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June 22, 2025

Chestertown Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Chestertown

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Adkins arboretum Mystery Monday: Guess the photo

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Happy Mystery Monday!  Can you guess what is pictured in photo below?
The answer to last week’s mystery is white marbled orbweaver, Araneus marmoreus, pictured in photo below.
Marbled orb weavers get their name from the mottling and spotting patterns found on their bodies. They can be found in residential landscapes, fields, and forests from Spring–late Fall in Maryland. They mostly eat smaller insects, which they capture in their vertically oriented webs. A “signal thread” running through the middle of their webs alerts the spider when prey is caught. Marbled orbweavers spin their web in the morning, and typically spend the day resting in a retreat off to the side of the web.
Mating for the marbled orbweaver takes place in mid–late Summer. Females mate once in their lives, while males may mate several times. Egg sacs, which contain several hundred eggs, are generally deposited in October. The female becomes shriveled late Fall because of lost body mass from laying her eggs.
Marbled orbweavers do not survive the Winter, so adults are not present to provide any sort of care when the spiderlings emerge the following Spring. Their average lifespan is six months.
There are no known adverse effects of marbled orbweavers on humans.
Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Turn Your Hunt into a Feast: Master Nose-to-Tail Wild Game Cooking at Modern Stone Age Food Lab

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As Maryland’s hunting season gets underway, Modern Stone Age Kitchen and the Eastern Shore Food Lab are encouraging hunters to take their harvest to the next level with a captivating culinary experience, “Making the Most of Your Hunt: An Introduction to Nose-to-Tail Wild Game Cooking.” This immersive, hands-on educational workshop allows hunters to dive deep into the art of utilizing every part of game animals, including the often overlooked parts, and transform them into nourishing and delicious dishes.

On Sunday, January 19, 2025, from noon to 3 p.m., internationally known archaeologist, primitive technologist, chef, and founder of Modern Stone Age Kitchen, Dr. Bill Schindler will walk participants through the process of maximizing the value of their hunt, learning the essential techniques for field dressing and processing, ensuring food safety and maximizing yield.

“As we move into hunting season, we often see hunters leaving behind valuable and delicious parts of their hunt out in the field,” said Schindler, whose best-selling book Eat Like a Human: Nourishing Foods and Ancient Ways of Cooking to Revolutionize Your Health details his research, methods, and recipes. “This class was designed to help those who want to learn how to take their hunt further and embrace the nose-to-tail approach to food.”

The workshop will cover a range of topics encouraging participants to change the way they use their hunt in nourishing, ethical, and sustaining ways, including:

  • Field Dressing and Processing: Learn essential techniques for preserving the quality of your harvest.

  • Home Butchering and Cleaning: Discover how to break down your game into various cuts, maximizing yield and minimizing waste.

  • Nose-to-Tail Cooking: Explore the art of utilizing every part of the animal, from heart to liver, to create flavorful and sustainable dishes.

Hands-on cooking demonstrations will include:

  • Wild Game Bone Broth

  • Duck and Goose Confit

  • Venison Heart with Maple Syrup and Fresh Sage

  • Rillettes

  • Offal Burger

  • Wild Game Sausage

The cost for the 3-hour workshop is $125 per participant. Seats are limited for this course which is offered only once every hunting season. To register visit https://modernstoneagekitchen.com/events/making-the-most-of-your-hunt-an-introduction-to-nose-to-tail-wild-game-cooking-1-19-25.

And don’t forget to explore the exciting range of other classes offered at Modern Stone Age . Dr. Schindler offers frequent courses for the nutrition interested and sustainability engaged. From sourdough mastery to cheese-making, fermentation secrets, and foraging expeditions, you’ll find a wealth of inspiring culinary experiences waiting to be discovered. Visit the Modern Stone Age Kitchen website at https://modernstoneagekitchen.com/events to explore the full calendar of events and courses.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Adkins Arboretum Mysery Monday: Guess the photo!

