Pink Moon Update

Greetings!

       March marks the six-year anniversary of when we signed for the land that is now our farm and home. It has been a busy six years, and we are excited for the ones ahead.

               We took a brief trip to Florida to visit family before the spring rush. While there, we were able to watch the launch of Artemis II. This was a special moment for us, as Phillip worked on the design of the crew access arm for NASA.

As spring arrives, the farm is beginning to wake up. Our first project of the year is building our third Rimol greenhouse, which will be dedicated to growing warm-weather annuals. Other upcoming projects include planting 8,000 strawberry crowns, building new fencing, and leveling the ground in the event greenhouse. We are keeping the strawberries covered for a couple more weeks until the overnight deep freezes pass.

          I have updated the calendar on our website with all planned events through October. Notable updates include:

- Community Yoga: Jen is returning to host free yoga on the observatory deck on the first Saturday morning of each month. She will also offer more in-depth Yin and Nidra classes.

- Space Exploration Club: I will be hosting this club on Tuesdays near the New Moon. We will discuss the night sky and current events in the space industry, with telescope viewing if weather permits.

- Recipe Club: On Tuesdays closest to the Full Moon, I will host a gathering inspired by a fermentation club I previously attended. Please bring your favorite homemade food or beverages to share along with your recipes.

Please check the calendar on our website for more details.

Looking forward to seeing you at the farm.

-Gwendolyn

Worm Moon Eclipse

Hope you got a glimpse of the Lunar Eclipse. It was not visible at the farm, but I saw it on my way to work at Pachanga. Caught about three quarters of it before it set behind Costco. ​

​The snow has been deep around the observatory deck for most of the winter. Phillip has trudged through the negative temperatures a few times in the last couple of months to get images. Here is a link to all his latest processed photos. Astrophotography​

 He plans to spend some time tonight finding Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS). The comet is suppose to grow further in visibility through April. If he succeeds in finding it and the ice retreats, we will host a public pop up viewing event soon.  More community observation opportunities are on the horizon. We plan to host a monthly Astronomy club around the New Moon. If you're interested in a club, what day of the week is best?

​   Another public event I'd like to start soon is a fermenting/cooking club. This will be an opportunity to bring your favorite home made or store bought fermented foods and beverages. We can exchange recipes and cooking ideas. I'm planning to host this during the week of the full moon. Astronomy might be included. What day works best for you if you'd like to join? ​

  We are growing restless and ready for the growing season. The food forest greenhouse has given us a little taste of what next month holds. We uncovered all the strawberry crowns and trees. They all look like they are ready to start bushing out.

​   A new Rimol greenhouse has also been ordered, it arrives next week! It will go up and act as a growing space for vegetables. Phillip has cleared the area. Hopefully, it doesn't snow again so we can easily get the poles in the ground. Peas and oats will go into the soil as soon as the plastic is on.  ​

   We've ordered 8,000 strawberry crowns to fill in the gaps around the food forest. They will be ready to plant at the end of April. Imagine foraging strawberries in almost 3 months! I think it is going to be a really fruitful season. 

  All of our energy wants to focus on Ossipee Hill Farm and Observatory. In these tumultuous times, this is the place where we can have a positive impact. Thank you for being along for the ride. We are really looking forward to this growing season and sharing it with you. 

-Gwendolyn

Wolf Moon Update

Visions of a brighter future are worth pursuing. The path you plot to make that happen will always be filled with obstacles and turns that aren’t expected. It’s important to never give up, use obstacles as steppingstones, and turn as a new path forward.   

    A year ago, Phillip and I agreed to try and find a way to have a larger influence on our children’s future here in Maine and the United States. We want to live in a state and country that is abundant in opportunity. A place where they can find a high valued living, where communities thrive on their own. That is why Phillip attempted to run for U.S. Senate.  

      The path we chose a year ago has taken a turn. It’s become clear to us that the masses hyper fixate on whatever is entertaining and divisive. Not many do research or try to see all sides. Feeling very discouraged by politics, society, and just how corrupt and money driven it is.  

      For now, we’ll be focused on the farm, the astronomical observatory, and our nearby communities. There are a lot of wonderful people that we’ve gained through this journey. People that want what we do. Looking forward to continuing with these connections and seeing what doors they open. I still have faith in building something beautiful for my children and our future generations. 

