iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 26/09/2026

We want health providers, including veterinarians, to know about ticks and tick borne diseases in the San Juan Islands. We put together a short film to share what we're learning youtu.be/BcCaT3tkyzE

youtu.be

Ticks in the San Juan Islands

YouTube video by Ken Kortge

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 25/09/2026

Drap d’Or de Bretagne is the parent of Twenty Ounce, one of the islands' widespread and well loved apples, as well as the rare Golden Ball variety (which we have found in one of Orcas' oldest orchards).

scientificamerican.com

How apple detectives solved the mystery of an ancient tree—and rewrote the history of fruit

And how they might have helped save the future of American apples

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San Juan Journal @sji-journal.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Kwiaht launches arsenic testing and action project www.sanjuanjournal.com/2026/09/23/k…

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 24/09/2026

We have qáyexw (Malus fusca, Pacific crabapple) at the LeMaister Farm fruit stand! They are tart and richly flavored.

A hand full of small (pea sized) oblong, yellow crabapples over a pile of more in a red basket.

A red basket with a sign that says: " Historic LeMaister Farm. Taste our native wild crabapple! Pay what you wish. Pacific crabapple*. Tended by native Coast Salish peoples, and stored mashed & dried. Keep in a paper bag until fruits turn brown, soft, and sweeter. Great fruit for sauce and curd. *Qáyexw, or Malus fusca."

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 20/09/2026

Apple ID expert Lori Brakken will be at the pressing. You can bring apples for her to identify: 6 unwiped ripe apples in a paper bag and one 12" piece of stem with leaves in a ziplock bag from each tree.

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 18/09/2026

The Orcas Island Yacht Club is organizing a trip from Orcas to Salt Spring Island for their apple festival.

Facebook post from the Orcas Island Yacht Club, with a link to the Salt Spring Inland Apple Festival (saltspringapplefestival.org). It reads: " A 'Fruitful Cruise to Salt Spring Island'. 600 varieties of apples growing on Salt Spring. Sail to Fulford Harbour on the morning of September 27th and spend the Day at the Apple Festival. After a hearty breakfast the next morning return across the border. More info email rossnewp@gmail.com"

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 17/09/2026

Kwiaht is seeking participants in a study of the extent of arsenic contamination in island wells in the San Juans, and actions to reduce adverse health effects. Islanders may be at increased risk of colon cancer due to the widespread presence of small amounts of arsenic in the islands’ well water.

lopezrocks.org

LopezRocks - Item

LopezRocks - a community website by Lopez Island

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Alberta Community Bat Program/Western Bat Program 🦇 @albertabats.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Re-wild a little. Help bats a lot. 🦇🌙🌿 Plant a Moon Meadow for moths or a Bat Garden with native host plants for insects bats eat. Add shrubs & trees, skip pesticides and keep nights dark. Small changes can make better habitat. albertabats.ca/resources

Graphic titled “Re-WILD FOR BATS!” featuring a close-up photo of a Big Brown Bat clinging to tree bark. Text encourages people to garden with native plants, shrubs and trees, reduce pesticide use, and minimize lighting at night. It directs readers to the Bat-friendly Communities Guidebook at albertabats.ca/resources. Alberta Community Bat Program and WCS Canada logos appear at the bottom. Photo credit: Jason Headley.

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 14/09/2026

We have upcoming apple events! This Saturday, September 19th @arbutocrat.bsky.social and apple ID expert Lori Brakken will be at the San Juan Island Library for Lost Apples of the San Juan Islands from 12-1:30 pm.

A poster for an apple talk. The background are rows of apples and there is a photo of green apples on the left and apple drawings across the page. It reads: "The Wild Side Presents: Lost Apples of the San Juan Islands with Kwiaht. Botanist Madrona Murphy shares the latest findings of Kwiaht's efforts to relocate the island's oldest orchards, identify apples genetically, and preserve rare heirloom and seedling varieties. Saturday, September 19, 12:00-1:30 pm. Library Main Salon. Share your SJI Apples! Bring your own apples, preserves, or treats to share! Kwiaht will be bringing fresh apples and homemade pies to sample!". The green apples on the left also reads: "Pewaukee, first described in 1842 in WI". There are logos for the San Juan Island Library and Kwiaht.

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 12/09/2026

Come see us at Long Live the King's Return of the Kings today

A trifold presentation board and a table of pamphlets and books. A banner showing a black oystercatcher, a sea star, a red paintbrush flower, a Townsend's big eared bat and the name Kwiaht hangs in front.

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Dr. Merritt Rae Turetsky @queenofpeat.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Forget planting trees for a second. Let's talk about BOGS. Did you know that peatlands cover a tiny 3% of Earth’s land, but store MORE CARBON than all the world's forests combined?They are an ultimate MVP of our climate system and it’s time we start hyping them. Join me! 🧵 1/

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Bluesky @bsky.app · 09/09/2026

@feralpuppygirl.bsky.social asks, "We moved into a home with an orchard from the 1800s, how could we possibly find out what kinds of apples we have?? I'm so curious!!"

