Bowsprit's first program was a success!

Despite a challenging beginning, this past summer, Bowsprit Foundation held it’s very first practicum, which was CLAY-themed. A small but enthusiastic group camped out at the farm, tended the garden, and built a gorgeous cob oven…Thank you Jesse !

Two local potters worked with us doing therapeutic clay-work, and developing pottery skills; located and dug from the ancient clay seam on the farm; made headway on putting together the framework for the garden’s hoop-house; wove baskets of willow; and tended the milk-goats…

​Cooking together, Tai Chi, walks, and the occasional swim filled out our schedule. One of our counselors, Rayna, fascinated us with new words playing ‘Banana-Grams’, and offered us a willow basket-making workshop.

Counselor Simon took lovely photographs and provided his steady humor and pragmatic support throughout. Rayna’s ‘Towhee Bird’ game was an out and out favorite.

Lily and Galen consumed vast amounts of homemade chevre, and Larsson learned to throw Louis (mind-body exercises), with ease. 

​We were often dirty, tired, and wet during those humid and rainy two weeks in July!

​We continue the forward progress of our vision to create community-based relationships with local youth, on a farm in mid-coast Maine.

SHOUT OUT TO : Squidge Davis, Elizabeth Radliff, Louis Pontillo, Jesse Stevens, Peter Brady, Rayna Palm, Simon Beckford, and Jennifer Armstrong THANK YOU FOR YOUR AWESOME WORK THIS SUMMER!

​Our Fall offering (Focus on Fiber - featuring large scale felted rugs) has been postponed until fall next year due to circumstances beyond our control. But, deep planning is already underway for a full year of programming in 2022 – in addition, we plan on breaking ground for the Center, which will eventually provide Bowsprit a permanent home on the farm.

This year, two generous donors pledged funds which allow us to leapfrog into 2022 with determination and excitement. We will be able to break ground for the Hall which will be at the heart of Bowsprit, and fully fund operations for at least part of the year. We plan to enroll six participants per 2-week session (spring, summer, and fall).

Though we won’t be in residence with a group this fall, we will be working closely with the Ecology Learning Center, the new charter school in Unity, providing opportunities for community-building projects at the farm twice a month.

​Projects on the docket for ELC students: building a protective timber-frame over the cob oven and wood storage area (Bowsprit’s oven will last for years…); clearing trails around the site and building ditch fords; building goat stalls in the old calf-barn; fencing the paddock; mucking the garden for next year’s growing season. The common throne (composting toilet) which ELC students helped us build this past spring, from donated materials, will be completed with a permanent stairway.

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