Kwiaht
@kwiaht.org
Your local laboratory in the San Juan Islands for the science to support good stewardship. Posts by @arbutocrat.bsky.social
Reposted by Kwiaht
All San Juan County Beaches Closed to Recreational Shellfish Harvesting
https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?aid=2250
https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?aid=2250
October 1, 2026 at 1:00 AM
All San Juan County Beaches Closed to Recreational Shellfish Harvesting
https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?aid=2250
https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?aid=2250
We have a lot of events this month! More info on our Calendar www.kwiaht.org/calendar.htm
October 1, 2026 at 1:36 AM
We have a lot of events this month! More info on our Calendar www.kwiaht.org/calendar.htm
Reposted by Kwiaht
September inflection point: Suddenly SO MANY kinds of apples you can buy at farmers market!
SINCE YOU INSIST, they are
Ambrosia
Cortland
Crimson Crisp
Fuji
Gala
Golden Delicious
Golden Russet
Honeycrisp
Hudson's Golden Gem
Jonagold
Jonathan
Macoun
McIntosh
Mutsu
Shamrock
Spencer
oops outa space
SINCE YOU INSIST, they are
Ambrosia
Cortland
Crimson Crisp
Fuji
Gala
Golden Delicious
Golden Russet
Honeycrisp
Hudson's Golden Gem
Jonagold
Jonathan
Macoun
McIntosh
Mutsu
Shamrock
Spencer
oops outa space
September 30, 2026 at 7:53 PM
September inflection point: Suddenly SO MANY kinds of apples you can buy at farmers market!
SINCE YOU INSIST, they are
Ambrosia
Cortland
Crimson Crisp
Fuji
Gala
Golden Delicious
Golden Russet
Honeycrisp
Hudson's Golden Gem
Jonagold
Jonathan
Macoun
McIntosh
Mutsu
Shamrock
Spencer
oops outa space
SINCE YOU INSIST, they are
Ambrosia
Cortland
Crimson Crisp
Fuji
Gala
Golden Delicious
Golden Russet
Honeycrisp
Hudson's Golden Gem
Jonagold
Jonathan
Macoun
McIntosh
Mutsu
Shamrock
Spencer
oops outa space
Reposted by Kwiaht
September 26, 2026 at 1:31 PM
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
Ticks in the San Juan Islands
YouTube video by Ken Kortge
youtu.be
September 26, 2026 at 3:34 PM
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
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).
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
www.scientificamerican.com
September 25, 2026 at 6:33 PM
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).
Reposted by Kwiaht
Kwiaht launches arsenic testing and action project
https://www.sanjuanjournal.com/2026/09/23/kwiaht-launches-arsenic-testing-and-action-project/
https://www.sanjuanjournal.com/2026/09/23/kwiaht-launches-arsenic-testing-and-action-project/
September 23, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Kwiaht launches arsenic testing and action project
https://www.sanjuanjournal.com/2026/09/23/kwiaht-launches-arsenic-testing-and-action-project/
https://www.sanjuanjournal.com/2026/09/23/kwiaht-launches-arsenic-testing-and-action-project/
We have qáyexw (Malus fusca, Pacific crabapple) at the LeMaister Farm fruit stand! They are tart and richly flavored.
September 24, 2026 at 9:18 PM
We have qáyexw (Malus fusca, Pacific crabapple) at the LeMaister Farm fruit stand! They are tart and richly flavored.
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.
On Sunday September 20th we have our first community apple pressing! Bring jars for juice, and extra apples to the Lopez History Museum (28 Washburn Place) where Kwiaht and the Lopez Island Family Resource Center's gleaning program will be pressing from 1-3pm.
September 19, 2026 at 11:45 PM
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.
The Orcas Island Yacht Club is organizing a trip from Orcas to Salt Spring Island for their apple festival.
September 18, 2026 at 1:33 AM
The Orcas Island Yacht Club is organizing a trip from Orcas to Salt Spring Island for their apple festival.
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.
