Mushroom Mania
2024-10-10 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Boothbay Region Land Trust’s Oak Point Farm, 60 Samoset Rd, Boothbay Harbor, ME, 04538
Join Boothbay Region Land Trust for a captivating morning with local author and artist, Hilary E. Bartlett, as she presents “Mushroom Mania”, an exploration of the fascinating world of mushrooms. Hilary will delve into the history of mushrooms as food and medicine and their vital role in the ecosystem. Discover how these remarkable fungi support plant, forest, and human health through colorful photographs and commentary. In her presentation, Hilary will also introduce her new book, “Mushroom Mania”, featuring stunning watercolor portraits of Maine’s wild mushroom species, delicious recipes, and practical tips for growing mushrooms at home. Afterward, she will be available to sell and sign copies of the book.
Hilary Bartlett, born and raised in postwar Liverpool, England, studied fungi as part of her microbiology training and earned a doctorate from University College London. A summer fellowship brought her to Boothbay Harbor in 1975 to work at Bigelow Lab, where she fell in love with Maine’s rocky coast and never left. Hilary turned to mushroom hunting in rural Maine, later shifting from scientific research to an art career after her daughter was born. Her award-winning paintings have been exhibited in galleries in Maine and Santa Fe. She also taught microbiology for 11 years at the University of Maine Augusta. Her first book, The Thistle Inn: A Wee Bit of Scotland in Maine, was published in 2020.
This free event has limited seating, and advanced registration is required. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn, connect, and celebrate the world of mushrooms!
Register now to reserve your spot.

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Lichens of Maine
2024-10-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Boothbay Region Land Trust’s Oak Point Farm, 60 Samoset Rd, Boothbay Harbor, ME, 04538
Discover the fascinating world of lichens with us at Oak Point Farm! Join Air Rhodes, Master Naturalist, and lifelong lichen lover, for a captivating exploration of one of Maine’s most biodiverse life forms.
This hands-on program begins with a one-hour indoor session where we’ll dive into the incredible science behind lichens: what they are, which species you’ll likely encounter around Boothbay, and how these humble organisms are playing a role in saving our planet. From ancient uses in Egyptian embalming to their surprising connection to Scottish tartans, we’ll also touch on lichens’ rich history. You’ll even learn about modern innovations using lichens and how you can contribute to protecting these important organisms.
Following the presentation, we’ll embark on a slow-paced, one-hour walk through Oak Point Farm to observe and identify lichens in their natural habitat.
Attendance is limited, and registration is required. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn, observe, and appreciate the wonderful world of lichens! Please register here:

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Partner Event: Building Better Buffers
2025-03-11 17:30 - 18:30 | Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens: Bosarge Family Education Center
Building a better buffer isn’t just for folks living on a water body. Buffers can support sediment and erosion control in any part of the watershed! Whether you are trying to improve your shoreline, reduce erosion from your driveway, improve habitat, or you want to buffer your property from unwanted sights or sounds, this talk is for you.
Rebecca Jacobs, Natural Resources Program Manager at the Boothbay Region Water District, will explore the importance of vegetative buffers. She will outline ways to implement these buffers on a variety of sites using native and climate adaptive species. Handouts will be provided to all attendees with guidance to help you develop effective buffer plans on your own property.
This lecture is the first in a three part series, From Forests to Faucets, brought to you by the Boothbay Region Clean Drinking Water Initiative. This series is free to the public. Participants do not need to attend all sessions (each session stands alone and participants can attend as many or few as they choose). Light refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact Bailey Charron at bcharron@bbrlt.org

Partner Event: OUR SHORE: The Nature-based Shoreline Stabilization Toolkit
2025-04-08 17:30 - 18:30 | Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens: Bosarge Family Education Center
John Maclaine of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection will share insights into nature-based solutions that can improve shorelines and protect against erosion.
Over the last few years, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and Maine Climate and Science Information Exchange at the University of Maine have been partnering with natural resource agency staff, university faculty, municipal officials, and design professionals to develop “O.U.R. S.H.O.R.E.” OUR SHORE is intended to provide guidance and training for using nature-based tools to protect against shoreline erosion, while preserving and restoring natural functions to these important areas. OUR SHORE is a method of comparing options for shoreline stabilization so landowners, contractors, designers, and others can customize solutions for shoreline erosion in a manner that preserves or improves shoreline habitat, functions, and long-term resilience.
The OUR SHORE approach relies on targeting the contributing sources of erosion and instability to select and combine tools that will address these causes using the least intervention necessary while using natural, biodegradable or living materials. The guidance provides techniques and considerations to include habitat and shoreline functions into the design of any project, even when riprap is used, so the outcome over time is a naturalized and more resilient shoreline.
John Maclaine coordinates Maine DEP’s Nonpoint Source Training Center and the Municipal Stream Crossing Grants Program. For over 20 years, John has used his background in wildlife ecology and construction to advise various Maine nonprofit organizations and state agencies on land use guidance, technical assistance, project planning, support, and design from a water-quality and habitat-improvement perspective. His work with the Center focuses on providing training, technical assistance, and other resources to reduce the amount of non-point source pollution that could impact the quality of Maine’s water.
This lecture is the second in a three part series, From Forests to Faucets, brought to you by the Boothbay Region Clean Drinking Water Initiative. This series is free to the public. Participants do not need to attend all sessions (each session stands alone and participants can attend as many or few as they choose). Light refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact Bailey Charron at bcharron@bbrlt.org