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Happy Mystery Monday!  Can you guess what is pictured in photo below:
The answer to last week’s mystery is pokeweed, Phytolacca americana, pictured in photo #2.
Pokeweed is a native herbaceous perennial in the Phytolaccaceae family that grows 3-8′ high. It is found in riparian areas, oak woodlands, forest edges, fence rows, forest openings, pastures, under power lines, disturbed areas, cultivated fields, parks, and ornamental landscapes.
Common Pokeweed is a long-lived perennial and can survive for years. Their seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to 50 years! The plant has a thick fleshy taproot up to 12′ long and 4′ thick, making adult pokeweed difficult to remove.
The pokeweed’s white, clustered blooms first mature in early Summer and continue into early Fall. The flowers are born in a raceme that usually starts out erect and begins drooping as the fruit develops.
Pokeweed berries are green at first, turning glossy, dark purple. They leave a deep purple-red stain when crushed. The berries are poisonous to humans, containing chemicals that can damage red blood cells. The berries are, however, a favored food for migrating songbirds and a source of food for some mammals. These animals help to distribute the seeds far and wide.
Pokeweed is one of many hosts of the Giant Leopard Moth.
Pokeweed has an extensive history of being used as a food, medicine, herb, dye for clothing, ink for writing, colorant for wines, and much more.
Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Adkins Arboretum Mystery Monday: Guess the photo!

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Happy Mystery Monday!  Can you guess what is pictured in photo below?
The answer to last week’s mystery is water oak, Quercus nigra, pictured in photo below:
Water oak is native to North America, commonly found in the coastal plains and Piedmont areas in bottomland forests. In Maryland, these trees can typically be found in the lower Eastern Shore. Adkins is at the Northern edge of its range.
Water oak is a member of the red oak group. They have oblong, spatula-shaped leaves with rounded lobes. When young, its leaves are nearly evergreen. They offer yellow color in Autumn which can persist into Winter. The water oak fruit is a 1/2″-1″ nearly black acorn.
This tree is of exceptional value to woodworkers, and is used widely in cabinet and furniture making. Water oak is the host plant for the larvae of the imperial moth (Eacles imperialis), as well as numerous
butterflies.
Water oak is a very sensitive tree that is vulnerable to illness and pests. Their numbers are in decline due to negative human interactions, such as row-cropping or extensive clearing.  Water oak does not compete well with other species for nutrients required to grow. It is also easily injured by fire and susceptible to butt rot.
Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

May Mart Blooms Again at The Chestertown Garden Club’s Annual Garden Sale

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The Chestertown Garden Club’s annual May Mart will once again offer the opportunity to purchase indoor and outdoor plants to enhance your home and gardens while also supporting the beautification of Chestertown. This  event will take place on Friday, May 2nd, at 9am-1pm, in Memorial Park, downtown Chestertown, rain or shine.

Buyers will have a broad selection of plants to choose from for any type of garden be it shade or full sun and lots of plants to attract pollinators.

Plants donated by Garden Club members are ready to thrive in your garden. Thanks to the generosity of local plant nurseries, —Tideland, Angelica and Bonnie — there will be a wonderful selection of shrubs and herbs. 🪴 You’ll love May Mart prices. Cash, checks, and credit cards for all purchases will be appreciated.

Plants will be tagged with basic information you need to choose the right ones for your garden, while club members will be happy to assist and answer other questions regarding spacing, soil, watering, pruning, etc.

There will be an “All Things Garden” section that is fun because you never know what you’ll come across. You’ll likely find gently used items like tools, flower pots, vases and lawn or garden ornaments. In the past there have been scarves, garden hats, and an apron or two. But there will definitely be artfully arranged flowering containers.

In addition to the plants May Mart offers homemade baked goods and a raffle. You may purchase three tickets for $5 to win a $100 gift certificate that can be used at your choice of any Chestertown area shop or restaurant.