I’ll be developing a survey of event ideas at the farm this summer and when the best times are. Thinking of gatherings around astronomy, food, Yoga, and a silent book club. Open to ideas if you have any.  

-Gwendolyn  

First Quarter to Full Beaver Moon

​There are a lot of things that unite us, at least they should. I’m finding how important it is to focus on the unifying factors of life rather than the divisive ones. Food is a part of life that should unite us ALL. I had an overwhelming number of experiences over the harvest season that highlighted this for me.The full moon update needed extra time to process.  

The Common Ground Fair is the first highlight of my season. I took this year to go alone and volunteer in the Common Kitchen, knowing almost nothing about it. It seemed like the best place, as I love cooking.This is where thousands of fair volunteers come.They have scratch made meals made with donated organic, mostly local ingredients. I checked into my shift. Was instantly given the freedom to make a dish for 600 people.​

Honestly, I’ve struggled to find a place within MOFGA. Being in that kitchen opened a door for me. I felt welcomed and useful. It brought me so much joy serving people food made with so much love and thought, for free. You can learn more about it here, Meet MOFGA Volunteer Devon Salisbury | Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners.  

Another highlight has been taking up shifts at Tortillería Pachanga. She makes beautiful masa and corn tortillas that can be found all over the state of Maine. I met Lynne at The Kneading Conference | Maine Grain Alliance. I was so smitten by her process that I asked if I could come be a part of it. It’s a true farm to kitchen experience. She also delivers a few other Maine-made products. I get the pleasure of meeting so many great people who make delicious things with Maine grown food. True community.  ​

The last food unifying experience that moved me the most was my attendance to Maine Farm and Sea to Institution Summit. It was beautiful to see a group of people gather to talk about healthy farm to table meals becoming a part of ALL people’s lives. From our children’s schools to prisoners' plates. My time with Nauti Sisters Sea Farm has shown me the importance of food from the sea and making that food accessible.

Oysterfest » Newburyport Fish​

As humans, we deserve healthy, thoughtful meals. No matter who you are. I am so grateful for these experiences and all the others I did not share. I’m so grateful to be a Mainer.  

-Gwendolyn

Corn Moon

Slow progress sometimes feels as though you’re amounting to nothing. Especially when others achieve apparent success faster than you. Moving in a slow well-deliberated way takes patience and forward thinking, ignoring the noise around.    

The farm and observatory have felt slightly idle lately. We want so much for it. This summer has been all about working hard outside the farm to make the dreams come true. As the summer comes to an end, I’m looking forward to the next. I think all that we’ve done this year with financial earnings and human connections, the farm and observatory are going to be able to make bigger steps forward.  

Excitingly making progress this week! Tomorrow the Apex contractors are coming to extend the deck. There’s a new addition to our telescope collection, a William Optics Fluorostar FLT 156 apochromatic refractor telescope. We will now have two telescopes for observations on the deck. Pop up astronomy events soon! We have one event planned from October 4th to observe the moon rise.

Sturgeon Moon

Hello, 

The air is dry, intermittently filled with smoke. The tightening of my chest isn't from the poor air quality alone. It comes from the possibility of more summers like this. When I can’t sow seeds. Where the world swirls with hate. Thankfully, I have a lot of hope as well that keeps me breathing. I was so grateful this month to have gotten to venture all over the beautiful state of Maine. I was reinvigorated and reminded of what we want to be a part of.

Interning with The Maine Career Catalyst allowed me to not just work on NAUTI Sister’s Sea Farm. I also got to meet so many other young professionals and see that Maine offers more opportunities than I realized. If you are looking for a career path, check them out! 

Baby Oysters! They are already triple this size after a month.

Another passion of mine was enhanced this month. I last minute applied for The Maine Grain Alliance’s Kneading Conference and Bread Fair in Skowhegan, ME. I was accepted! It was such a fulfilling few days being surrounded by people of like mind. I’ll be returning.  

Maine is truly heaven on earth to me. I needed this last month to be around people who care about growing and eating good food while maintaining healthy communities. I promise to hold on to this hope and grow it here at Ossipee Hill Farm.  

