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Your Monthly News & Updates
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December is the month to...
Trisha Smith, Community Education Assistant (Home Horticulture), Piscataquis County
Start your holiday shopping at the farmers' market! Many markets move to indoor locations for the colder months. Besides local ingredients for your holiday cooking, you are likely to find other handmade items appropriate for gift-giving. Find a winter farmers' market near you.
Be sure you're storing vegetables properly. Temperature and humidity greatly affect the length of time you can enjoy your harvest. Learn more about storage conditions and even find plans for a basement vegetable storage room here!
Plant hardy native flower seeds! Many native plant seeds need the cold winter to break dormancy. Follow the Wild Seed Project's simple instructions here. Seeds can be found at Wild Seed Project Shop.
Start thinking about next year's garden! We are fortunate to have some great seed companies right here in Maine: 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
- November 17-December 31- Gardens Aglow Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay Harbor. Thursdays-Sundays, 4-9 pm. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Visit during the Boothbay Festival of Lights and make a day of it!
- December 8-9-Millinocket Marathon and a Half Race begins at 10 am December 9, events throughout town on both days.
- December 9-Maine Indian Basketmakers Holiday Market Demonstrations by Maine Indian Basket Makers Alliance artists, plus singing, drumming, and dancing! Hudson Museum, Collins Center for the Arts, University of Maine campus, Orono. 9-3.
- December 13- Cold Moon Evening Hike at Fields Pond Fields Pond Audubon Center, Holden. 4-5:30 pm. Snowshoes available for those without their own. Members $8 adult/$6 children, non-members $10/$8. Kids under 5 free.
- December 14-Recipe to Market-Is it for ME?
Workshop introduces participants to important topics an aspiring entrepreneur needs to consider before starting a food business. Piscataquis Extension Office, Dover-Foxcroft. 9am-noon. Pre-registration required (follow link above). Piscataquis residents free, all others $10.
- December 14-Food Fight:Resisting Capitalism and Profit in Our Food System Join the discussion and share ideas of how we can break out of a profit-driven model of food production. Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine, Bangor. 6-8.
- December 16-Dahlia group ordering and potluck, Maine Dahlia Society. See the Facebook event page for RSVP (by December 10) info.
- December 16- Christmas Mushrooms with Greg Marley. Camden Public Library, 1-3. Learn about mushrooms and their connection to the Yuletide season.
- January 9-11-Maine Agricultural Trades Show. Augusta Civic Center. Free admission.
- January 11-Maine Federation of Farmers' Markets Convention. Augusta Civic Center, 8-4. Pre-registration required.
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| From "Toolbox Talks" developed by Washington University in St. Louis |
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Good Tools to Enable Gardeners
By Trisha Smith, Community Education Assistant (Home Horticulture), Piscataquis County
Often when we speak of "enabling" someone, we mean it negatively, but not when it comes to gardeners! Universal Design (UD) is the concept that "all environments and products to the greatest extent possible, are usable by everyone regardless of their age, ability, or circumstance." (
The Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University
) Applying UD to gardening includes, but is not limited to making pathways suitable for people using wheelchairs and other mobility aids, providing Braille signage, and designing tools scaled to the size and abilities of users. Since this is the time of year for gift giving, this article will focus on tools you might want to give to a gardening friend or consider for your own wish list to make gardening more approachable and fun.
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Overwintering a Cranberry Plant
Cranberry plants have become a popular alternative Thanksgiving centerpiece. Cranberries are native to Maine, and do not require a bog to thrive. If you have been fortunate enough to receive one, you may be surprised to learn how simple it is to save it for planting in spring.
Keep watering til Christmas, and wait until the end December to store the plant. To overwinter the plant, remove the plant from the decorative container, water the plant rootball thoroughly and place the plant in a sealed plastic bag. Store the plant in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator or other location where the temperature will remain from 20 to 38 F. If this is not an option, keep the plastic bagged plant in a cool cellar area or outside in the barn, out of sunlight. The plant will remain dormant for the winter in this state and will get the chilling requirement to be able to flower and fruit the next year. Without the chilling, it will only grow shoots the following season. Plant outdoors
in the spring, following instructions found
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)
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GARDENING and GLEANING VOLUNTEERS
Thank you for a great 2016-2017 season!
Gleaners and gardeners in Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Somerset counties donated
55,745 pounds of fresh produce through
Maine Harvest for Hunger! Commercial growers may be interested in
Mainers Feeding Mainers, a program of Good Shepherd Food Bank.
Thirty-nine new Master Gardener Volunteers were trained in Penobscot County in 2017! MGVs in Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Somerset Counties devoted 10,775 hours of their time to
projects that educate the public and/or address food insecurity in our region. Master Gardener Volunteers are expected to volunteer 40 hours of their time within the first year of their training, and 10 or more hours per year subsequently. MGVs are a wonderful resource in our communities!
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):
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Food & Nutrition: Quick and Easy Eat Well Recipe
Baked Oatmeal Breakfast
Ingredients
2 cups dry oatmeal (old fashioned or
quick)
¼ cup brown sugar
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1½ cups skim or 1% milk
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
½ cup chopped walnuts
(optional)*
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the oatmeal, brown sugar, blueberries,
baking powder, and cinnamon (and walnuts if you choose to add
them).
3. In a medium bowl, combine the milk, applesauce, egg, and oil. Mix
well with a fork or whisk.
4. Add the milk mixture to the oatmeal mixture and stir well.
5. Pour into a greased 8-inch square baking dish.
6. Bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes. Serve warm.
*Adding ½ cup chopped walnuts adds 34 calories and 4.8 grams of fat to
each ½ cup serving.
Makes 8 Servings Serving Size: ½ cup
Cost per Recipe: $1.54 Cost per Serving: $0.19 (without walnuts)
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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.
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.
Maine Harvest for Hunger-When you donate your fresh produce to a food cupboard, soup kitchen, shelter, school, or needy neighbor, please give your county Extension office a call. Documenting how generous Maine gardeners are is what we live for!
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 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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