Community-Led Workshops
What does it mean to be connected to your community? At Nature Links, forming community connections is a crucial part of our mission and work--an initiative that has taken on even more significance during the pandemic. The pandemic has forced our participants to leave jobs they loved, stop volunteering to help people in need, and put their participation in church, singing groups, sports teams and gardening clubs on hold. With this in mind, Nature Links has been incredibly lucky to have been joined by a range of community members in the past few weeks. Below is a run-down of a few local folks who have taken time out to lead Nature Links workshops.
Melissa Raftery (left) and Megan Wood (right) at their coffee shop on Deer Isle, Maine. From the website of 44 North Coffee.
44 North Coffee (Deer Isle, ME)
In January, we were joined by Megan Wood and Melissa Raftery, co-owners of 44 North Coffee in Deer Isle, Maine. Megan and Melissa logged on via Zoom to answer all our questions about how coffee is harvested and roasted, as well as what it’s like to run a women-owned and operated business. Before our Q&A session with them, we made sure to do our homework. Nature Links participants learned about the lifecycle of a coffee bean as it travels from the tree to our mug. We learned about the particular conditions that are favorable for growing coffee and how roasting for longer amounts of time can drastically change the flavor and aroma of our morning cup. Megan and Melissa told us about their travels to Ethiopia and Mexico (respectively) where they were able to connect with farmers employed in coffee cooperatives that supply coffee sold by 44 North. They explained the ways in which they’ve needed to adapt to help their business thrive during the pandemic. We are so grateful to Megan and Melissa for their participation in Nature Links!
Matt Carter of Chickadee Compost setting up their composting bins made from recycled lobster bait bins.
Chickadee Compost (Stonington, ME)
Kate Thompkins and Matthew Carter joined us in early February to tell us about the exciting new work begun by Chickadee Compost. Kate, a native of Brooksville, founded Chickadee Compost with hopes of transforming the food waste from businesses, restaurants, schools and homes across the Blue Hill peninsula into organic compost. Kate and Matt gave us a virtual tour of their composting set up at the Stonington transfer station, and we even got to see a trial run of their new solar-powered aeration system. The new system even includes the use of insulated bait bins donated by the Stonington Lobster Co-op, and mouse bedding from Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor. Kate and Matt talked about some of the challenges involved in forming a business around compost, and what they have planned for the future, especially as the weather warms up! Thank you to Kate and Matt for taking the time to show us your important work!
Next Step Domestic Violence Project (Ellsworth, ME)
February also brought us a workshop led by Next Step Domestic Violence Project in Ellsworth, Maine. Cheyenne Robinson-Bauman, Next Step’s Education and Prevention Advocate, led is in a healthy relationships workshop. Cheyenne’s thoughtful facilitation focused on appropriate and inappropriate behavior in relationships, as well as how to speak up when someone is being manipulated, controlled or abused. Cheyenne even explained how the COVID-19 pandemic has created new concerns for how to recognize abuse, and particularly important concerns for people with disabilities.
We are so grateful for the support of these organizations. At Nature Links, we believe that forming opportunities for community connections not only serves our participants, but also helps develop an awareness of the skills, interests and dreams of young adults with disabilities. If you’re interested in leading a workshop with Nature Links, please contact us!
