Harwich Health Department

06/02/2026

June 1, 2026 until further notice
🗓️Shellfishing Wednesdays & Saturdays only
🚫Wychmere Harbor is closed to shellfishing
🚫Muddy Creek (both sides of Rte 28 bridge) is closed to shellfishing - the line between Pleasant Bay and Muddy Creek is marked with orange flags 🟧 and contaminated shellfish signage
🚫Due to Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxin, Pleasant Bay is closed to the
harvest of softshell clams, razor clams, and blue mussels until further notice

📳To sign up for email/text notifications, please follow the instructions for Town Notifications (https://www.harwich-ma.gov/312/Sign-Up-for-Notifications) and select “Shellfish Open/Close
Notifications for Areas Open and Closed Shellfishing.”

🛜The current shellfish notice can always be found on our shellfish website: https://www.harwich-ma.gov/1282/Shellfish-Information

06/01/2026

Sign up is now open for our next nutritious prepared meal distribution in Hyannis - next Thursday, June 4th.

If you know someone who could use a cooked meal - here's the details

Sign up via TEXT: (no phone calls please) 508-348-9777 with first name and # of meals you need.

SIGN-UP Deadline: Tuesday, June 2nd at 2PM
PICK-UP: Thursday, June 4th..
PLACE: Hyannis Youth and Community Center
TIME: 4:30 - 5:30 PM drive through format

Thanks to the many hands & volunteers putting in the work to prepare these meals.

Edible Cape Cod
CapeCod.com
Ocean 104.7
99.9 the Q
Cape Media News
American Culinary Federation Of Cape Cod

The Cape and Islands United Way

Barnstable Police School Resource Officer Unit
Mid Cape Cod Community Page
Mid-Cape Worship Center
South Shore Early Education

05/27/2026

🌿 We're bringing our Trailhead Tick Talk Pop-Up Series to Bell's Neck Conservation Area in Harwich this Friday, May 29 from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM!
Get free tick prevention tips, supplies & resources — right on the trail!

📍 Parking: West Trailhead, Depot St, Harwich — enter via dirt road between #401–484 Depot St. (look for the open gate). Follow 0.2 mi to the lot. Near the Fish Ladder!
🌧️ In case of rain, we’ll move inside the Brooks Free Library, 739 Main St, Harwich!

This event is hosted by the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment's Shared Services Division, in collaboration with the Harwich Health Department
Free & No registration needed!

Can't make it? We're at trailheads and farmer's markets across Cape Cod all summer long!
Town of Harwich

05/27/2026

🎄☀️ Christmas in July? Yes please! The Harwich Chamber is bringing a fun Summer Festival of Trees this July, featuring beautifully decorated trees, community spirit, and plenty of seasonal fun. Best of all, proceeds will benefit The People’s Fridge, helping provide food for those in need throughout our community. 🥫❤️ Stay tuned for details and be sure to check it out! 🌟🌴

05/27/2026

🐶 Harwich Animal Control presents a Kids & Dogs Workshop on Saturday, May 30th at the Harwich Community Center from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM! Kids and families will learn canine body language and important child safety tips around dogs while building safe, positive relationships with pets. 🐾

05/27/2026

🌱 Grow Native Plants 🌿
🐝 Native Plants = Happy Pollinators 🌸

With the gardening season heating up, Governor Maura Healey is set to proclaim May 29 “Growing Wild Day” in Massachusetts, coinciding with the launch of the sixth year of the Growing Wild Massachusetts initiative. Growing Wild Massachusetts encourages residents to plant native plants, whether in a flowerpot or a full garden, to protect biodiversity and strengthen our ecosystems.

To help spur action across the Commonwealth, free Growing Wild starter kits (which include 2 one-gallon native plants and a seed packet) will be available at 21 nurseries, including Mahoney's Garden Centers and Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Falmouth, starting May 29, and on select dates throughout June at DCR locations.

All residents are encouraged to Pledge Their Garden online – whether they planted native from a Growing Wild starter kit or on their own – to see the power of collective impact. Visit https://mnla.com/pollinator/growingwild/ for more info.
Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival

05/26/2026

Thank you Food4Kidscapecod for supporting us in Harwich!

As one of 55 organizations hosting Summer Eats meal sites to help feed kids over the summer months, we are proud to receive $15,560 in state funding from the Healy-Driscoll administration.

Thanks to the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Project Bread for being supportive partners in feeding hungry kids on the Lower and Outer Cape.

https://mailchi.mp/doe.mass.edu/press-release-healey-driscoll-administration-awards-535000-in-summer-child-nutrition-grants?e=17479e985c

05/22/2026

🇺🇸 Happy Memorial Day ❤️🤍💙 Cookout season is here! 🍔

Whether it’s steaks, burgers, or chicken, the only way to guarantee safety is by checking internal temperatures – always! Learn more: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/safe-temperature-chart

05/21/2026

Print out this handy Companion Planting Chart and keep it with your seeds! 🥒 Companion planting is a simple way to grow a healthier, more productive garden—all naturally.

For example, plant dill with tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, as well as with cabbages and other brassicas. Keep it away from cilantro, which it will cross-pollinate with. Dill also works well as a trap crop for tomato hornworms and aphids 🪲

Learn more about companion planting (and why it's worth your time!) at Almanac.com/planning-companion-planting-garden

05/18/2026

It was a lovely day at the Garden Expo over the weekend! 🌱🌹🪴