New Beginnings: Jaime steps into a new role at KELT
As Project Coordinator with the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT), I support three core program areas: Land Stewardship, Restoration, and the LOCAL (Leading Our Community in Agricultural Learning) Garden. In this expanded role for 2026, I’ll continue spearheading the LOCAL Garden while being onboarded with KELT’s stewardship and restoration efforts throughout the Merrymeeting Bay and Lower Kennebec River region, one of the most ecologically diverse landscapes in Maine.
At the LOCAL Garden, I manage the soil heath, pest control, production and distribution of food grown for our community while educating and empowering volunteers. The garden serves as a hands-on learning space where community members of all ages explore sustainable gardening practices and local food systems while growing fresh produce for the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program. Building on my previous seasons in the garden, I am currently developing strategies to improve soil health and strengthen the garden’s resilience to changing seasonal conditions. To get your hands in the soil and learn more, join me during one of our LOCAL Garden Volunteer Days or for an upcoming workshop!
In addition to my work at the garden, I support KELT’s Land Stewardship program by conducting fieldwork across conserved lands and easement properties. I’ll be helping to maintain and improve trails, repair and update trail infrastructure, ensure clear signage, and mark property boundaries. I assist with annual monitoring of preserves and easements, communicate with landowners, and maintain detailed stewardship records in KELT’s land management database.
Through the Restoration program, I'm excited to assist with ecological monitoring and fieldwork at tidal wetlands, streams, and salt marsh restoration sites throughout the estuary. I'll be developing a keen eye for collecting baseline and post-restoration monitoring data such as vegetation measurements. You might even see me while restoration projects are under construction, as I help document progress, communicate with contractors, and provide on-site support. I'm especially excited to participate in native plant revegetation efforts and invasive species management at restoration sites, an area that has long been a passion of mine.
Working across these programs allows me to contribute to many aspects of KELT’s mission from caring for conserved lands and restoring critical ecosystems to connecting people with conservation and local food. I collaborate closely with staff, volunteers, and community partners to help ensure that KELT’s protected landscapes remain healthy, accessible, and meaningful places for both wildlife and the community.