MAINE OUTDOORS & WILDLIFE Books, Videos, Gifts

The character of Baxter State Park and the great mountain at its heart can be powerfully conveyed through two words: forever wild. The mountain was known as Ktaadn, or "the greatest mountain," to native peoples who first frequented Maine's interior northern forest. They were followed by colonial adventurers who explored its cirques and massive granite walls, by those who studied its geology and flora and fauna, and later by loggers who came to extract the virgin timber from nearby valleys. Finally, recreational climbing and camping led to an effort to protect the rugged beauty of these mountains, lakes, and valleys. When calls for preservation went unheeded, former governor Percival P. Baxter, beginning in the 1930s, purchased some 201,000 acres over a period of 30 years and gifted them to the state. Today, Baxter State Park is the guardian of this vast wilderness area for all to enjoy. Baxter State Park and Katahdin draws on rich collections of archival images dating back to the 19th century. Paperback 128 pages

What happens when the last son leaves the farm, and the farmer grows old? Do the stories of six generations whisper into silence, as dust darkens the windows of the empty barn? Or can a young boy, running in yellow boots through abandoned fields, bring new life back to the farm? There is much to explore, and time to wonder. There is also, for a short while, a gentle old man, atop a faded John Deere tractor, and the possibility of connection... An unforgettable true story of history and hope on a small family farm in Somerville, Maine, from its settling in the early 1800s to its perilous transfer to a new farm family in 2008. Chronicling the history of seven generations, it is a reminder of the role small farms have played in our national and family histories, and a challenge to find innovative ways to re-connect our communities to this rich but threatened resource. Hardcover. 223 pgs.

Here is the untold story of the making of Acadia National Park and the critical role of George Dorr in making it all come to be. A wonderful gift of all who love Acadia, this book brings to life the man who, more than any other, was responsible for the park's creation and early growth. Contains endnotes, an index and black & white photos. Paperback. 393 pgs.

A chronologically-arranged compilation of selected quotations from hard to-find-sources this publication makes accessible wildlife writings of early biologists, naturalists, and woodsmen from northern New England and eastern Canada. Hardcover 524 pages

FROM STUMP TO SHIP, filmed in 1930, survives as the best, most vivid and complete film record of the long log business. People who know the business and those who see it here for the first time, agree that this film brings to life the priceless heritage of generations of woodworkers and their families. remarkably detailed scenes, filmed year-round, are uniquely enhanced by the original script, written to be read with the silent footage of the 1930s.

The soundtrack is brought to life by Tim Sample, narrator and renowned Maine humorist, and in the role of filmmaker, Alfred Ames. B/W 28 minutes. DVD.

This 23-minute documentary presents a detailed account of spruce-wood harvesting in northern New England, detailing the hazards and techniques of lumberjacking. It climaxes with a mind-boggling logjam, cleared first by men and then by dynamite. DVD.

"Lumberjack Sky Pilot" shares true life experiences of lumberjacks during the 1930s and 1940s as filmed by Reverend Frank Reed, one of many itinerant preachers or "sky pilots," who visited lumber camps in the North Country. DVD. 60 minutes.

Heinrich involves us in his quest to get inside the mind of the raven. But as animals can only be spied on by getting quite close, Heinrich adopts ravens, thereby becoming a "raven father," as well as observing them in their natural habitat. He studies their daily routines, and in the process, paints a vivid picture of the ravens' world. At the heart of this book are Heinrich's love and respect for these complex and engaging creatures, and through his keen observation and analysis, we become their intimates too. Heinrich's passion for ravens has led him around the world in his research. Mind of the Raven follows an exotic journey—from New England to Germany, and from Montana to Baffin Island in the high Arctic—offering dazzling accounts of how science works in the field, filtered through the eyes of a passionate observer of nature. Each new discovery and insight into raven behavior is thrilling to read, at once lyrical and scientific. Paperback. 380 pgs.

