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V O L . X X I I I N O. X V I I J U LY 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 16 the southwest end of the island. At the time, he was surveying Maine islands for the Nature Conservancy. "I was hired by Betsy in 1979 to produce a forest management and pasture-clearing plan for Allen Island, where her husband Andrew painted models of fi shermen working the coast," Conkling says. "In 1979 the islands looked feral with overgrowth and had some squatter fi shermen living on them." He cleared 500 cords of wood and took them to Port Clyde. On the return trip he brought nature's lawnmowers, sheep, to trim back the grasses. Goats were later introduced to the island. "One of the things that makes the Wyeths so interesting as a family is, even though all their work is world-renowned, they don't have a precious bone in their body. ey are respectful of traditional uses of resources and new technologies to keep the landscapes working," Conkling says. " eir models and inspiration are people who work on the land and the sea. e Colby relationship is keeping Allen Island alive and not a museum." Special guests Unity College was the fi rst college to conduct research on the island, in 2014, and made international news doing it. Professor Emma Perry and her students discovered a new species of microscopic animal called tardigrade, or "water bears," that can survive in extreme conditions. e eight-legged creatures look like a gummy bear with an extra set of legs, Perry said when she made the discovery. e new species is named Echiniscoides wyethi after the family. Allen Island also is famous for a species of bees, Bombus borealis or the Northern Amber Bumblebee, rarely seen on the mainland. » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E Building owners and design teams may find out more about incentives and technical assistance by calling 1-866-ES-MAINE or visiting efficiencymaine.com Make energy efficiency part of your next development project. P H O T O / DAV I D C L O U G H Philip Conkling (left), founder of the Island Institute and a consulting adviser to Up East, talks to Jamie Wyeth about the conservation and research being done on Allen Island. I was hired by Betsy [Wyeth] I was hired by Betsy [Wyeth] I was hired by Betsy [Wyeth] I was hired by Betsy [Wyeth] I was hired by Betsy [Wyeth] I was hired by Betsy [Wyeth] I was hired by Betsy [Wyeth] I was hired by Betsy [Wyeth] I was hired by Betsy [Wyeth] I was hired by Betsy [Wyeth] I was hired by Betsy [Wyeth] I was hired by Betsy [Wyeth] I was hired by Betsy [Wyeth] I was hired by Betsy [Wyeth] in 1979 to produce a forest in 1979 to produce a forest in 1979 to produce a forest in 1979 to produce a forest in 1979 to produce a forest in 1979 to produce a forest in 1979 to produce a forest in 1979 to produce a forest in 1979 to produce a forest in 1979 to produce a forest in 1979 to produce a forest in 1979 to produce a forest in 1979 to produce a forest management and pasture- clearing plan for Allen Island, where her husband Andrew painted models of fishermen working the coast. — Philip Conkling Co-founder, Island Institute

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