Find a Farm
York County, Maine
Calendar
February 22: Forestry and Conservation Planning Workshop
Time: 6 pm
Location: Acton Town Hall, Acton, ME
This is your chance to sign up for technical and financial assistance for forest managment plans, conservation plans, nutrient management plans, etc. Staff will be on hand to answer program questions and assist with the sign up process. FMI call Melissa at the York County Soil & Water Conservation District office at 324-0888 ext 214.
February 25 and 26: From Farm to Table CSA Fair events in Saco and Springvale
*Saco CSA Fair, Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Saco River Winter Market from 9 am to 12 noon
*Springvale CSA Fair, Sunday, Feb. 26 at 21 Bradeen St. Anderson Learning Center, 1 pm to 3 pm
Two Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) opportunities for the public to meet their local food producers, and for farmers to share information and offer sign-ups to the public for their summer or winter shares. The events are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. The CSA Fair weekend is sponsored statewide by MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association) and in York County by the York County Farmers' Network and University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
FMI, see CSA Fair-Saco or CSA Fair-Springvale, or call UMaine Extension in York County at 324-2814 or contact rebecca.gowdy@maine.edu.
February 28: YCFN Potluck Supper Event
Topic: History of New England Agriculture, with Steve Taylor
Time: 5:30 - 8:30 pm
Location: Nasson Heritage Room, Anderson Learning Center, 21 Bradeen St., Springvale, ME
Steve Taylor, New Hampshire dairy farmer and past NH Commissioner of Agriculture will speak about "The Great Sheep Boom of the 1800's and its Impact on the Landscape of NH and Southern Maine." A UNH graduate, Steve was NH's Ag Commissioner for 25 years, retiring in 2007. He and his family operate the Taylor Brothers Sugarhouse and Creamery in the Meriden village of Plainfield, NH. In addition Steve was Plainfield's town moderator for 31 years and also served the University of New Hampshire on its Board of Trustees. He is well known for his affable personality, common-sense approach and folksy style. Steve's presentation will focus on the connections between our region's past land use history and its impact on our current farm and forest landscape.
2012 Maine Vegetable & Fruit School
March 8, Portland
March 9, Bangor
Cost: $35 for one-day school
The day-long school is offered on two dates at two locations: March 8 in Portland at Seasons Confrence Center or March 9 in Bangor at the Bangor Motor Inn. Pre-registration is required. Registration fee of $35 includes lunch. Register by February 22, 2012. Participants may receive 2 Pesticide Applicator recertification credits, and Certified Crop Advisors may earn 5 recertification credits. More information and registration form available at: http://umaine.edu/highmoor/blog/2011/12/20/vegetable-fruit-school/
Topics include:
Caterpillar Tunnel and Degradable Mulch Trials
Making Irrigation Work at Laughing Stock Farm
Soil Health Management for the Long Term
Herbicide Update for Vegetables
Crop Insurance Update
High Tunnels: State of The Art
A Virtual Visit to Pleasant Valley Gardens
Soil Testing: New Techniques, New Options to Better Know Your Soils
Spotted Wing Drosophila and Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: New Pests, Big Problems
March 10: Livestock 101 Field Day
Time: 11 am to 3 pm
Location: Witter Farm, University of Maine, Orono, ME
Cost: Free, pre-registration required
For small-scale livestock producers, 4-H project leaders and older 4-H youth, the Livestock 101 Field Day program will provide hands-on livestock methods training for people just starting out or thinking about raising livestock. Participants will learn basic techniques such as measuring livestock vital signs, body condition assessment, how manage injections, animal restraint, how to make a halter, reading a feed tag, grain & feed quality assessment, how to start or join a 4-H livestock club and bio-security for the small farm. See Livestock 101 Field Day for more information and to preregister. Questions: contact Melissa Libby, 134 Hitchner Hall, UMaine Extension, Orono, ME 04469-5735, 207-581-2788 or 1-800-287-7170 (in Maine) or Melissa.Libby1@maine.edu.
