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Your Monthly News & Updates
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October is the month to...
By Cathryn Kloetzli, Extension Professional in Agriculture and Food Systems, UMaine Extension Oxford County; and Trisha Smith, Community Education Assistant (Home Horticulture), Piscataquis County
Take your ghouls and goblins out for a day at the farm! Explore pumpkin patches, take a hayride, get lost in a corn maze or see if you can make it through a haunted house! Search this directory for even more options.
Plant garlic and spring-flowering bulbs! Planting garlic through October allows the garlic cloves time to establish their roots before winter sets in. This gives them the ability to shoot ahead and grow well during next year's growing season, providing you with an ample harvest.
Enjoy apple season! Visit an apple orchard, where you may even pick your own. Check out recipes and instructions on how to make various fruit pie fillings and homemade cider. Fun facts: About 36 apples go into making one gallon of apple cider and 2 lbs. of apples make one 9-inch pie.
Plan that new garden bed for next year. If you are considering a new garden space for next year now is the time clean that area out and do some sheet mulching or lasagna gardening to prepare the bed for planting in the spring. For more information, see
Sheet Mulch - Lasagna Composting (PDF) from Oregon State University.
Extend your growing season by protecting hardy plants from a hard freeze. Succession planting, row covers, and mulch can keep you in fresh vegetables longer in the fall and earlier in the spring.
Read more.
Do a soil test. If the results indicate the need for lime and manure additions, fall is a great time to apply those amendments. For more information on soil testing, see
Bulletin #2286, Testing Your Soil.
Dig up bulbs that are not winter hardy like cannas, gladiolus, and dahlias after the foliage dies back.
Store bulbs properly for years of enjoyment.
Be aware of the threat of ticks. October and November are peak months for adult deer tick activity. Learn more about ticks at
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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
- October 7-8- Living History Days, Maine Forest and Logging Museum. Reenactors showcasing livestock, demonstrations, & sawmills. Fresh pressed cider, bean hole beans & biscuits and soup. 10 - 4. Adults $10, Children $5. 686 Government Road, Bradley.
- October 7-Mushroom Identification and Walk, Hirundo Wildlife Refuge, Old Town. 10-2. Members $10, non-members $15. Click for more information and to buy tickets.
- October 7-Maine Herbalists Gathering, Thorndike. 8am-6:30 pm. Find details and tickets here.
- October 7-Lincoln Harvest Moon Festival, Lincoln. 8:30 am-7:30 pm. Click for more information and schedule of events.
- October 11-Greater Bangor Beet Off, Central Street Farmhouse, Bangor. 5-7. A casual competition of foods and beverages featuring beets. Free.
- October 12-Guided Boundary Hike of Fields Pond property, Fields Pond Audubon Center, Holden. 9 am. Free, but please preregister. Contact: Cyndi Kuhn - (207) 989-2591
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- October 15- Maine Cheese Festival, Savage Oakes Vineyard & Winery, 175 Barrett Hill Road, Union. 11-5.
- October 17-18-Wabanki Climate Conference, Buchanan Alumni House, Orono. Learn more here.
- October 20-21-4th Annual Maine Hunger Dialogue, University of Maine Presque Isle. The Maine Hunger Dialogue is looking for college students motivated to take action to alleviate hunger and food insecurity experienced by millions of people around the world, and thousands in Maine. $35, includes meals. Register by October 10.
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Photo by Kathleen McNearny
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Cephalanthus occidentalis (Common Buttonbush)
By By Kathleen McNearny, Home Horticultural Coordinator, UMaine Extension Cumberland County
Ode to Cephalanthus and Seuss
I am a globular ball
I am not shy at all
Above long stalks I tower
I am a Dr. Seuss-like flower
To my many white flowers pollinators come
Native bees and butterflies to name some
The honey made from my nectar is sweet
It does not at all smell like feet
My glossy green leaves
Are eager to please
Larvae of Sphinx moths will feed on me
It is quite plain - you see
I am useful indeed
I am a Buttonbush and happy to be!
Read more about Common Buttonbush
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Fir Tip and Wreath Season
Compiled by Donna Coffin, Extension Educator, UMaine Extension Piscataquis County
November brings cold weather and an opportunity for farmers who have balsam fir growing on their property to add a little to their farm income. Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties have a number of Christmas tree producers who are looking for brush or balsam fir tree tips for their wreath making operations. If you plan to sell to these folks, it is best to contact them and ask what type of brush they need and how they would like it delivered. Tip gatherers, who plan to collect tips from land that is not their own, must receive permission to use private land whether you intend to sell the tips or use them for making your own wreaths.
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Three proud Passport participants
photo by Trisha Smith
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Piscataquis Passport Project
By Trisha Smith, Community Education Assistant (Home Horitculture), UMaine Extension Piscataquis County
The Piscataquis Passport Project evolved from a "Market Kids" 4-H program in Penobscot County. Its purpose was to increase participation in Free Summer Meals, encourage kids to visit the library and farmers' market, and help in the school garden. Planning began in January when Piscataquis Healthy Food for All coordinated meetings with Maine Department of Education, food service directors and managers, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, and other interested community members.
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MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEERS-PLEASE REPORT YOUR HOURS for the 2016-2017 SEASON! Remember our reporting year is Oct 1-Sept 30.
Check in with the MGV coordinator in your county, especially if you have trouble accessing online forms. We appreciate all you do!
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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Photo by Edwin Remsburg |
By Kathy Savoie, MS, RD, Extension Educator, UMaine Extension Cumberland County
With frost on the pumpkin, many home food preservers are storing canning equipment until spring. Before packing up and forgetting about those items that served you so well this past preserving season, take time to give them a little tender loving care! You will be so glad you did next year when you see those first signs of vegetables in the garden and fruits beginning to ripen.
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Volunteer and Employment Opportunities
Kids are back in school! There is always a need for quality after school activities. 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 report using Harvest for Hunger's
online form or give your county Extension office a call. We love to document how generous Maine gardeners are!
University of Maine Cooperative Extension has employment opportunities across the state. Find the list
here.
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Adult and nymph deer ticks. Photo by Griffin Dill
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Be Tick Smart to Prevent Tickborne Diseases
Limiting exposure to ticks reduces the likelihood of any tick-born disease infection. In persons exposed to tick-infested habitats, prompt careful inspection and removal of crawling or attached ticks is an important method of preventing disease. It may take several hours of attachment before microorganisms are transmitted from the tick to the host.
It is unreasonable to assume that a person can completely eliminate activities that may result in tick exposure. Therefore, prevention measures should be aimed at personal protection:
- Wear light-colored clothing -- this will allow you to see ticks that are crawling on your clothing
- Tuck your pants legs into your socks so that ticks cannot crawl up the inside of your pants legs.
- Apply repellants to discourage tick attachment. Repellents containing permethrin can be sprayed on boots and clothing, and will last for several days. Repellents containing DEET ( n, n-diethyl- m-toluamide) can be applied to the skin, but will last only a few hours before reapplication is necessary. Use DEET with caution on children because adverse reactions have been reported.
Conduct a body check upon return from potentially tick-infested areas by searching your entire body for ticks. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Remove any tick you find on your body.
Read more
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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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