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Kwiaht

@kwiaht.org

Your local laboratory in the San Juan Islands for the science to support good stewardship. Posts by @arbutocrat.bsky.social

186 Posts317 Follower1454 Folgt
Kwiaht@kwiaht.org · 24h ago

Come watch bats with us at Moran State Park! Thursday August 27th at the Mountain Lake ranger station and dock starting at 7pm

Poster for bat event. It is black with a picture of a flying big eared bat. Washington State Parks' logo is in the lower right and above it is a QR code that takes you to: https://parks.wa.gov/find-activity/event-calendar/2026/aug/go-little-batty-moran-state-park . The poster reads: "Bats in the full moon! What more could you ask? Moran State Park. Mountain Lake Picnic Shelter. Thursday August 27, 7:00-9:00 pm. Kwiaht, Salish Wildlife Rescue. Visit the park website for more info."
Kwiaht@kwiaht.org · yesterday

Join us, Washington State Parks, Salish Wildlife Rescue, F.O.L.K.S. and PKOLS at Lime Kiln Point State Park on Sunday August 30th from 3-5pm to explore the local landscape, learn more about the post-glacial geophysical, biological, and cultural factors that have shaped the park and eat wild snacks.

Poster of upcoming programs for Lime Kiln Point State Park. It has the Washington State Parks logo top left (a shield/badge showing a river, green conifers, mountains, the sun, and yellow deciduous trees). It reads: "Upcoming Programs Lime Kiln Point State Park. Forest Bathing Sunday, August 23 @ 10am-12pm & Sunday August 30th @ 1-3pm. Meet in front of the Interpretive Center / 1.0 Mile / Slow & Steady Incline. Shinrin-Yoku is the Japanese term for 'taking int he forest atmosphere'. Join park staff for a leisurely stroll on a quiet trail and enjoy sensory activities to experience the forest and learn how being in nature helps restore mental and physical health. Best for ages 12 and up and please wear sturdy shoes. Kelp Forests, Storytime, & Salish Sea Art Sunday, August 23rd @ 2-3pm & Sunday, August 30th @ 10-11am. Meet at the picnic tables nest to the Pump House, just above the Lighthouse. Did you know that the San Juan Islands are home to one-thirst of all floating kelp in the inland waters of Washington State? IN this family program, listen to the story of the Ko-kwal-alwoot, the Maiden of Deception Pass. Afterwards, create your own Salish Sea Art while learning how to protect these rainforests of the sea. Best for ages 5 and up and their families. Exploring Local Landscapes Sunday, August 30th @ 3-5pm. Join Parks staff and our partners Kwiaht, Salish Wildlife Rescue, FOLKS, and PKOLS for an afternoon of talks and walks around Lime Kiln Point. The event will kick-off with a talk on the post-glacial geophysical, biological, and cultural factors that have shaped the park, followed by a guided walk to discover its unique flora and fauna. Snacks made from native plant ingredients will be provided by Kwiaht! *Programs are FREE to attend; a Discover Pass is required to park in the lot. Please visit the Lime Kiln Point State Park website for more program details."
Kwiaht@kwiaht.org · 3d ago

"Islanders questioning the environmental impact of fireworks on our marine environment may now have a part of an answer: Repeated fireworks displays can result in local accumulations of strontium in marine sediments, and this appears to be occurring in Eastsound’s Fishing Bay."

sanjuanjournal.com

Madrona Murphy@arbutocrat.bsky.social · last wk.

Transcendent is a heritage crabapple variety that has been planted in the islands since at least 1889. It is the most widespread domestic crabapple variety we have found in ancient island orchards.

A yellow-orange crabapple viewed from below with persistent sepals.A cluster of orange crabapples with red stripes.
Kwiaht@kwiaht.org · last wk.

SX̱OLE¸ (sx̲wóle7, sx̣ʷáləʔ, reef-net) is the unique Coast Salish fishing technology used to selectively harvest salmon migrating through the central Salish Sea. Coast Salish Reef-net Fishery, Part 1 www.historylink.org/File/21237

Coast Salish Reef-net Fishery, Part 1

Reef-net fishing technology is unique to the Salish Sea, where it was devised at least 1,800 years ago as a way to intercept vast midsummer runs of sockeye salmon as they passed through the San Juans

historylink.org

Kwiaht@kwiaht.org · last wk.