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 - Item
LopezRocks - a community website by Lopez Island
www.lopezrocks.org
September 17, 2026 at 12:47 AM
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.
Islanders may be at increased risk of colon cancer due to the widespread presence of small amounts of arsenic in the islands’ well water.
Reposted by Kwiaht
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
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
September 4, 2026 at 3:55 PM
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
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
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.
September 14, 2026 at 4:57 PM
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.
Come see us at Long Live the King's Return of the Kings today
September 12, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Come see us at Long Live the King's Return of the Kings today
Reposted by Kwiaht
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/
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/
September 9, 2026 at 5:47 PM
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/
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/
Reposted by Kwiaht
Reposted by Kwiaht
@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!!"
How exciting! If you're in the States, you can send samples to MyFruitTree at Washington State University for genetic variety ID myfruittree.cahnrs.wsu.edu
MyFruitTree Project | Washington State University
myfruittree.cahnrs.wsu.edu
September 9, 2026 at 6:21 PM
@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!!"
Reposted by Kwiaht
@jtp.bsky.social asks, "whats up with crab apples? like, what's going on there?"
They are separate species from orchard apples (including a number that still grow wild, such as qáyexw, Malus fusca, the apple native to the North American Pacific Coast). They tend to be higher in citric acid and have long stems. Some have been selected (and crossed) to be bigger and sweeter.
September 9, 2026 at 5:54 PM
@jtp.bsky.social asks, "whats up with crab apples? like, what's going on there?"
Reposted by Kwiaht
@emdotrand.bsky.social asks, "Are the differences between red and golden delicious apples purely aesthetic?"
They are not very closely related and Golden Delicious keeps better and bakes much better. Golden Delicious is a seedling of Grimes Golden (a great apple), while Red Delicious seems to have descended from Winesap.
September 9, 2026 at 5:45 PM
@emdotrand.bsky.social asks, "Are the differences between red and golden delicious apples purely aesthetic?"
Reposted by Kwiaht
@snazzycoffee.bsky.social asks, "what's the best apple for a tarte-tatin?"
Canada Reinette (Reinette Blanche du Canada) is considered an excellent tarte-tatin apple.
September 9, 2026 at 5:33 PM
@snazzycoffee.bsky.social asks, "what's the best apple for a tarte-tatin?"
Reposted by Kwiaht
@amybrown.xyz asks, "What is the best apple and why?"
The best apple is the one you can ripen in your yard (it will taste better since you can pick it when it's properly ready). That said for fresh eating we particularly like Golden Russet (nutty flavor, dense texture, excellent sliced with cheese) and for baking Rhode Island Greening (great texture).
September 9, 2026 at 5:13 PM
@amybrown.xyz asks, "What is the best apple and why?"
Reposted by Kwiaht
I'll echo @kwiaht.org's book suggestion and add apple legend John Bunker's website of recipes: www.outonalimbapples.com/recipes
Recipes — Out on a Limb Apples
Here is an archive of apple recipes featured in our newsletters.
www.outonalimbapples.com
September 9, 2026 at 5:42 PM
I'll echo @kwiaht.org's book suggestion and add apple legend John Bunker's website of recipes: www.outonalimbapples.com/recipes
Reposted by Kwiaht
@whyaduck.bsky.social asks, "Why are British hard ciders superior to american ones?"
I'd say, it might be due to a combination of centuries of continuous #cider production here in the U.K., uninterrupted by Prohibition, plus easier access to a wider range of traditional, bittersweet, bittersharp etc. cider varieties of apple.
September 9, 2026 at 5:21 PM
@whyaduck.bsky.social asks, "Why are British hard ciders superior to american ones?"
Reposted by Kwiaht
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. 🍎
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. 🍎
September 9, 2026 at 5:02 PM
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. 🍎
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. 🍎
Starting today (Tuesday Sept 8th) we also have Red Gravensteins available (pay what you wish).
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.
pay-what-you-wish, unique new varieties are $1 an apple.
September 8, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Starting today (Tuesday Sept 8th) we also have Red Gravensteins available (pay what you wish).