Only a couple updates. The Perseid Meteor Shower peaks predawn 8/12/2025 to predawn 8/13/2025. The full moon will be a little obstructive. Feel free to come use the deck and set up a tent if you like. Please give me a heads up if you do.  

Lastly, planning one more rocket launching event on Friday, September 5th at 5:30 p.m. We can enjoy a potluck dinner together and watch the full moon rise. If you plan to come, let me know so we can coordinate food.  

Here is a photo Phillip took a couple weeks ago of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). Photographed for over 10 hours using our monochrome camera & refracting telescope setup. This is the first time he attempted to photograph a galaxy in monochrome, but the level of detail exposed is evident over color. 

-Gwendolyn

Full Buck Moon

Greetings, 

  It’s been hard to find my words to write this full moon’s newsletter. Telling you about what we are up to seems so petty. The world is going through so many brutal things. Horrors.  I hope we counteract the darkness for you. If we achieve anything here at Ossipee Hill Farm, it’s to bring joy. A joy that is found through connecting with the natural world and with the community.  ​

​​​We are beyond grateful to every individual who took the time to come up the hill this past month. All together we have foraged roughly fifteen hundred pounds of strawberries! With more to pick. The stand remains open Sunrise to Sunset until further notice. The season has slowed, a few to find if you search. Raspberries are now ready for foraging as well. They are minimal.  ​

​ Launching rockets on the first day of summer was a blast! We are looking to do it again on July 27th.  Check rocket requirements here, Open Farm Day + Rocket Launching! — Ossipee Hill Farm

-Gwendolyn

Update 5

Greetings!

I don't have much to say in this update. Too much to do, not much time for computers. 

We are open until further notice for You Forage Strawberries. Sunrise to Sunset. 5:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.  All the information and payment methods are self-serve in the kiosk. 

The 100+ degrees made a little bit of a negative impact, yet there are still a lot of berries to find. I'll have pre-picked berries in the stand by 8:00 a.m. today through the weekend. Sparkle is peaking and Sunset is starting to come into season. 

I'll have a better email update in the next week or two sharing photos and details of our latest event and future ones. For now, I've got to get back to foraging! 

P.S. Come visit me at The Maine Oyster Fest this Saturday at the Nauti Sister's Booth!

-Gwendolyn

Update 4

We are open through the weekend Sunrise to Sunset for strawberry foraging. The season only has 3ish weeks left so don’t miss out!!

Update 3

Open TODAY! 6/15 Sunrise to Sunset. Red ripe strawberries for foraging.

There are a limited amount of prepicked berry quarts in the farm stand.

Update 2

We still have a lot of red berries for foraging!

OPEN tomorrow 6/14 sunrise to sunset. We may be a little busier. Early Bird gets the worm.

Also, Jen is Hosting Yoga at 8:30 a.m.!

Daily Update 1

We had a couple of foragers today. All together about 20 pounds have been gathered in the last two days.

The sun helped to ripen. There are red berries mostly in the Honeoye section. You can also find a few Charlottes, Sparkles, and Wendys.

We are open tomorrow Sunrise to Sunset!

Strawberry Full Moon

Hello! 

The Food Forest ground is filled with a few flowers, mostly green, and few pounds of red strawberries! I’ve decided to open our public foraging season tomorrow, 6/12, Sunrise to Sunset. It is a soft opening. There are still A LOT of berries that need to ripen.  

Most of the berries that are red and ready now are found in the Honeoye section as well as a handful of Sparkles and Charlottes. The rest of the varieties have a lot of unripe berries that will be ready in the next week. I’ll update our social media and Website in the evenings to let you know how things are ripening. A weekly email will go out too.  

The season only runs though mid to late July. Make sure you don’t let it pass you by! If you do come out, just head down to the Self-Serve Kiosk. It’s all ready for you to get more info and pay once you are done. Bring your own container if you can. We’ll have a few options if not. Everything this year is $3-$5 dollars a pound. $4 a pound if you are using credit.  

Jen is still hosting a Yoga Nidra class this evening. If you plan to come register here. Bring your own mat and maybe some bug repellent. This past Saturday’s Community Yoga was canceled and shifted to this Saturday at 8:30, 6/14. Free and open to anyone.  

Starting next Friday morning, I am hosting Community Forage. Come help me pick berries for those that aren’t able to do so. I will have bread and drink available to have a light snack before and after.  