The San Juan Island Community Foundation is awarding a bonus grant for one of the correct answers to this local history question "Which Coast Salish fishing technology used a large, suspended net between canoes to catch migrating salmon?" Answers can be emailed to info@sjicf.org

A Facebook post from the San Juan Island Community Foundation. It reads: " Today's bonus grant game: islands history question! To participate, email your answer to info@sjicf.org today before midnight. A drawing will be held from all the correct submissions. The winner will be able to donate $500 to one of the 36 featured projects! Do not put your answer in the comments. 🙂 Please email your guess to info@sjicf.org! The question is.... Which Coast Salish fishing technology used a large, suspended net between canoes to catch migrating salmon? Remember: please email your guess to info@sjicf.org by midnight tonight! Support local nonprofits. SJI Cares. San Juan County Fair 2026. August 15 Today's game Islands History Question."
Kwiaht@kwiaht.org · last wk.

Come see us at the San Juan County Fair today (August 15). @arbutocrat.bsky.social will be at the San Juan Island Community Foundation's booth 12:30-1:30 with samples of early apples. We are accepting donations for our work on historic orchards and apples sjicf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/c...

/erp/donate/create/grant

sjicf.fcsuite.com

Madrona Murphy@arbutocrat.bsky.social · last wk.

One of the oldest orchard trees on San Juan Island is the Yellow Bellflower growing at the San Juan Island National Historical Park's Westcott Bay. Already growing when Abraham Lincoln was president, the tree still produces abundant, late ripening, yellow fruit.

A long conical.greenush yellow apple with a long stem held in a hand in front of a white background.
Kwiaht@kwiaht.org · 2w ago

Qáyexw (ḴÁ¸EW̱, qéʔəxʷ) is the original apple of the islands. Also known as Malus fusca, Pacific crabapple, or Oregon crabapple, qáyexwilch (qáyexw trees) are native to western North America

A hand displaying 6 clusters of pea sized crabapples. Most are yellow on one side and reddish brown on the other. The apples are oblong rather than round and do not have persistent sepals (the basin is a tiny dimple).
Kwiaht@kwiaht.org · 2w ago

Come see us at the San Juan County Fair on Friday and Saturday to learn more about local apples, and donate to support our work to recover, care for, and share the island's apple heritage through the San Juan Island Community Foundation sjicf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/c...

/erp/donate/create/grant

sjicf.fcsuite.com

Madrona Murphy@arbutocrat.bsky.social · 2w ago

Glowing Coal is a rare apple variety that still grows in Friday Harbor. The fruit are large, with brilliant red stripes, and incredibly juicy with a sweet honey flavor.

A large apple with deep red stripes viewed from the stem end. There is some brown russet around the stem and the stripes alternate bright red and deep red. It is held in a hand.
Kwiaht@kwiaht.org · 2w ago

Come see us at the San Juan County Fair this week to learn more about historic island orchards and donate to support our work to recover, protect, and share important apple trees and varieties through the San Juan Island Community Foundation

Madrona Murphy@arbutocrat.bsky.social · 2w ago

Olga Red Gravenstein: this uniquely red sport of Gravenstein was discovered in Olga on Orcas by local grower Clay Cunningham in 1905 and extensively propagated and marketed by local and regional nurseries.

A bright red apple with russetting around the stem held in a hand. It is somewhat lopsided and the stem is short.
Madrona Murphy@arbutocrat.bsky.social · 2w ago

Yesterday's important local apple was Yellow Transparent. Although often lumped in early, cold-hardy Russian apples, Transparent comes from Latvia. Like many early apples it can be off putting as a fresh eating apple (soft and tart) but shines in cooking and baking. It's really good in this cake

food52.com

Madrona Murphy@arbutocrat.bsky.social · 2w ago

You've probably heard of King, but have you met the Duchess apple? Duchess of Oldenburg is an early ripening apple that's been grown in the San Juan Islands since at least 1889 and is still growing on trees planted before 1894 near Friday Harbor.

Pomological watercolor of Duchess of Oldenburg. It shows two whole apples. They are slightly conical, and somewhat lopsided, with a wide basin around the sepals. The stem is short. One half is greenish yellow and the other is covered in netted red stripes.
Kwiaht@kwiaht.org · 2w ago

Through the San Juan Island Community Foundation we're raising funds during the fair to support our work recovering, stewarding, and sharing local apple varieties. In anticipation @arbutocrat.bsky.social is going to introduce you to an important local apple variety each day.