From one of the finest scientist/writers of our time comes an engaging record of a life spent in close observation of the natural world, one that has yielded “marvelous, mind-altering” (Los Angeles Times) insight and discoveries. In essays that span several decades, Heinrich finds himself at home in Maine, where he plays host to visitors from Europe (the cluster flies) and more welcome guests from Asia (ladybugs); and as far away as Botswana, where he unravels the far-reaching ecological consequences of elephants’ bruising treatment of mopane trees. The many fascinating discoveries in Naturalist at Large include the maple sap harvesting habits of red squirrels, and the “instant” flower-opening in the yellow iris as a way of ensuring potent pollination. Heinrich turns to his great love, the ravens, some of them close companions for years, as he designs a unique experiment to tease out the fascinating parameters of raven intelligence. Finally, he asks “Where does a biologist find hope?” while delivering an answer that informs and inspires. Hardcover. 288 pgs.

Why do ravens, generally understood to be solitary creatures, share food between each other during winter? On the surface, there didn’t appear to be any biological or evolutionary imperative behind the raven’s willingness to share. The more Bernd Heinrich observed their habits, the more odd the bird’s behavior became. What started as mere curiosity turned into an impassioned research project, and Ravens In Winter, the first research of its kind, explores the fascinating biological puzzle of the raven’s rather unconventional social habits. Paperback. 379 pgs.

This is a collection of pulpwood industry training films from the mid-1940s. "It Pays to Be Trained" commically compares a skilled woodsman and a stubborn and untrained lumberjack who discovers that a small paycheck is his reward. "Helpful Hints in Preparing Pulpwood" details proper techniques in felling trees, the use of a pulp hook and axe, as well as setting up pickets and skids to stack a cord of wood. "Use and Care of a Bucksaw" gives a straightforward look at assembling, sharpening, and the proper use of maintenance of the versatile bucksaw. "Twitching" shows the strength of twitch horses and the cooperation between the horses and their teamsters in the woods. "Your Cord of Wood" gives a broad overview of what becomes of a cord of wood after leaving the woodlot. Total running time: 58 minutes. DVD.

When astonished Europeans first spotted the vast pine forests of North America, the economic and military potential was immediately evident. In that pre-industrial age, the lumber and pitch that could be harvested from these forests represented resources worth fighting for. Here, Andrew Vietze turns his attention to the part that these evergreens played in peace, war, the building of cities, and forming laws. Black & white photos and illustrations in the center of the book. Fully indexed. Paperback. 186 pgs.

Wildflowers of Maine presents a selection of the color paintings of pioneering botanist Kate Furbish (1834-1931). Including some of the more prominent flowers to be found in Maine, plus a few rarities, this delightful gift formatted edition is a treat for the senses and a testament to Kate Furbish’s lifelong passion to record all of Maine's plants and flowers in meticulous watercolor paintings. Color illustrations throughout also with a map of Maine indicating where the flowers were found. Hardcover. 127 pgs.

This is the story of a vanished American industry - a tale of woodsmen and river drivers active before 1930 - in the Machias River Valley of down east Maine. The survivors of a world of almost inconceivable danger and discomfort share their lives, and their story unfolds with exceptional 1930s footage from the Machias Lumber Company.

"Woodsmen and River Drivers" carries us back to winter life in rough-hewn lumbercamps, a spring of raging waters, frozen boots, and life-threatening log jams. We hear of drivers drowning in the icy flood. We witness summer in the deafening mill as bare hands hold wood from unguarded saw blades. Finally, we accompany the lumber to port for loading aboard the last of the Machias schooners.

A vivid historical chronicle, "Woodsmen and River Drivers" is also an emotional experience. You will long remember the pride of people whose everyday life took ingenuity, raw muscle and skill. DVD. 30 minutes, 1989.

Escapist fantasies usually involve the open road, but Bernd Heinrich's dream was to focus on the riches of one small place—a few green acres along Alder Brook just east of the Presidential Mountains. The year begins as he settles into a cabin with no running water and no electricity, built of hand-cut logs he dragged out of the woods with a team of oxen. There, alone except for his pet raven, Jack, he rediscovers the meaning of peace and quiet and harmony with nature—of days spent not filling out forms, but tracking deer, or listening to the sound of a moth's wings.Throughout this year when “the subtle matters and the spectacular distracts,” Heinrich brings us back to the drama in small things, when life is lived consciously. His story is that of a man rediscovering what it means to be alive. Paperback. 258 pgs.