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Your Monthly News & Updates
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April is the month to...
By Trisha Smith, Community Education Assistant (Home Horticulture), Piscataquis County
Get outside and see the earth wake up from winter! Sign up to be a citizen scientist through Signs of the Season: A New England Phenology Program
Choose one or more plant or animal species to observe throughout the year and report what you see. You will help generate data that informs scientific discovery and guides decision-making. Makes a great bonding activity with a loved one!
Make your own seeding media using equal parts peat moss and vermiculite or perlite. Seeds contain the nutrition necessary for the first stage of growth and do not need fertilizers. Find more information in UMaine Extension's Starting Seeds at Home. Get growing in earnest! Crops that can be direct-seeded in the garden as soon as soil can be worked include peas, beets, and spinach. Start long-season veggies such as brassicas and tomatoes inside under lights. Check out Johnny's Seed-Starting Date Calculator and succession planting spreadsheet, among other handy planning tools. Divide summer and fall-blooming perennials once the ground has thawed and plants begin to emerge. Water stress is the biggest enemy of newly planted or divided perennials; be prepared to supplement if we have a dry spring. See Cornell Extension's Dividing Perennials publication for more details. Learn more about white grubs and Japanese beetles (see Research Before You React When It Comes to Grubs Damaging Your Lawn, or UMaine Extension's Bulletin #5037 Japanese Beetles). If you didn't notice brown patches in your lawn last fall, you might now. The best springtime treatment for grubs is skunks and crows; the pupae at this stage are resistant to pesticides. Clean and disinfect all containers you've saved and plan to re-use. Unsightly mineral deposits (the white ring around the top and/or bottom of a pot) have a harmful effect on soil and plant health and accumulated debris may be harboring pathogens. Refer to Cleaning and Disinfecting Plant Containers from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach for detailed instructions. Review your landscape plan to be sure you haven't planned to plant non-native invasive species. As of January 1, Maine has prohibited sale of 33 species (and their cultivars), including such popular landscape staples as Norway maple (Acer platanoides) and burning bush (Euonymous alatus). To find information about native alternatives, and what to do if you have non-native invasive plants in your landscape, consult Bulletin #2500 Gardening to Conserve Maine's Native Landscape: Plants to Use and Plants to Avoid.
Sign up for Adult Education opportunities! UMaine Extension, county Soil and Water Conservation Districts, MOFGA, and other organizations offer spring workshops and classes to have you prepared for spring! maineadulted.org is a good place to start to find courses offered in your area and online.
Get in on a summer CSA! Search MOFGA's Maine CSA Directory for a nearby farm participating in Community Supported Agriculture. In exchange for your investment early in the year, you will receive an array of the farm's products during the growing and harvesting season. It's the next best thing to growing your own!
Keep Maine-based nurseries and seed companies in mind when you shop for plants and seeds for your garden and landscape. Fedco ("cold-hardy selections especially adapted to our demanding Northeast climate"), Johnny's Selected Seeds ("employee-owned seed producer and merchant headquartered in Winslow, ME"), Pinetree Garden Seeds ("founded with the simple mission of offering low prices on quality seeds to the home gardener"), Allen, Sterling, & Lothrup ("Maine's oldest seed company"), Wood Prairie Family Farm ("farm-direct and organic"), The Maine Potato Lady ("organic seed potatoes, fingerlings, onion sets, shallots, and garlic"). These companies have all signed the "Safe Seed Pledge;" they do not knowingly sell GMO seed.
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Upcoming Events and Activities-
Do you know of a class, activity, or event that may interest gardeners in Piscataquis, Penobscot, or Somerset Counties? Please forward information to trisha.smith1@maine.edu for possible inclusion in our next newsletter.
Check UMaine Extension's calendar for educational opportunities all over the state
- April 6-Native Plant Performers:Significant and Beautiful Alternatives. Coastal Maine Botanic Gardens, Boothbay. 9a-3p. $60. Register here.
