#StartingSeeds at Home with #UMaineExtension

Mar 3, 2021

"You can get a big jump on #Maine’s short #gardening season when you grow your own #seedlings. Instead of waiting for the ground to warm up enough to sow seeds outside, start enjoying flowers and harvesting vegetables four to six weeks earlier by starting seeds at home.

Starting your own plants from seed also allows you to choose from the much broader array of varieties offered in seed catalogs.

Using transplants instead of direct-seeding is especially important for plants that take a longer time to mature or are sensitive to frost."

Watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da1gOgjaqaM

Find more research-based information about home #gardening in Maine from UMaine Extension:
https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/

#SolarPunkSunday #GrowYourOwnFood #GrowYourOwn #GardeningInMaine #SeedStarting

#LisbonFallsME - #UMaineExtension offers #pickling and #salsa workshops at #LittleRidgeFarm

July 2, 2025

"University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering two food preservation workshops at Little Ridge Farm, 103 Gould Rd. in Lisbon Falls. Pickling and canning #DillyBeans (pickled green beans) will be held Tuesday, July 29, 2025, from 5:30 – 8 p.m. and preserving #TomatoSalsa will take place Tuesday, August 26, 2025, from 2 – 5:30 p.m.

"Participants will learn recommended methods for preserving foods, the latest and safest recipes, what equipment to use to ensure safety, and how to check for properly sealed jars. A local snack is included with the course. Attendees are encouraged to bring a potholder.

"Registration is required for the courses. The fee is $25 per workshop. Register on the program webpage. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Kate McCarty, 207.781.6099; kate.mccarty@maine.edu."

https://extension.umaine.edu/2025/07/02/pickling-and-salsa-workshops-at-little-ridge-farm/

#SolarPunkSunday #FoodPreservation #HowTo #HandsOn #FoodSafety #PreservingTheHarvest #FoodSecurity #UMaine #UMaineCooperativeExtension #Maine #Pickling #Salsa #Canning

#SustainableAgriculture research tour planned for July 16 at #UMaine farm in #OldTownME

June 30, 2025

Old Town, Maine — "University of Maine Cooperative Extension will hold its annual Sustainable Agriculture Research Tour on Wednesday, July 16 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the UMaine #RogersFarm Forage and Crop Research Facility, 914 Bennoch Rd., Old Town and the nearby #WymansWildBlueberry Research Center.

"The event is geared toward #farmers, crop advisors and others interested in #agricultural production. Faculty and staff from UMaine’s School of Food and Agriculture and #UMaineExtension will present their field research on a variety of crops. Specific topics will include #organic #NoTill dry #bean production methods, soil health demonstrations, #CimateChange effects on wild blueberries, #agroforestry and variety trials for #forage #legumes and #potatoes.

"This event is free and pre-registration is not required. Participants will receive two pesticide certification credits and 3.5 CCA credits. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. For a detailed announcement visit the event webpage.

"Rogers Farm and Wyman’s Wild Blueberry Research Center are two of several facilities across the state that comprise the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station.

"For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Thomas Molloy at thomas.molloy@maine.edu.

About University of Maine Cooperative Extension:

"As a trusted resource for over 100 years, Extension has supported UMaine’s #LandAndSeaGrant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension seeks to build thriving communities and grow the food-based economy, focusing on aspects from production and processing to nutrition, food safety and food security. Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H which offers hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and civic engagement and creates a positive environment where participants are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles."

FMI:
https://extension.umaine.edu/2025/06/30/sustainable-agriculture-research-tour-2/

#SolarPunkSunday #RegenerativeAgriculture #Sustainability #FarmingInMaine #ClimateChangeFarming

This is the workshop I took a few years ago...

Food Preservation Workshops

Ever wonder how to preserve and use all of that great locally-grown produce? University of #Maine Cooperative Extension food preservation workshops will teach you the basics of #canning and #freezing, including how to use #PressureCanners and water bath canners to preserve #pickles, #jam, and #vegetables. Workshops are taught by #UMaineExtension staff and #MasterFoodPreserver Volunteers.

Financial assistance is available; please email the UMaine Extension staff at extension.foodnutritioncumberland@maine.edu for more information.
Hands-On Preserving Workshops

Spring 2025 workshops coming soon!

Financial assistance is available for those in need; please contact UMaine Extension staff at extension.foodnutritioncumberland@maine.edu for more information.

Don’t see a workshop offered near you? Request a food preservation workshop by completing and submitting the Request a Food Preservation Workshop form.

https://extension.umaine.edu/food-health/food-preservation/hands-on-workshops/
#FoodPreservation #UMaineCooperativeExtension