILS: April
Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Library for an online workshop on horsetails. Landere will discuss the ecology of horsetails, how to identify and where to find them. She’ll also demonstrated a fun craft of making necklaces or decorations with horsetails. We will also be joined by Hannah and Colby of Way of the Earth School. They will share uses of this plant and how to harvest it for tea.
SHADBUSH: May
Join Landere Naisbitt from Blue Hill Heritage Trust and Claire Malina from the Blue Hill Public Library for an online workshop on Apple and Shadbush blossoms. Landere will discuss the ecology of these plants and Claire will share from the book When the Shadbush Blooms by Carla Messinger and Susan Katz and illustrated by David Kanietakeron Fadden. This month, we will be joined by local artist and community member, Kirsten Rickert, who will demonstrate how to make a May Crown with spring blossoms.
We practice the THE HONORABLE HARVEST during these programs