- April 7-MOFGA's Organic Orcharding Workshop: Grafting Fruit Trees. Common Ground Education Center, Unity. 10-3. Grafting knife, pre-registration and payment are required.
- April 12-Smoked Chicken Dinner with Other Local Fare, Passadumkeag Town Office, Passadumkeag. 6-9 pm. $10.
- April 15-Seed Bombs for Earth Day. Temple of the Feminine Divine, Bangor. 3-5 pm. $10 suggested donation.
- April 20-22-Bangor Flower and Garden Show, Alfond Arena, University of Maine campus. 10-6 Friday and Saturday, 10-4 Sunday. $10 admission, 12 and under (with adultsupervision) free.
- April 21-Permaculture Class, McKay Farm and Research Station, Thorndike, 2:30-3:30 pm. $6.
- April 25- Backyard Composting, Nokomis Regional High School, Newport. 6-8 pm. $12.
- May 2- Slow Money Maine Goes On the Road. KVCC campus, Fairfield. 8:30am-12:30pm. Tour local food producers and locally-sourced lunch. $20.
- May 4-5-Fedco Tree Sale. Fedco Warehouse, Clinton. 9-3 each day.
- May 5-6-First session of Maine Permaculture Design Course, 5-weekend format. See The Resilience Hub FMI and to register.
- May 12-Bird Walk at the Law Farm with Bob Duchesne, Lee Cemetery Rd., Dover-Foxcroft. 8-10 am. Free.
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2018 Spring Gardening Workshops
UMaine Extension Penobscot will be offering a
"Gardening Short Course"
this spring. These classes are presented by Kate Garland, University of Maine Horticulturalist, and cover the basics of soil, plants and pests. Register for just one workshop or as many as you like. The series will be taught at UMaine Penobscot's office on Wednesday mornings (9:30-11:30). Some evening sessions will also be available through Adult Education in Bangor, Lincoln, Newport, and Orono.
Class Descriptions:
Building Better Soils- Healthy soil is the foundation for gardening success. Workshop participants will learn the best methods for analyzing soil quality and how to add amendments (fertilizer, compost, etc.) to optimize plant growth.
Pest Management for the Home Gardener- Japanese beetles, slugs, squash bugs, powdery mildew, blight, grubs . . . gardening joy can come hand-in-hand with gardening woes. This workshop will help you develop a non-chemical strategy for managing some of the common pests we encounter in Maine gardens.
Botany for Gardeners- This hands-on workshop will give gardeners a new perspective on the life in their landscape and some helpful tools to better understand how our gardening techniques impact how well plants grow. Participants will also receive an introduction to plant ID and plant anatomy.
Succession Planting- Learn how to get the most production out of your vegetable garden space by planting multiple crops in the same area throughout the growing season. Participants will leave this workshop with ideas on how to make the most of their valuable garden real estate.
Starting Seeds Indoors- This hands-on workshop will be a chance for home gardeners to review best practices for starting vegetable and ornamental seedlings indoors. Participants will have the opportunity to sow seeds to bring home and nurture.
Schedule:
Starting Seeds Indoors
UMaine Extension Penobscot 3/21
Newport Adult Education 3/28
Botany for Gardeners
UMaine Extension Penobscot 4/4
Orono Adult Education 5/2
Succession Planting
UMaine Extension Penobscot 4/11
Newport Adult Education 4/17
Pest Management
UMaine Extension Penobscot 4/18
Bangor Adult Education 4/26
Orono Adult Education 5/23
Newport Adult Education 5/31
Building Better Soils
UMaine Extension Penobscot 4/25
Lincoln Adult Education 4/12
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Getting Your Garden Tools Ready for the Season
By Richard Brzozowski, Program Administrator, UMaine Extension and Dr. Shawn Ehlers, National AgrAbility Project, Purdue University
Having the right tools are important for successful gardening with less physical strain. Without tools, we'd have to depend upon our hands and our mind. Gardening without tools would not be impossible, but it sure would be difficult!
