Earthways Guide Service

11/30/2025

Earthways Fall Newsletter

Fall Newsletter

09/17/2024

Drying out the gear when the sun came out last Friday. Pat and Ray guided a great group of intrepid river travelers on the glorious Allagash River in early September. The weather was perfect, with no bugs, but warm days and cool clear nights, with the Elms on the riverbanks starting to change colors. Moose and eagles showed up, along with a coyote on the drive to the put in. Thanks everyone for a great trip, and for sharing your stories and photos! After provisioning and prepping the food and gear for the trip, Andrea was home for the first week of school with the boys, 9 & newly 7. How amazing for a family to grow up with these Earthways experiences, and for Rafe to grow into being a river helper. We’re looking forward to some Earthways experiences close to home that James can also participate in, keeping the woods available to all, including those with alternative mobility and caregivers! We’ll be look for community members to share in the building of accessible trails, learn and help create an all season campsite and learning area, and an exploration of finding fresh water in a beautiful section of woods near our home. Email us if you’re interested in learning more about opportunities to support this upcoming project in Belfast: [email protected]

07/13/2024

East Branch of the Penobscot River, July 1-5, 2024

Patrick had the opportunity to take a special training for Maine Guides with Mahoosuc Guide Service during the first week in July, on the East Branch of the Penobscot River. He came home with great stories to share, new skills and awareness, and many new friends. We are so grateful for the elders who are passing along the skills and traditions that help us connect with the land and waters that are our home.

We’re looking forward to continuing to learn the ways of Penobscot, with her big water, ancient portages, and ledges worthy of deep respect. This is the land of “the hulling machine” (one of our favorite poems by Holman Day!) - enjoy the poem, and may it remind you to make sure to take the portage many moccasins have worn to a smooth path over thousands of years.

We’re considering creating an Earthways trip on a section of this gorgeous river in the near future. Stay tuned - we hope you can join us!

07/11/2024

joins us again this summer!

July 28-Aug 2, 2024, Plants and People on Poland Pond, herbal plant study guided canoe adventure.

https://www.earthwaysguideservice.com/plantsandpeople

Earthways Guide Service & Dr. Mary Bove, ND team up for another beautiful journey back in time to a place rich with life and bio-historical evidence of nature-human collaboration.

A place once known as "The Frozen Ocean" for it's seemingly endless expanse of ice, key to the logging industry in Northern Maine. Twelve feet above where we paddle and pole our canoes today among healthy Joe Pye w**d, Skullcap, Pitcher Plants, and Sphagnum bogs, once floated millions of logs, frozen in holding over the winter for release with the spring break up. Lumbermen once walked across those logs, on waterways that are now home to Otter, Moose, Bald Eagle, Freshwater Mussels, and singing Loons among many others in this abundant living community.

Learn about this history and how it has impacted the landscape. Master Maine Guide Ray Reitze first encountered this magical place early in his guiding career, and he has cultivated a relationship with this ever shifting landscape throughout his four decades of guiding people into the bush.

This trip is a unique opportunity to learn deeply connected place-based knowledge cultivated through decades of sharing life here by Master Guide Ray Reitze, layered with the plant-based wisdom cultivated through decades of relationship with plants and the study of human relationships with plants that Mary Bove embodies, while guided and served delicious food by Patrick and Andrea Dole.

We look forward to deepening these relationships and connections, enriched by the unique stories and wisdom brought by each of our guests, again this year.

A few spots still remain on this peaceful and joyous adventure. To join the conversation, email us at earthwaysguideservice.com

06/20/2024

Welcoming the full strawberry moon and summer solstice! Happy summer everyone!

Summer 2024

05/22/2024

Listen to Mary Bove, ND, share her inspiring life story and expansive herbal wisdom on this podcast, Herbs with Rosalee:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKMkyy__WUY

We have the pleasure to learn with Mary again this year on our Plants and People at Poland Pond trip, July 28-Aug 2, 2024. A few spots are still available!

FMI www.earthwaysguideservice.com/plantsandpeople, [email protected]

Mary describes this trip at 49:39 of the podcast above.

05/19/2024

Thank you for this day. Thank you for our lives, and for the lives of all of our relatives.

www.earthwaysguideservice.com/plantsandpeople

05/18/2024

Canoeing at Poland Pond is a magical experience, and quite peaceful. This remote site is home to eagles, loons, herons, otters, muskrat, and moose, to name a few. The plant life is unique in these healthy ecosystems, including the elusive and ancient bog dwelling pitcher plants and sphagnum, and forest and shore dwelling ghost pipe, partridge berry, skullcap and cranberry.

The early morning canoe out to hike Allagash Mountain can bring many delights, such as sighting a moose during a gentle sprinkle, the rising of the mist as the birds sing, or an eagle soaring in to perch in a pine tree. Learning the gentle art of canoeing amidst the wisdom of plant allies and human elder teachers is an unforgettable experience.

We still have a few spots available for the 2024 Plants and People at Poland Pond trip. FMI and to register: https://www.earthwaysguideservice.com/plantsandpeople
[email protected]

05/05/2024

Join us on a respectful
journey to the home of the moose,
where like our long legged friends
we are as comfortable moving
upriver as down,
or not moving at all.
We remember the magic
of stillness
amidst
the activities of life.

Since 1988, guiding wilderness experiences that cultivate our connection to the earth and all things.

www.earthwaysguideservice.com

05/02/2024

In the woods and on the water, looking forward to a great season immersed in nature and the sense of connection we all thrive on!

04/26/2024

Starting to see Sphagnum in the bogs and ponds around the house. Thinking of the amazing Sphagnum bog at Poland Pond, where we're held up by a network of ancient beings with deep wisdom to impart through our beings. We still have a few spots on our Plants and People at Poland Pond trip with Mary Bove. Email us to register and FMI at [email protected]

04/10/2024

***Basic Bush Skills***

Saturday & Sunday May 25th & 26th



This class is tailored to the interests of the group. From fire building & camp cooking, plant ID & animal tracking, to knots, setting up camp, and becoming at home in the bush - anything is possible!