#mofga — Public Fediverse posts

#MOFGA Webinar - #FruitTree Q&A

May 13 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Free

"Are you taking care of fruit trees, or looking to plant some this season? Have your fruit tree questions answered by MOFGA’s Orchard Manager, C.J. Walke!

As with our Gardening Q&A’s, this online Q&A session is an informal chance to ask questions and connect with fellow backyard growers about fruit tree topics such as varieties, pest management, soil health, and more. Questions about berries (shrubs, canes, etc.) are also welcome."

FMI and to register:
https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/fruit-tree-qa/

#SolarPunkSunday #OrganicGardening #MaineGardening #FruitTrees #Berries #OnlineWorkshops #GardeningWorkshops

#MOFGA Webinar - #ClimateSmart #GardenDesign (Part 3)

May 14 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Free

* The April 30th webinar has been postponed. Part 2 will now take place on May 14th. A new date for part 3 is forthcoming.

**You can still register even if you missed part 1! Registering at the link below will give you limited-time access to all three recorded classes in the series.

"#ClimateChange has noticeable impacts on gardeners, from more #ExtremeWeather events, to the increased presence of ticks and other pests. Climate change also has many gardeners looking for ways to support their local ecosystem through garden design.

In this three-part webinar series, Dr. Annie White will provide some concrete strategies for climate-smart garden design, on a whole landscape level.

Schedule:

- Webinar 1 | Landscape Design Strategies for a Changing Climate | April 16th, 12:00 pm
- Webinar 2 | Designing Vegetable & Edible Gardens for #ClimateResilience | May 14, 12:00 pm
- Webinar 3 | Planting Design for People, Nature, and a Changing Climate | New Date Forthcoming

Registering at the above link gives you access to all three parts in the webinar series."

FMI and to register:
https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/climate-smart-garden-design-3/

#SolarPunkSunday #ClimateChange #ClmateChangeGardening #MaineGardening #GardenDesign #OnlineWorkshops #FoodSecurity #GrowYourOwnFood

#CanaanME - #MEFTI Tour Registration: #Maine-grown #Grains in Schools and Institutions

May 8 @ 10:00 am - 12:15 pm

The Good Crust
210 Main Street
Canaan, ME

Free. Registration required.

"Description:
Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour to learn how Maine-grown grains are making it into schools and institutions across Maine. We’ll begin at The Good Crust, where doughs and bread products including frozen dough balls, pre-sheeted rounds, and half-sheets are made for your food service program. The Good Crust is served at over 100 colleges, K-12 schools, and universities throughout New England and qualifies for Maine’s #LocalFood Fund. From there, we will visit Maine Grains for a tour of the #Gristmill where we will explore the #milling process of Maine-grown grains to learn how #StoneMilledFlour is made and dig into Maine’s local grain economy."

FMI and to register:
https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/maine-grown-grains-in-schools-and-institutions/

#SolarPunkSunday #MaineGrains #MOFGA #FoodSecurity #LocalFood

#Online - #Maine #Gardening Q&A

April 8 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Free (registration required)

"Get your gardening questions answered before the season starts in earnest!

Whether you’ve been gardening for decades or you’re daydreaming about starting your first garden this year (or somewhere in between), these informal Zoom conversations are a chance to discuss whatever gardening topics are on your mind. Bring your questions for a casual conversation and a chance to connect. Questions about planning, #pests, #SoilHealth, and more are all welcome.

This Gardening Q&A session will be recorded, and a recording will be shared out with all registrants. Registrants can submit their gardening questions in advance."

FMI and to register:
https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/gardening-q-a/

#SolarPunkSunday #MOFGA #GardeningQ&A #Maine #Gardening #OnlineWorkshops #MaineOrganicFarmersAndGrowersAssociation

#Online - #CommunityGardens and #FoodSecurity in Maine

April 14 @ 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm
Cost: $0 - $15

"This webinar is hosted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

Across Maine, community gardens are increasing food security by bringing people together to grow food for their communities. This panel will explore how collective garden spaces allow neighbors to work side by side to grow fresh, local food that is donated to food security organizations. Panelists will share real examples from across Maine and offer practical insights into how community gardens get started, build partnerships, and grow into lasting resources that strengthen local communities.

Speakers: Rachel Stamieszkin, Master Gardener Volunteer in Cumberland County, Johnny Sanchez, Collective Gardens Program Coordinator and Volunteer Coordinator at #FoodAndMedicine (FAM), and Julia St. Clair, Agricultural Programs Manager at #BrunswickTopshamLandTrust."