Some of the most common gardening hand tools include:
- Tools for soil preparation, hand cultivation or weed control/prevention:
- Long-handled tools such as a shovel, spade, garden fork, hoe, and rake
- Short-handled tools such as a trowel, hand cultivator, hand tiller, hand rake, hand hoe, and wire weeder
- Hand tools for plant maintenance:
- Hand shears/pruners
- Loppers
- Gardening knife (hor-hori)
- Tools for planting:
- Wooden dibble
- Transplanter trowel
Like any tool, garden tools need to be maintained properly to get their optimum usage. A broken, weakened or dull tool might be used, but its full benefit is lacking. Plus, a tool not "up to snuff" could be a safety hazard.
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Finding Gardening-Life Balance
By Katherine Garland, Horticulturist, UMaine Extension Penobscot County
Our home garden was AWFUL last year. The only things I grew were weeds, a big bel
ly, and a sweet baby girl who arrived in December. Being pregnant through the entire growing season, chasing around our energetic three year old and keeping up with work projects left little to no energy for the level of home gardening that I used to consider photo-worthy. I forced myself to take a picture of the sad mess last October so I could hopefully compare it someday to the productive and pristine garden that's in my future . . . probably a LONG time from now. I reveal my horticultural tragedy and subsequent plans to recover from it to serve as both solace and inspiration for those of you who might also be struggling with limited time, energy, and focus. It happens to everyone at some point in their life. In some cases for sad or challenging-or heck, just mundane everyday life-and some for very happy reasons, as is the case here.
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Volunteering with UMaine Cooperative Extension
Volunteers are essential to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension achieving its mission to bring University research to people in our communities. Master Gardener Volunteers, 4-H Leaders and advisors, and County Extension Associations are some ways to get involved. Orientation and required trainings are available online. Explore the
Cooperative Extension Volunteers
page and/or contact your County office to indicate your interest.
Penobscot County
307 Maine Avenue
Bangor, ME 04401-4331
Phone: 207.942.7396 or 800.287.1485 (in Maine)
Piscataquis County
165 East Main Street
Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426
Phone: 207.564.3301 or 800.287.1491 (in Maine)
Somerset County
7 County Drive
Skowhegan, ME 04976-4209
Phone: 207.474.9622 or 800.287.1495 (in Maine)
Signs of the Seasons
Hundreds of volunteers are trained to observe and record the phenology (seasonal changes) of common plants and animals living in their own communities - a citizen science project that fills a gap in regional climate research. Volunteers across Maine and now New Hampshire record the growth of milkweed, the nesting of robins, and more. The goal is to build a rich, detailed record of the region's seasonal turns, a resource too costly to build without a network of citizen volunteers. The collected data are made available to our collaborating scientists and resource managers.
2018 Training Dates
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MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEERS
Master Gardener Volunteers: It's important that our county, state, and federal funders know about your efforts and impact in our communities. Choose the link to the online form for the county where you were trained (unless you have made other arrangements):
Somerset
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2017 One Tomato Distribution
By Donna Coffin, Extension Professor, UMaine Cooperative Extension Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties
To try to encourage more people to grow their own vegetables, UMaine Extension Piscataquis County Executive Committee adopted the
One Tomato
project.
In 2017, we added 432 folks to the list of people who received a tomato seedling, for a total of 1,274 people who have participated in
One Tomato in the four years we have been doing it. In the first three years, a total of 120 plants were also given to a prison garden that provides food for the food cupboards, resulting in 1,394 plants distributed over four years. We offered three different varieties: Jasper (red), Sungold (orange) and Esterina (yellow.) Participants were given factsheets on container gardening, could sign up for a newsletter, or view Facebook postings.