Partner Event: PFAS in Our Waters: Where They Come From and Where They Go
2025-05-06 17:30 - 18:30 | Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens: Bosarge Family Education Center
PFAS—often called “forever chemicals”—are increasingly found in lakes, rivers, and streams across the country. These substances can enter surface waters from industrial sources, wastewater, landfills, and even rain. In this talk, we’ll explore where PFAS come from, how they move through the environment, and what we know about their presence in drinking water sources. We’ll also discuss what’s being done to monitor and reduce their impact.
Christoph Aeppli is a scientist at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, where he studies the environmental fate and transport of PFAS and other contaminants. His research focuses on how these chemicals move through and change in natural systems, including water, sediment, and organisms.
This lecture is the second in a three part series, From Forests to Faucets, brought to you by the Boothbay Region Clean Drinking Water Initiative. This series is free to the public. Participants do not need to attend all sessions (each session stands alone and participants can attend as many or few as they choose). Light refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact Bailey Charron at bcharron@bbrlt.org

Autumn View Open House
2025-07-15 10:00 - 14:00 | Autumn View, 60 Autumn View Ln, Boothbay Harbor, ME, United States
Join us at our newest public nature preserve, Autumn View, for a first peak at this exciting property! Autumn View Preserve sits in the Meadow Brook conservation area and directly abuts two other BRLT preserves: Appalachee and Lobster Cove Meadow. This beautiful property comprises approximately 68 acres including productive wetlands that join other BRLT conservation lands to permanently protect a significant unfragmented habitat for wildlife. This preserve has also enabled BRLT to transform public access to nature in the heart of Boothbay Harbor. Autumn View’s interconnected trails adjoin the systems at Appalachee and Lobster Cove Meadow to create the most extensive recreational trail system in Boothbay Harbor.
Environmental educator, Tracey Hall, will lead a guided hike of the new trail system at Autumn View beginning at 10am. Shortly after the conclusion of the hike, historian Dr. Aimée Keithan of Greater Portland Landmarks will provide a guest presentation highlighting the land’s rich history. This event is free and open to all!
Schedule:
10:00 am Welcome & Introductions
10:10-11:00am Nature Hike
11:30-12pm History Talk with Q&A by Dr. Aimee Keithan
12pm-2pm Staff on hand to answer questions. Visitors are invited to explore the preserve at their leisure
2pm Event Concludes

Event Full: Owls of Maine: Habits and Adaptations of Maine's Native Owls
2026-03-11 15:30 - 16:30 | Boothbay Region Land Trust’s Oak Point Farm, 60 Samoset Rd, Boothbay Harbor, ME, 04538
***this event has reached capacity. Send an email to thall@bbrlt.org to be placed on a waiting list*** All ages are welcome to join Boothbay Region Land Trust at Oak Point Farm for a cozy, indoor owl program with Chewonki and one of their live owls. Held in the farmhouse, this engaging experience invites participants, young and old, to discover the owls native to Maine. Through slides and owl calls, you’ll learn how to identify different species by sight and sound. Hands-on learning tools—like wings, feathers, talons, and skulls—help bring owl adaptations to life and reveal how these incredible birds hunt and thrive at night. The program concludes with a memorable, up-close look at a live owl, offering a rare chance to connect with these mysterious creatures of the night.

Event Full: Bird Songs and How to Remember Them
2026-04-09 10:00 - 11:00 | Boothbay Region Land Trust’s Oak Point Farm, 60 Samoset Rd, Boothbay Harbor, ME, 04538
***This event has reached capacity and we have started a waiting list. Contact Tracey at thall@bbrlt.org to be added to the waitlist*** Birdsong is the soundtrack of nature—and one of the most useful tools for identifying birds once you learn how to recognize it.
Join the Boothbay Region Land Trust and Maine Audubon at the farmhouse at Oak Point Farm for an engaging indoor presentation with Nick Lund, Maine Audubon’s Advocacy and Outreach Manager. Nick will introduce participants to the different kinds of sounds birds make and share simple, memorable techniques to help you recognize and remember the calls and songs of some of Maine’s most common bird species.
Whether you’re new to birding, enjoy listening on your daily walks, or want to deepen your connection to the natural world around you, this program will give you practical tools and a fresh appreciation for the voices of our local birds.
This indoor program has limited space, so advance registration is required.