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Bluesky @bsky.app · 09/09/2026

@jtp.bsky.social asks, "whats up with crab apples? like, what's going on there?"

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Bluesky @bsky.app · 09/09/2026

@emdotrand.bsky.social asks, "Are the differences between red and golden delicious apples purely aesthetic?"

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Bluesky @bsky.app · 09/09/2026

@snazzycoffee.bsky.social asks, "what's the best apple for a tarte-tatin?"

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Bluesky @bsky.app · 09/09/2026

@amybrown.xyz asks, "What is the best apple and why?"

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Will Rea @willrea.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I'll echo @kwiaht.org's book suggestion and add apple legend John Bunker's website of recipes: www.outonalimbapples.com/recipes

outonalimbapples.com

Recipes — Out on a Limb Apples

Here is an archive of apple recipes featured in our newsletters.

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Bluesky @bsky.app · 09/09/2026

@whyaduck.bsky.social asks, "Why are British hard ciders superior to american ones?"

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Bluesky @bsky.app · 09/09/2026

Welcome to the ONLY event about Apple happening today, as far as we know. We'll be running this as an AMAAA (Ask Me Anything About Apples). Ask your biggest Apple questions in the replies to this post and one of our Apple Geniuses will be with you shortly. 🍎

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 08/09/2026

Starting today (Tuesday Sept 8th) we also have Red Gravensteins available (pay what you wish).

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 07/09/2026

The farm stand is on Port Stanley Road, approximately 0.2 miles south of the intersection with Hummel Lake Road. While we have fruit to share it will be stocked from 12 until dark. Today we have

A simple farm stand with two crates of apples on a low shelf.

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 07/09/2026

The first day of our seasonal fruitstand at LeMaister Farm is tomorrow, Labor Day. We'll have unique Eastsound Rose seedling apples (they taste like roses!) and Gravensteins from the farm's orchard. Heritage apples (like Gravenstein) are pay-what-you-wish, unique new varieties are $1 an apple.

A milk crate full of greenish yellow apples, some with a pink blush.

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 31/08/2026

Some of the "wild" flavored macarons @arbutocrat.bsky.social made for our event at Lime Kiln Point State Park.

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Madrona Murphy @arbutocrat.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

I'm planning to bring macarons made with native plant flavors (salal leaf, wild crabapple, seaweed caramel, maybe salal cheesecake).

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 28/08/2026

This Sunday, August 30th, we're sharing what makes the landscape at Lime Kiln Point State Park unique, with talks, walks, and treats made with wild plants. We're joined by F.O.L.K.S, PKOLS, Salish Wildlife Rescue, and Washington State Parks. 3-5pm

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 27/08/2026

Join us and Salish Wildlife Rescue at Mountain Lake in Moran State Park for batwatching by moonlight at 7pm tonight (August 27).

A zine page that reads "What we're up to & you can join: Beach seine Wed 26 @Watmough ~5pm. Bat Watching Thu 27 @Moran @ 7pm. Walks and wild treats @ Lime Kiln Sun 30 3-5pm"

Moonrise over trees reflected in a smalllake after dark. There are boats on the shore in the foreground.

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 24/08/2026

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

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 24/08/2026

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.

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 22/08/2026

"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

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Madrona Murphy @arbutocrat.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Do you have Red Astrachan apples? Can you share photos (and location)? There are two distinct phenotypes and I want to know more about their geographical distribution.

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 17/08/2026

"Resilient ochre stars like those at Indian Island could be a key to understanding how sea stars adapted historically to severe bacterial infections. Sea stars have been part of Earth’s marine ecosystems for 480 million years, after all!" www.sanjuanjournal.com/2026/08/15/t...

sanjuanjournal.com

The mystery of Indian Island sea stars - The Journal of the San Juan Islands

By Russel Barsh

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Madrona Murphy @arbutocrat.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

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.

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Madrona Murphy @arbutocrat.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Today is the last day of our San Juan County Fair fundraiser to support our work on island orchards and apples sjicf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/c...

sjicf.fcsuite.com

/erp/donate/create/grant

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 16/08/2026

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

historylink.org

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

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Madrona Murphy @arbutocrat.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Check back tomorrow for more info about Coast Salish fishing technology

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Matt Bracken @brackenlab.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Plenty of *Pisaster* in the Salish Sea 🌊⭐️ #SeastarSaturday #MarineLife 🦑

The underside of an intertidal boulder at Larrabee State Park is swarmed with purple sea stars.

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 15/08/2026

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."

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 15/08/2026

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...

sjicf.fcsuite.com

/erp/donate/create/grant

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 14/08/2026

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).

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 13/08/2026

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...

sjicf.fcsuite.com

/erp/donate/create/grant

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 12/08/2026

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

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Madrona Murphy @arbutocrat.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

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

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Madrona Murphy @arbutocrat.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

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.

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 11/08/2026

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."

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 06/08/2026

Our Pollinator Day at Orcas Island Library has been cancelled due to ferry chaos.

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 29/07/2026

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.

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Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 16/07/2026

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.

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