Learn more about One Tomato's success
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Food & Nutrition:
Using Fresh Herbs in Cooking
By Kate Yerxa, MS, RD, Associate Extension Professor, UMaine Extension Penobscot County
Adding flavors to meals with fresh herbs is a great way to cut down on added sugar, salt and fat. While the recommendation to use herbs in cooking seems simple, there are a few questions that are commonly asked about the best way to use fresh herbs.
How do I store fresh herbs?
Fresh herbs should be stored in an open, perforated plastic bag in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. Herbs can last approximately 2-3 days this way in the refrigerator.
Do I need to wash fresh herbs?
Yes, fresh herbs need to be washed, but you should wait and wash them just before you are going to use them.
- Wash fresh herbs under running water, shake dry (or use a salad spinner) and pat off any extra water with a clean towel.
When do I add fresh herbs to a recipe?
- Add more delicate herbs 1-2 minutes before the end of the cooking time or add them as a garnish before the dish is served. Delicate herbs include: basil, chives, cilantro, dill leaves, parsley and mint.
- Add less delicate herbs (oregano, rosemary and thyme) during the last 20 minutes of cooking.
How do I substitute dried herbs with fresh herbs in a recipe?
The rule of thumb when substituting fresh herbs for dried herbs in a recipe is to use three times as much of the fresh herbs as you would use of the dried herbs.
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Volunteer and Employment Opportunities
There is always a need for quality activities for kids. 4-H is a great way to share your interests and skills with the younger generation. If you're interested in working with youth, consider becoming a 4-H volunteer leader. Learn more about 4-H here, and find out what it takes to be a volunteer.
County Extension Association Executive Committees are crucial to the success of Extension in our communities. In partnership with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension staff, the Executive Committee of each County Extension Association assists with providing input on local educational programming needs, helps hire staff, and oversees the county budget appropriations that support educational Extension programs for county residents.
Read more here, and contact
your county's Cooperative Extension office.
Citizen scientists are needed by the Maine Wild Leek Project to document the distribution of wild leeks in Maine. To log locations of wild leeks, please use
this form. Information on location of wild leeks is confidential and will not be distributed.
Read more here
Shared Earthly Blessings community garden in Dexter welcomes volunteers. Produce is grown, harvested, packed, and delivered to local seniors. For more information call John Gornall at 207.924.5232.
University of Maine Cooperative Extension has employment opportunities across the state. Find the list
here.
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The Maine Food System, What's That?
University of Maine Cooperative Extension helps support, sustain, and grow the $3.9 billion food-based economy in Maine. We are the only entity in our state that touches every aspect of the Maine Food System, where policy, research, production, processing, commerce, nutrition, and food security and safety are integral and interrelated. Read more here.
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| Graphic by Michael Mendoza |
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If you eat, you are part of the Maine Food System!
You may also be growing food for yourself and/or others, supporting farmers' markets and CSAs, volunteering at food cupboards, community meals, or soup kitchens. If you aren't, we're trying to make it easier for you to get involved.
Organizations that address food insecurity with distributions of free food and meals exist in most communities. Many welcome volunteers as well as donations of food, including fresh garden produce in season. Access to refrigeration and timing of food distributions can limit an organization's ability to accept donations. It is best to contact them first. With this in mind, we aim to provide a comprehensive list of these organizations. Please do not hesitate to email trisha.smith1@maine.edu with additional or corrected information.
The Maine Food Atlas is an interactive mapping project created by the Maine Network of Community Food Councils and the Center for Community GIS. Explore or even contribute-The Maine Food Atlas relies on individuals to submit and update listings.
Click here to see a list of organizations tackling food insecurity in Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Somerset Counties.
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Organizations of Interest
Click the links to learn more, find a chapter near you, and get involved.
The Garden Club Federation of Maine National Garden Clubs, Inc. provides education, resources and national networking opportunities for its members, to promote the love of gardening, floral design, civic and environmental responsibility.
