Happy Winter Solstice!
The beginning of winter. This is my New Year's. I’ve become committed to traditions around this Astronomical event. Ones that lead us to reflect on the changes in nature and in ourselves. It is a time to think about the past year, the good and the bad. More importantly, it is a time to look forward to more daylight and how to make the most of that coming illumination.
I’ve been lucky to find likeminded people who want to follow similar traditions. The kids and I attended Sky Island Homestead’s Winter Solstice Spiral Walk. Carolyn has created this beautiful space which you use as a meditative walk, lighting your candle at the center as a symbol of finding the light.
I plan to go forward with our Winter Solstice Celebration. We will be making the most of this gusty winter day and hope the sun peeks out a little. I’ll have some activities set up in the small greenhouse, bird feeder ornaments and collaging. Will have warm drinks and light snacks. Possibly a fire depending on the wind. Everything will be set up by around noon, feel free to stop by!
I tried to find the sun with the telescope at Ferment Farm’s Christmas Market. It was unfortunately too cloudy to be able to focus. I still made several connections and enjoyed the winter cheer. Looking forward to attending those markets again next year!
This past month I got the pleasure of attending a book release party for Botanical Bar Craft by Cassandra Elizabeth Sears at the Lincoln Hotel in Biddeford. Our first year open for strawberry foraging, 2022, I sold them during the Terra Market at Rooted Heart Farm. This is when I first met Cassandra and became memorized by her vision and what she was doing with ingredients. I’m honored that she has come the last three years and foraged strawberries for her drinks. It is a beautiful book worth adding to your collection!
We were invited to the monthly club meeting of the Astronomical Society of Northern New England and finally made it. They meet the first Friday of each month at 7:30 at the New School and operate the Starfield Observatory in Kennebunk. Was great connecting with other Astronomy enthusiasts that happen to all be close by. Looking forward to further connecting our observatory with them to see how we can grow.
I’m diving back into offering an Astronomy Club at the libraries. Currently on the calendar for the Limerick Library, 3rd Friday of the month at 4:00 p.m. Will have some offerings at Parson’s Memorial and hopefully the Waterboro library as well. This is for ALL ages! Currently researching Radio Astronomy and will have a presentation on that (Still a Lot to learn). Still offering classes/field trips at the farm if you have a group wanting to come. Just reach out!
Phillip captured the Rosette Nebula this past month, about 15 hours of data gathered with our color camera. He is planning to retake the shot with our new monochrome camera in order to compare data.
NGC 2237
Lastly, we finally got all 50,000ish strawberry plants tucked away for winter. I’m feeling very confident and hopeful about 2025’s strawberry yield. This next week presents temps far below freezing, so we are glad the plants are all covered. To think, six months from now we'll be gathering fruit in the warm sun!
The kids spread Milkweed seeds for future pollinators
The Red Tail Hawk was seen many time while working.
I hope you make the most out of this shift to winter. Embrace all the sunlight when you can. Hopefully there is lots of snow and ice fun in our futures.
-Gwendolyn