Happy Chicken will be the food vendor for May Mart!  Breakfast and lunch sandwiches, as well as coffee, tea, water, and Snapple will be on the menu.  Pre-orders can be sent before the event at the Happy Chicken website https://www.happychickenbakery.com/ or food can be purchased at May Mart. They will sell from 8-12:30 p.m.

Funds raised at May Mart go towards the beautification of Chestertown. In partnership with the town, the Garden Club maintains Fountain Park and Memorial Park on an ongoing basis and decorates the parks and the downtown area each year for the holiday season.

As their logo proclaims, the Chestertown Garden Club has been “Rooted in Community Since 1931”. Since the installation of the beloved fountain in Fountain Park they have been actively improving community life. Their most recent innovation, the “Good Seeds” garden, involved the collaboration of parents, teachers, students, businesses and the Town to install landscaping at Garnet Elementary School. As well as beautifying the streetscape, an environmental learning space was created and is in full use by the school.

Your Visit to May Mart provides a wonderful opportunity to get joy from gardening while supporting your community!

The Chestertown Garden Club’s May Mart provides a wonderful opportunity to get joy from gardening while supporting your community!

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Queen Anne’s County Master Gardeners Announce Spring Plant Clinics

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The delightful hum of lawnmowers is right around the corner. Soon we’ll be tackling all of those outdoor tasks that have been calling our names during the cold winter months. As we transition into warmer days, our 2024 summer “Ask A Master Gardener Plant Clinics” will be traveling around the county to various events and open houses. This is a great opportunity to have Master Gardeners help with all your questions about gardening, from garden pests, to plant problems, to selecting the perfect native plants, and beneficial insects. Master Gardeners will be on hand to give tips and tricks to make your home garden flourish, help troubleshoot tricky growing situations, and offer encouragement on creating the perfect garden for your space. These events are free and open to the public.

Dates/Topics:
Saturday, May 4, 2024 Topic: “Bay-Wise” Gardening

Place: Greenwood Creek Nursery (201 Bennett Point Road Queenstown, MD 21658)

Time: From 10 am to 2 pm

Saturday, June 1, 2024 Topic: “Pollinators”

Place: A Little Farm & Nursery (100 Davidson Drive Stevensville, MD 21666)

Time: From 9 am to noon

Saturday, June 22, 2024 Topic: National Pollinator Week

Place: Lowe’s Bayshore Nursery (703 Love Point Road Stevensville, MD 21666)

Time: From 9 am to noon

For further information please call or make reasonable accommodations to participate in these events email the University of Maryland Extension Queen Anne’s County, Senior Agent Associate for Horticulture and Master Gardener Coordinator, Rachel J. Rhodes, at 410-758-0166 or [email protected] at least two weeks before the events or see us on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/QueenAnnesCountyMasterGardeners

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Thanksgiving Food Drive at KCMS

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Students in a mentoring program at Kent County Middle School are hosting a food drive in November, collecting items families can use for Thanksgiving meals.

The students are holding the second annual AAEE Thanksgiving Food Drive Nov. 1 to 21. Items being collected are: Canned Gravy, Canned Corn, Canned Greens, Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce

Corn Bread Mix,Biscuit Mix, White Rice, Chicken Broth, Canned Yams, Mashed Potatoes,  Macaroni and Cheese

The food items may be dropped off in the middle school’s Student Support Center.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

A Win-Win for Kent County Small Businesses and Students

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To support local businesses in the technical trades while assisting high school students interested in those trade paths, the Chestertown Lions Club is seeking applications from Kent County businesses needing part-time assistance who are willing to train and mentor a high school student in their trade. The Club will provide financial grants to businesses to pay the students, while the business would mentor the student in various trade skills such as manufacturing, auto-, plumbing-, electrical-repair, or agricultural science, up to 15 hours per week while they are in high school.