Kwiaht@kwiaht.org · 2w ago

We're going to the San Juan County Fair! Talk to us about apples, community science, and local stewardship on Friday and Saturday. Friday we'll be at the Ag Tent for @arbutocrat.bsky.social's talk about the Coast Salish roots of island orchards, Saturday find us at the Community Foundation booth.

Poster for Friday talks at the San Juan County Fair. It reads: "SJC Fair 2026. Green Village & Ag Tent Speaker Series. 11:00 am. Growing Community at Overmarsh Farm Commons. By Roger Ellison & Amanda Zee. Overmarsh Farm Commons is a collaborative project creating opportunities for local food production, land stewardship, and agricultural education. Learn about the vision behind the project, its growth over the past two seasons, and how the farm is helping cultivate a more resilient and equitable local food system. 12:30 pm. The Wild Origins of Island Orchards: qáyexw to Jonagold. By Madrona Murphy, Kwiaht. Join Kwiaht botanist Madrona Murphy to explore how Coast Salish cultivation of qáyexw (Pacific crabapple) and other wild fruits led to the widespread planting of orchards and berries in the San Juans, how we all benefit from this fruitful legacy, and how you can help ensure the old trees continue to feed our communities. 2:00 pm. The Future of Affordable Farming in San Juan County. By Jay Kimball & Lauren Bigelow. Half of San Juan County's farm operators are 65 or older, and a working island farm now costs more than any farm income can support. Using the latest USDA Census data, Jay Kimball walks through what island farms actually earn, why the next generation can't buy in--and the pathways forward already taking root here. Lauren Bigelow will share some steps the SJI Ag Guild is taking to find community-based solutions. 3:30 pm. Lamb Albóndigas: A Taste of Local Flavor. By Kayleen Meeker & Chris Shotwell, Cove Dining. Join the chefs from Cove Dining as they prepare flavorful lamb albóndigas, showcasing locally raised lamb in a hearty, delicious dish. Learn simple techniques and serving ideas while discovering a fresh way to enjoy one of the islands' signature ingredients. Friday, August 14th."
Kwiaht@kwiaht.org · 4w ago

Come learn about local pollinators from our hard working field tech Sophie Citro and summer apprentice Tyler Iyengar on Thursday August 6th at the Orcas Island Public Library from noon-3pm.

Poster for pollinator day showing a bright green bee with pollen on her hind legs climbing a green blade of green grass. It reads "Pollinator Day @ OI Library. Thursday, August 6th. 1pm Presentation. 12-3pm South Lawn Observations. Join Russel Barsh and Kwiaht biologists for a fun, educational day on native pollinators of the islands. Special thanks to the Ken Gibbs Memorial Fund for Youth Science Education. Orcas Island Library." The Orcas Island Library logo looks like a pine cone made out of books.
Kwiaht@kwiaht.org · last mo.

Surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus) were spawning on the beach by the Hunter Bay boat ramp when we returned from our Lopez Community Salmon Team beach seine yesterday evening.

Kwiaht@kwiaht.org · 2mo ago

Our newest book. Important Indigenous plants in the San Juan Islands and their names in Lekwungen (Northern Straits Salish). Available soon at bookshops and libraries in the islands or contact us to order by donation (info@kwiaht.org)

A book held in a hand over green strawberry leaves. There is a drawing of a soapberry shrub on the cover. The cover says "Naming and knowing Indigenous Plants of the San Juan Islands. Russel Barsh and Madrona Murphy with illustrations by Amanda Konishi." There is a blue, green, red, and grey logo in the lower right corner that says Kwiaht.
Kwiaht@kwiaht.org · 2mo ago

Next Saturday (June 27th) is our third annual Hummel Lake Fishing Derby! 8:00am-4:30pm. Even if you don't fish you can come by and learn about how we're looking after the lake and you can help.

Kwiaht@kwiaht.org · 3mo ago

Kwiaht and the Whidbey Camano Land Trust are hosting a presentation, discussion, and potluck focused on methods for monitoring safety and contaminants in harvested plant foods and medicines hosted on June 7th. Everyone is welcome. 1/7

Kwiaht@kwiaht.org · 3mo ago

Our Indian Island Marine Health Observatory depends on local donations. We're raising funds through the Orcas Island Community Foundation and you can donate! Link to make a donation: oicf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/c...

Indian Island stewardship season needs you

||| FROM RUSSEL BARSH for KWIAHT ||| Community stewardship of Indian Island is 18 years old and still growing! This one-acre preserve a few hundred feet from Main Street is a unique part of the...

theorcasonian.com