For a plant that humans (and other mammals, birds and bugs) have been eating for eons, sumac, surprisingly, is not often eaten in Maine. Part of the reason may be that everyone has heard of poison sumac, and not being familiar with wild plants in general, they fear all sumacs. But it’s easy to tell them apart. Staghorn sumac berries are really dark red! and poison sumac berries are white. In late summer and fall, people admire staghorn sumac’s fiery red leaves and pyramids of fuzzy red berries. When the leaves fall, the fuzzy, curved, twigs look like Dr. Seuss antlers in velvet.

After a period of “radio silence,” we are continuing to report on the activities of the Public Safety and Accessibility Collaborative. After some recent changes, we are now working on increased collaboration between Damariscotta and Newcastle. And, indeed, our popular walking map has long been described as the Twin Villages Walking Map, and the Damariscotta Measured Mile – one of its features – is now a regular walking loop for both residents and summer visitors alike. (Walking Maps are available throughout the town and are free.)

With summer officially here, many organizations and businesses are stepping into their busy season, and the food security programs at Healthy Lincoln County are no exception. With summer meals kicking off this week, farms starting to get in touch about gleaning opportunities, our SNAP booth at the Damariscotta Farmers Market in full swing, Grow-A-Row participants dropping off extras from their gardens, and share tables expanding for the season, we are happily feeling that summer rush.