Looking forward to this next month and hope everyone’s harvest is abundant.  

-Gwendolyn

First Quarter to Full Strawberry Moon

Greetings, 

I listen to a lot of stories and news from around the world while weeding. Lately, they bring me to tears. I rack my mind. What can I do to help ensure my children grow to find a world that is safe and filled with prosperity.  

Harmony with abundance isn’t produced from hopefulness. It requires dedicated work. Patient observation and understanding. Willingness to make sacrifices. Being humble. I'm coming to this understanding more while growing food.

I stared at the Food Forest and smiled at its growth this week. Knowing that it is there due to the 100’s of hours the two of us have poured into it. It delights me to share this abundance with the wildlife and with you. Strawberry Season is so close. I will be doing a weekly email through the foraging season and goals of a daily update on our website and social media accounts. I’m confident we have an ABUNDANCE!!

The greenhouse has been planted with five-hundred day-neutral strawberry crowns that will give us fruit next year. I also spread flower seeds in there and the forest. It’s become safe for the warmer weather plants to go outside too!  

Phillip hosted a local high school student to learn about astrophotography. They are planning to pursue an astronomy degree after graduation. Together they photographed the North America Nebula (NGC 7000) and the adjacent Pelican Nebula (IC 5070). Both located in the constellation Cygnus. Over 10 hours of exposure using our monochrome camera system allowed them to capture the intricate structures of these emission nebulae, particularly the prominent Cygnus Wall—a bright, dense region rich in hydrogen gas.  

Phillip also got a shot of the night sky/sunrise this morning. A little Northern Lights in there!

I sent out my Full Moon update a little early because I wanted to remind you of our Yoga events. An individual in the community is graciously offering free community Yoga a couple times over the summer. She is also offering a couple other more in-depth classes for a fee.  Please check the Event Page for more info and I hope you can make it.  

-Gwendolyn

Full Flower Moon

Hello, 

In the last few weeks, the Food Forest has awoken from its long winter slumber. The plants are soaking up the inches of cold rain, unfurling their leaves and flowers. Our ponds are filled the spawn of amphibians. Birds from afar arrived, bonding with their mates shaping their nests. Wolf spiders strapped with their future generation on their backs. The abundance of summer is just around the corner. 

I’ve foraged the first food of the season, Asparagus. We’ve interplanted thousands of crowns in between almost every tree and bush. This is the first time harvesting it, as we have been allowing them to establish the last couple years. It’s not quite abundant enough to offer to the public and will be in the future as it spreads. 

Flowers of all kinds are blooming and transitioning into fruit. We’ve spotted a few Strawberry Flowers! In my next update I’ll be inviting you to come forage berries and garlic! Foraging this year will be fully self-serve/honesty policy sunrise to sunset no matter the weather. Information and payment options will be found in the parking lot kiosk. The price for You Forage berries will be a sliding scale of $3-$5 a pound. Please bring your own containers. Stay tuned!  

The solar powered irrigation system is mostly complete. Every row is lined with drip tape. We’ve also been working hard on weeding and improving walkways.  

We decided to commit the large Greenhouse to be a perennial growing space. Five hundred strawberry crowns will be planted there next week. Cabernet grape vines are growing along its sides. Possibly one or two other species will be added. Any ideas?  

I’m excited to say I’ve found a Yoga instructor who will be offering her services this summer. You can check the event calendar. I’d love for more people to utilize the deck space. If you have an event/club/class you want to host, let me know.  

We had our first Astronomy event of the year and had a lovely turn out. Jupiter and a few of its moons made an appearance, as did the Rosette nebula. Thank you to those who came. ABC news even showed up!  

This next month we will be experimenting with an internship program, hosting a local high school student to learn about the Astronomical Observatory. They will learn the basics of navigating the sky, use the telescope, and learn astrophotography. Phillip is wanting to open this possibility up to others that are interested. I also have listed on the website a selection of possible classes for fieldtrips. If you’d like to bring a group out, we can organize a time. Don't hesitate to ask!  