Good Shepherd Food Bank In addition to distributing food to Mainers in need, the Food Bank is leading a statewide effort to combat the root causes of hunger by engaging in advocacy, nutrition education, and strategic partnerships. Good Shepherd welcomes you to join in this effort.
Hirundo Wildlife Refuge is a 2,400 acre nature preserve spanning Pushaw and Dead Streams, Lac d'Or, vast wetlands (including a gently raised bog),
Silver Maple Floodplain Forest, mixed hardwood and evergreen forests. Accessible by canoe and trails.
Maine Audubon is a member-based organization that engages people in conservation, education and advocacy to advance wildlife and wildlife habitat conservation in Maine.
Maine Federation of Farmers' Markets' mission is to cultivate a vibrant, sustainable farmers' market community as a vital part of Maine's local food network. The Federation works with farmers, consumers, and communities to make wholesome, locally-grown foods available to all residents, to educate consumers about food resources, and to support farm viability.
Maine Gleaning Network
A collaborative farm surplus rescue effort gathering crops from Maine's fields and engaging communities in resourceful and equitable food system activities
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Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) The purpose of the Association is to help farmers and gardeners: grow organic food, fiber and other crops; protect the environment; recycle natural resources; increase local food production; support rural communities; and illuminate for consumers the connection between healthful food and environmentally sound farming practices.
Maine State Beekeepers Association
Northern Penobscot County Beekepers Association
The Grange provides opportunities for individuals and families to develop to their highest potential in order to build stronger communities and states, as well as a stronger nation.
To inquire about finding a nearby Grange, contact Walter Boomsma at
grange@boomsmaonline.com
Transition Towns The Transition Movement is comprised of vibrant, grassroots community initiatives that seek to build community resilience in the face of such challenges as peak oil, climate change and the economic crisis. Transition Initiatives differentiate themselves from other sustainability and "environmental" groups by seeking to mitigate these converging global crises by engaging their communities in home-grown, citizen-led education, action, and multi-stakeholder planning to increase local self reliance and resilience.
Transition Skowhegan meets every 1st Thursday at 6 pm, Skowhegan Public Library.
Contact Iver Lofving 474-7370 or Jason Tessier 474-4380
Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT) meets every first Friday at 6 pm, Abbott Memorial Library, Dexter. Contact Sam Brown 277-4221 or email info@ddatt.org
Wild Seed Project works to increase the use of [Maine] native plants in all landscape settings in order to conserve biodiversity, encourage plant adaption in the face of climate change, safeguard wildlife habitat, and create pollination and migration corridors for insects and birds. Check out their
Native Plant Blog.
Maine Agriculture in the Classroom promotes the understanding of agriculture and natural resources among students, educators, and the general public. Curricula and resources for educators and others working with young people. Check out newsletters and/or subscribe
here.
Maine Farm to School Network supports the rapidly spreading farm to school movement in Maine. This network knits together a wide diversity of students, teachers, school nutritionists, parents, farmers and groups who support child nutrition and Maine agriculture.
Search their resource database,
join the network.
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Mission
University of Maine Cooperative Extension is the major educational outreach program of the University of Maine with offices statewide. UMaine Extension provides Maine people with research-based educational programs to help them live fuller, more productive lives.
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Quick Links
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Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms.
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Contributors
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
The goal of the Central Maine Gardening Newsletter is to connect gardeners with resources and events that encourage and inform.
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he University of Maine does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, including transgender status and gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director, Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, 207.581.1226.
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Open Monday - Friday
8 am to 4:30 pm
307 Maine Ave. Bangor, ME 04401 207-942-7396 or 800-287-1485
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Open Monday, Thursday, Friday
8 am to 4:30 pm,
Open By-chance on Wednesday
, Closed Tuesday
165 East Main St. Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 207-564-3301 or 800-287-1491
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Open Monday - Friday
8 am to 4:30 pm
7 County Drive Skowhegan, ME 04976-3117 Phone: 207.474.9622 or 800.287.1495 (in Maine)
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