Fairy Houses come to Retirement Community!
(Photos from event)

In the sleepy seaside community of Falmouth, Maine, there is a buzz of activity - fairy houses building activity, that is! June 24th will see the official opening of a “Fairy Houses Village” within Ocean View Retirement Community, where residents will be able to share this creative activity with visiting grandchildren and families.

“What are Fairy Houses?” They are small habitats made from pieces of nature, for the fairies to visit. Constructed with fallen twigs, leaves, bark, shells, and other available materials, fairy houses vary from large to very small and from the subtle to the sublime. Each house offers a wonderfully unique place for a tired fairy to rest. The rules are simple - do not use artificial materials, and do not harm living things.

You build a house …. then wait. Chances are high that you will see Nature’s visitors first -grasshoppers, squirrels, frogs, chipmunks, etc.. The sheer fun of observing these friendly visitors to your special house conveys the magic of nature’s daily wonders. These are the subtle messages conveyed to children when building fairy houses. Observe, be patient, and you will see a wonderful world dimension that is there every day, if you take the time to look. Of course, the fairies can come, and that’s where the imagination is left to soar. Did I imagine a fairy? Do they live in-between the things that we see? Parents are applauding their child’s responses, seeing them engage so positively with nature, the environment, friends, and family.

What a wonderful activity this is when vacationing, camping, or hiking. Children can enjoy building fairy houses almost anytime, and in all seasons. No wonder these whimsical structures are popping up everywhere - meadows, city parks, woods, beaches, and especially in backyards!

Families have been building fairy houses on islands off the coast of Maine for decades. Interest in this phenomenon has been aroused lately due to the release of “The Fairy House Series” of children’s picture books and video, inspired, written and illustrated by Tracy Kane. “Connecting Kids and Nature …. with a pinch of Fairy magic!” is the motto. “The real goal of the series,” says Kane, “is encouraging children to discover the daily wonders of the natural world.”

Two years ago, inspired by The Fairy Houses Series, community members of the Town of Falmouth in cooperation with the Baxter School for the Deaf and the Department of Conservation's Bureau of Parks and Land officially dedicated an area of parks land to a "Fairy Houses Village." This inspiring action has benefited the community with a permanent area on beautiful Mackworth Island for the recreation of building fairy houses!

Kane is a resident of New Hampshire, and discovered fairy houses when vacationing on Monhegan Island. “I was captivated by partnering with nature to create these unpretentious habitats. It was the combination of ingredients an artist finds irresistible - creativity, nature ... and a pinch of fairy magic!”

Gardeners and environmentalists are big fans of Fairy Houses. The “fairy village” theme opens up all kinds of ideas. Kane has done workshops at Garden Clubs, Horticultural Societies, Audubon Centers, as well as many Schools and Libraries throughout New England.

The combination of a fun activity, learning, creating, and of course imagining who your fairy house visitors will be, has proven irresistible. Give it a try with your family. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself rolling up your sleeves and catching the fairy houses building bug!