Martha Ledoux and Brooklyn Usilton at the Happy Chicken

“I see this program as a way to make a difference for both the companies and the students.” Says Chestertown Lions President Jeff Ferguson.  “My opinion is that college degrees and attending college have been oversold in our country, much to the detriment of the skilled trades and crafts. Local companies get some extra help that they perhaps otherwise couldn’t afford and students learn valuable skills.”

Ferguson coordinated with Aundra Anderson, the Senior Counselor of Next Generation Scholars Program with the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education, who found students from families that could benefit from the financial support that the internships could provide and meet strict criteria of grades and behavior. Anderson brought the local companies into the process and then matched student interests with the companies.

Ferguson says the program began this year and has turned into a huge success for all concerned.  The financial support of the Lions enabled three students to obtain some “real world” experience.

Jaylin Whye and Brian Williams at Red Acre Farms

Red Acre Farms is a family-run farm growing hydroponic lettuce sold to stores and restaurants throughout the region. They also run a farm store and an events venue. Owner Brian Williams was teamed up with senior intern Jaylin Whye. Williams found intern Jaylin to be a great asset to his business. “He is very quick to learn any task, do it well, and stay on task.”

The Happy Chicken is a catering business providing freshly-prepared dishes from locally-produced ingredients for private events. They also offer pastry items at the Chestertown Farmers market, local pop ups, and custom orders.  Intern Brooklyn Usilton was paired up with owner and baker Martha Ledoux to learn the trade.  Ledoux found Brooklyn to be a great asset and helper while the intern learned vital aspects of the food trade and running a small business.

Alycia Wilson and Lisa Goetz at Wildly Native Flower Farm

Wildly Native Flower Farm grows hundreds of varieties of flowers for private events and venues.  Owner Liza Goetz established her “growing business” on her family’s 300-year-old historic Kent County farm.  Intern Alycia Wilson has been a great asset to the business, learning the trade from field to presentation; it has been a lesson in agricultural production, the artistry of flower arranging, processing flower orders and working with clientele. Alycia also created a line of stickers with quotes to promote the company.

Businesses interested in participating should contact: Aundra Anderson, NGS Senior Coordinator, Kent County Next Generation Scholars at [email protected] or call: 410-699-0346

 

 

 

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Figg’s Ordinary’s Evolution

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Figg’s Ordinary café will close permanently on July 8th to enable Figg’s Ordinary packaged good business, Ingrid’s Crackers™, to begin production. We have loved serving the Chestertown community through our café operations, appreciate your support and business over the past six years, and look forward to continuing to serve you though Ingrid’s Crackers packaged goods offerings.

As we shared with you a year or so ago, Figg’s Ordinary has partnered with Union Kitchen in Washington, D.C. Union Kitchen is a food incubator and commercial kitchen. Figg’s Ordinary will soon be launching three flavors of Ingrid’s Crackers for commercial distribution for sale at retail facilities. True to our traditions, Ingrid’s Crackers are made using organic nutrient dense ingredients including almond flour, flax meal, dried cranberries, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds. In addition to the original version of the crackers, an extraordinarily popular item at Figg’s Ordinary, we also offer two additional flavors: Cacao and Hazelnut, and Salted Almond (Paleo and Keto). We are excited to be able to bring our nourishing and unique artisan crackers to more customers.

Please watch for our products in retail stores near you soon! Thank you again for your support, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with you as Figg’s Ordinary takes this next, exciting step.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Backyard Composting Workshop May 20

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The Chestertown Environmental Committee is offering a FREE composting workshop this Saturday, May 20, 10 am to noon at Sumner Hall, 206 South Queen Street, Chestertown.

Why compost?  It will enrich your soil with nutrients, resulting in a healthier, more productive garden, whether for consumption or pleasure. It increases the soils’ ability to absorb moisture – reducing runoff, it cuts down on trash in the landfill.

Learn all the dos and don’ts in this two hour workshop, hosted by the Chestertown Environmental Committee. Compost bins will be available at the event. For more information email Jenny at [email protected].

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.