March 15: Transferring the Farm - Minimizing Farm Business Succession Risks
Time: 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Location: Governor's Restaurant, Waterville, ME
Cost: $20
Day-long workshop helps farmers make informed decisions about transferring the farm to the next generation. Covers estate planning goals and tools, legal approaches to asset transfers, and tapping into farm link programs and land trusts that can offer creative farm transfer solutions. Cost: $20. FMI, contact Gary Anderson, UMaine Cooperative Extension, 800-287-7170 (toll-free in Maine) or direct line, 207-581-3240. See Transferring the Farm brochure and registration form for more details.
March, 2012: Series of Tax Workshops for Woodland and Farmland Owners
Workshop Series throughout March - Locations vary throughout state.
Cost: Free
Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine presents a workshop series on federal income taxes and Maine's Current Use property tax programs, including Tree Growth, Open Space and Farmland use. SWOAM collaborated with the Maine Forest Service, IRS Forester Jim Norris, and the Maine Revenue Service. FMI, see Tax Workshops brochure or contact Jeanne Kannegieser of SWOAM at 207-626-0005 or jeanne@swoam.org.
March 17: Maine Grass Farmers Network Annual Grazing Conference
Time: 8 am to 4 pm
Location: Kennebec Valley Community College, Fairfield, ME
Co-sponsor: Maine Beef Producers Association
Cost: $75 first person, $25 each additional person; includes lunch. Early registration discount by March 1.
Enjoy Keynote Speaker Ben Bartlett, a dairy and livestock specialist and educator with Michigan State University Extension for 28 years, speaking on Managed Grazing Systems. Other speakers include Jim Ochterski of Cornell Extension; Sid Bosworth, forage/agronomy specialist at University of Vermont; Cole Ward, "The Gourmet Butcher" who loves to teach people about good meat; and Mike Baker, Beef Cattle Extension specialist with Cornell University. The conference is supported by UMaine Cooperative Extension, M.O.F.G.A., the Natural Resources Counservation Service, and the Maine Dept. of Agriculture. For more information and to register, see http://umaine.edu/livestock/mgfn/conference/ or call the Waldo County office of UMaine Extension at 1-800-287-1426.
March 20: YCFN Breakfast Off-the Farm
Time: 8:00 am
Location: Pat's Pizza, 505 Main St., Sanford, ME
Join the group for the third winter breakfast, thanks to the generous sponsorship of New England Organics! Pats Pizza is located at 505 Main St., approx. across from the Center for Shopping (Shaw's Plaza). Phone: 324-7500.
March 27: YCFN Potluck Supper Event
Topic: Soil Additives and Use: Keeping Soil Alive, with New England Organics
Time: 5:30 - 8:30 pm
Location: Nasson Heritage Room, Anderson Learning Center, 21 Bradeen St., Springvale, ME
March 30-31, Friday and Saturday
Blade Shearing School
Location: Maine site to be determined
Cost: $100/person, participation limited to 8 individuals.
Blade shearing is the shearing of sheep with hand shears (no electricity). This hands-on, 2-day school will equip participants with the skills and knowledge to shear sheep and in the proper use and care of hand shears. Shears are provided for the school and will be available for purchase. Sponsored by the Maine Sheep Breeders Association and University of Maine Cooperative Extension. For more information, contact UMaine Extension, Cumberland County, at 1-800-287-1471 or 207-781-6099, or email colleen.hoyt@maine.edu.
April 24: YCFN Twilight Meeting
Beekeeping in York County with the Prides
Time: 5:30
For the first Twilight meeting of the season, meet at Peggy and Brian Pride's Bee Pride Beekeeping store in Lebanon and learn about the many fascinating aspects of local beekeeping efforts. More details to follow.
Maine Compost School at Highmoor Farm, Monmouth, ME
June 18 -22 and
October 29 - November 2
Please see http://www.composting.org/ for more information and registration details.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this listing, but we recommend that you contact the individuals shown for each event to confirm dates, times, etc.
Next Upcoming YCFN Member Event is:
February 28, 5:30 - 8:30 pm
YCFN Potluck Supper and Speaker
"History of New England Agriculture" with Steve Taylor
Anderson Learning Center, basement level, 21 Bradeen Street, Springvale, ME
Please see below for more details about the program on the "Great Sheep Boom of the 1800's and its impact on the landscape of New Hampshire and southern Maine."
*YCFN member events are listed in green*
Copyright 2011 York County Farmers' Network
All rights reserved.
Website by Peterson-Bozak Design
