Ash Sunday at Willowbrook, September 27, 10-5

Ash Sunday Showcases the Wood's Beauty and the Tree's Enemy

Craftspeople, woodworkers and scientists are gathering at Willowbrook Museum in Newfield Sept. 27 to demonstrate traditional skills using ash wood. They will also talk about the impending infestation of a ash-killing beetle that has decimated forests west of Maine.

The series of hands-on activities, demonstrations, and workshop talks are sponsored by Willowbrook, Francis Small Heritage Trust and Forest Works!

"It's a way to connect people with the Maine environment," says Bob Schmick, director of Willowbrook Museum. "We live with the woods all around us, but we all get into our groove, and how often do we get to connect with the woods and trees?"

The day features a "great" lineup of activities, says Alison Truesdale, executive director of Francis Small Heritage Trust. “Part of the trust’s mission is helping people appreciate the natural world – not just the science behind it, but cultural aspects. Working with Willowbrook is an example of the collaborative effort the trust is hoping to do more of now and in the future.”

Ash Sunday

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday Sept. 27

WIllowbrook Museum, Newfield

Craftspeople:

Mark Young of Wells, owner of Black Ash Pack Basket, will demonstrate basektmaking and other rustic creations.

Bob Schmick of Eddington will demonstrate making of a simple shaving horse

Frank Vivier of West Newfield will demonstrate bow-making

Daniel Eaton of Denmark will demonstrate a work-in-progress canoe or small boat restoration

Penobscot storytelling:

Ron Prevoir of Shapleigh will bring regalia and museum artifacts in a story-telling of the ash tree and the Penobscot creation story.

Logging

Adrian Knox of Shapleigh and his team of oxen will twitch out ash logs from the museum's woodlot for use in firewood cutting.

Emerald ash borer and girdling trap trees

Colleen Teerling, forest entomologist with the Maine Forest Service, will talk about the impending infestation of the emerald ash borer, a beetle that has been decimating forests from the Midwest to New York and has been found in a county in New Hampshire 30 miles west of Newfield. Teerling will demonstrate the proper technique for girdling a trap tree in the spring to help track and manage an infestation.

Oliver Markewicz, Maine District forester will talk about telltale signs of the emerald ash border.

Children's hands-on activities

Ash firewood cutting with buck saw and two-person crosscut.

Archery with ash bows and handmade arrows - supervised by Frank Vivier

Augering peg holes with brace and bit - supervised by Bob Schmick

Incidentals

Apple cider pressing with old fashioned mills

Cooking in Victorian kitchen

Firewood splitting with 19th century splitter