-Gwendolyn

Pink Micromoon

Greetings, 

Transitions are slow here in Maine. The tug-of- war between the seasons is long and drawn out. The battle of Winter and Spring is a dramatic one. I’ve grown to love winter and enjoy that it puts up a good fight. Though I am fond of the nitrogen giving snow coating everything in white as I write this, I am ready for Spring to win this battle.  

This week, we think, the long freezing nights are over. We’ve begun the process of uncovering strawberry plants and the garlic sprouts. They’re starting to vegetate and will be flowering in the coming months! I'm sowing peas and oats in the Spiral Garden. A few seedlings are growing inside; brassicas, onions, tomatoes, peppers, and a few herbs.  

Phillip has been working hard at installing the solar powered irrigation system. I’ve helped a little. The solar panels will also be used to charge an electric car. We got a lot of the set up from Shred Electric.  

I’ve been adding to our calendar on the website. You can see when we will be launching rockets, be at community events, and the Library Astronomy Club is. I’ll be maintaining the club through August. We’ll discuss what there is to see that month in our sky, space exploration current events, and a short lesson/activity covering a topic in astronomy. The theme will be observing space through the different waves of the electromagnetic spectrum. We'll be starting pop-up nighttime observing events soon! The end of

March marked our 5th anniversary of when we signed for the ownership of the farm. We are still so glad we made this leap and will continue to work hard to make it grow. It's been our honor to get to know a lot of you and become a part of this community. Looking forward to many more years to come!

Phillip has processed a couple pictures in the last couple months. You can find them on our Astronomy Observatory page

Worm Blood Moon

Hello,

                I had promised a New Moon update, but life got in the way. Not wanting  to go into too many details. My parents had an emergency, I am currently trying my best to help them. Let’s just say, this month has been much different than I had planned.

                If you have been following along for the last few years, this is the week my house begins to fill with seedlings. This year, I’m going to be late or may not even do anything at all. Thankful to know that there are lots of greenhouses near us that sell great seedlings.

Prior to the emergency, Phillip and I had already decided to focus on making some improvements to the Food Forest instead of planting more plants. Our irrigation setup is first on the agenda. We’ll be installing and improving our drip tape.  Phillip is working on a solar powered pump that we will use to obtain water from the. Planning to use that water to fill the lined ponds that have been made. We want to be prepared for future droughts, as we have struggled in the past years.

We have 150 pounds of peas and oats that will be planted over the course of the Summer to help improve our soi/suppress weeds. I am planning to plant these in the annual spiral garden and greenhouse as soon as I return to the farm. The rest will go into the food forest. Our plan is to start planting it as soon as strawberry foraging season is over. The hope is that it will grow big enough to cover the strawberry plants come November.

My summer looks like it is going to be busy outside of the food forest and observatory. I’ve gotten the opportunity to intern on Nauti Sister’s Sea Farm. I’ve become obsessed and passionate about oyster farming and all the other beautiful things that grow off the coast of Maine. I feel strongly that this passion will be incorporated into Ossipee Hill Farm. I am so excited to see how it all connects.

Phillip is also on an adventure that will be taking him all over the state these next two years. He has decided to run in the U.S. Senate 2026 election. We work hard at making Ossipee Hill Farm and Observatory  a place to build community, a place for all. It means so much to us to live in Maine, where we feel safe and surrounded by kind and considerate people. We want to preserve that, enhance it even. I won’t say anything else; he can speak for himself. If you’d like to follow his journey, here is his website.

Don’t worry, we will still be open to forage sunrise to sunset when crops come in! I’m still planning to host monthly events where we launch rockets, share food, and talk about space or plants. The first one is marked for June 21st. Check the calendar for more details. I’ll also try hard to maintain Astronomy club at the libraries. The next meet up is at the Parson’s memorial Library in Alfred on March 26th from 4:00 pm-5:00 p.m. I’ll be discussing Radio Astronomy one last time, maybe. Any ideas for the next subject?

                I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again and the growing season to start. I think it’s going to be a very exciting summer.

-Gwendolyn

Snow Moon

It’s getting pretty noisy out there. Trying not to let it distract us from what is tangible. It’s the beauty of a deep snowfall. The laughter of friends while sledding. Conversations around a warm fire that deepens connection.  

​We are going to continue to do what we can to serve the community. Still not ready to announce the side project that Phillip is working on. It’s big and we hope you support us in the adventure. You should know by my New Moon update! 

