280 acres of ecologically significant land in Pettengill Bog, Appleton Acquired
Midcoast Conservancy is pleased to announce the permanent protection of 280 acres of ecologically vital forestland and wetlands in the Medomak River headwaters. The property, now called Watersong, features a state-recognized unpatterned fen, a rare wetland ecosystem that supports a suite of sensitive and unique plant and animal species, a mile of frontage along both sides of Pettengill Stream, more than 100 acres of mapped wetlands, and critical habitat for inland waterfowl and wading birds.
With this acquisition, the entire lands protected by Midcoast Conservancy has reached over 16,000 acres!
Surrounded by protected areas managed by The Nature Conservancy, Georges River Land Trust, and the Maine Farmland Trust, the site sits at the intersection of a critical conservation mosaic and ranks among the highest that Midcoast Conservancy has ever evaluated in terms of aquatic quality, terrestrial quality, and terrestrial connectivity.
Midcoast Conservancy’s Land Conservation Manager Erika Presley says, “This land is remarkable for its ecological richness and natural beauty and protecting it is a significant step in safeguarding the headwaters of the Medomak River, ensuring these critical habitats remain intact for generations to come.”
This long anticipated conservation achievement is the result of sustained, thoughtful conversations, the commitment of many generous supporters who helped bring this project to fruition and the landowners vision to see this special land permanently protected.
For over 40 years, this land was loved by longtime owners, who valued both its personal meaning and wild beauty. Thanks to their commitment to conservation, it will now be permanently protected. Affectionately known as “2 Joes Porcupinia,” the property was jointly owned by close friends Joe Giordano and Joe and Marta Cardarelli. Their families spent decades together, hiking its woods, practicing sustainable forestry, and often returning to the ridge for quiet reflection and inspiration. After Joe Cardarelli's passing in 1994, Marta expressed a deep wish to see the land conserved before her death in 2024. In 2025, her family and Joe Giordano partnered with us to fulfill that wish.
Family members Juliana Cardarelli Schwartz and Joseph Cardarelli made the following statement regarding the project, “The land and the wild nature there were a hugely important source of inspiration and a place of refuge for our family. For our father particularly, it was essentially a sacred space. We are very happy that the land, and all of the living things there, will be protected.”
Joe Cardarelli, known as the “Godfather of Baltimore Poetry,” was a professor for 27 years at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and a published poet. His children picked the piece The Three Trees out of his publication “From the Maine Book” to share and have provided it via PDF which we are honored to host in his memory.