I’m starting to get inquiries of events and classes to host at the farm. We’ve had Yoga instructors and an amateur radio club ask to use our space this summer. Working with a homeschool group on a simple high school level, multi week Astronomy course. Don’t hesitate to let me know your ideas!  

I am planning to host monthly rocket launching days. I should have that all worked up by the end of March. Phillip and I will provide the launch pad. It will be up to attendees to bring their own rocket. We will make up stipulations as to what engines are acceptable and where you can find them.  

My only event on the calendar is Astronomy Club at the Limerick Library. I’ll be there at 4:00 p.m. on February 21st. ALL are welcome. I’ll be giving a presentation on Radio Astronomy and talking about some of Phillip’s photos.  

Enjoy the beauty of winter if you can. Don’t get lost in the static.  

-Gwendolyn 

Simple Winter Days

Happy Winter Day, 

I sit watching the snowfall as I write this. We have been enjoying slow uneventful days, contemplating what the next year will look like. Walking through the snowy forest is incredibly dreamy, despite the single digit temperatures. The birder in me is delighted by the many species I see daily. I hope that next winter we will have some trails available to share! 

​Not much going on at the observatory currently. Between work and weather, the telescope hasn’t been used a whole lot. Here is an image that Phillip processed with the monochrome camera a few weeks ago.  

He captured 10 hours of data from the Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237). This process involved taking three sets of black-and-white images through different filters to capture the light emitted by hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur gases—elements primarily released during a star's supernova explosion. To differentiate between hydrogen and sulfur, which both emit red wavelengths, we assign hydrogen a green hue while keeping oxygen as blue. This results in a red/green/blue color palette, commonly known as the Hubble Palette, which is also used by the Hubble Space Telescope

This was captured over 15 hours with the color camera. 

The Rosette Nebula is located about 5,200 light years away and considered a vast emission nebula. It is within the constellation Monoceros, The Unicorn. This is an area jam packed with young stars.  

Phillip had the pleasure of presenting at a local school this past week. He shared with the students about his time as an engineer. He also shared with them what it is we do with our observatory. We love talking about space and the future of it in Maine! 

I don’t have anything on the Calendar for the Observatory or farm. You can catch me at the libraries hosting the astronomy club. At 4:00 p.m. on February 3rd I will be at the Waterboro Library and same time February 21st at the Limerick Library. I’ll be showing a few of Phillip’s photos, sharing a lesson on an astronomy topic, and discussing current events in space exploration. ALL ages are welcome. I’ll aim to have simple activities for the busy minds and bodies.  

Hope your winter is being enjoyed! 

-Gwendolyn 

New Moon, New Year

Helo,

                Happy New Moon and soon to be New Year! I hope your holiday season is what you want it to be. Ours has been restful, filled with time to dream up what is to come in the next year. Lots of baking, hiking, and wild ice skating. We are thankful for the very cold days in the last few weeks. Shaker pond was thick enough to fish and skate on. Hopeful the winter will provide us with more freezing temps, we love the winter activities it provides.

We have been thinking heavily about making some big moves this next year. They are steps in a very different direction than we have been going. The farm and the observatory will still very much be a part of our lives. It is our desire to make a greater impact. We can’t wait to share this information with you. More details will be shared in February.

The farm/observatory now has a new tool to help us move along with some projects. We decided to invest in a wood mill! It is our desire to make further projects more affordable and built with material we have on the land. Potentially going to build the structure for the dreamed of 24” telescope. Exploring grant options for the supporting hardware and telescope. It is still a desire to have this set up in the next year or two.  

                Phillip took advantage of the couple clear nights we had this last week by practicing using the new monochrome setup. He started capturing NGC 2264, the Christmas Tree Cluster. If you flip the image upside down you will see the tree. This object is roughly 2,500 light years away in the constellation of Monoceros, the Unicorn.

This area of the sky can be broken down into several different names. Near the center of this image is called the Cone Nebula, the apex of the Christmas Tree. Above the cone is the Stellar Snowflake cluster. Up and to the right of this point is the Fox Fur Nebula.  The brightest star is S Mon. Jets of gas from protostars can be seen in the center of the image, Herbig Haro objects. These are the faint orange arcs below S Mon. 

-Gwendolyn