To register:
https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/community-gardens-and-food-security-in-maine/

#SolarPunkSunday #GrowYourOwnFood #GYO #UMaineCooperativeExtension #MOFGA #CollectiveGardening #BuildingCommunity #SelfReliance #FeedingCommunity

#Online - #CommunityGardens and #FoodSecurity in Maine

April 14 @ 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm
Cost: $0 - $15

"This webinar is hosted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

Across Maine, community gardens are increasing food security by bringing people together to grow food for their communities. This panel will explore how collective garden spaces allow neighbors to work side by side to grow fresh, local food that is donated to food security organizations. Panelists will share real examples from across Maine and offer practical insights into how community gardens get started, build partnerships, and grow into lasting resources that strengthen local communities.

Speakers: Rachel Stamieszkin, Master Gardener Volunteer in Cumberland County, Johnny Sanchez, Collective Gardens Program Coordinator and Volunteer Coordinator at #FoodAndMedicine (FAM), and Julia St. Clair, Agricultural Programs Manager at #BrunswickTopshamLandTrust."

To register:
https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/community-gardens-and-food-security-in-maine/

#SolarPunkSunday #GrowYourOwnFood #GYO #UMaineCooperativeExtension #MOFGA #CollectiveGardening #BuildingCommunity #SelfReliance #FeedingCommunity

#Online - #CommunityGardens and #FoodSecurity in Maine

April 14 @ 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm
Cost: $0 - $15

"This webinar is hosted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

Across Maine, community gardens are increasing food security by bringing people together to grow food for their communities. This panel will explore how collective garden spaces allow neighbors to work side by side to grow fresh, local food that is donated to food security organizations. Panelists will share real examples from across Maine and offer practical insights into how community gardens get started, build partnerships, and grow into lasting resources that strengthen local communities.

Speakers: Rachel Stamieszkin, Master Gardener Volunteer in Cumberland County, Johnny Sanchez, Collective Gardens Program Coordinator and Volunteer Coordinator at #FoodAndMedicine (FAM), and Julia St. Clair, Agricultural Programs Manager at #BrunswickTopshamLandTrust."

To register:
https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/community-gardens-and-food-security-in-maine/

#SolarPunkSunday #GrowYourOwnFood #GYO #UMaineCooperativeExtension #MOFGA #CollectiveGardening #BuildingCommunity #SelfReliance #FeedingCommunity

#Online - #CommunityGardens and #FoodSecurity in Maine

April 14 @ 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm
Cost: $0 - $15

"This webinar is hosted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

Across Maine, community gardens are increasing food security by bringing people together to grow food for their communities. This panel will explore how collective garden spaces allow neighbors to work side by side to grow fresh, local food that is donated to food security organizations. Panelists will share real examples from across Maine and offer practical insights into how community gardens get started, build partnerships, and grow into lasting resources that strengthen local communities.

Speakers: Rachel Stamieszkin, Master Gardener Volunteer in Cumberland County, Johnny Sanchez, Collective Gardens Program Coordinator and Volunteer Coordinator at #FoodAndMedicine (FAM), and Julia St. Clair, Agricultural Programs Manager at #BrunswickTopshamLandTrust."

To register:
https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/community-gardens-and-food-security-in-maine/

#SolarPunkSunday #GrowYourOwnFood #GYO #UMaineCooperativeExtension #MOFGA #CollectiveGardening #BuildingCommunity #SelfReliance #FeedingCommunity

#Online - #CommunityGardens and #FoodSecurity in Maine

April 14 @ 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm
Cost: $0 - $15

"This webinar is hosted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

Across Maine, community gardens are increasing food security by bringing people together to grow food for their communities. This panel will explore how collective garden spaces allow neighbors to work side by side to grow fresh, local food that is donated to food security organizations. Panelists will share real examples from across Maine and offer practical insights into how community gardens get started, build partnerships, and grow into lasting resources that strengthen local communities.

Speakers: Rachel Stamieszkin, Master Gardener Volunteer in Cumberland County, Johnny Sanchez, Collective Gardens Program Coordinator and Volunteer Coordinator at #FoodAndMedicine (FAM), and Julia St. Clair, Agricultural Programs Manager at #BrunswickTopshamLandTrust."

To register:
https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/community-gardens-and-food-security-in-maine/

#SolarPunkSunday #GrowYourOwnFood #GYO #UMaineCooperativeExtension #MOFGA #CollectiveGardening #BuildingCommunity #SelfReliance #FeedingCommunity

#BrunswickME - Science for #SelfReliance: Integrating #MedicinalMushrooms into your Life

In-Person
Thursday, April 9, 2026
5:00pm - 6:30pm
Morrell Meeting Room, Curtis Memorial Library

For Adults and Seniors

"Join #MOFGA and #CurtisMemorialLibrary for a special talk on mushrooms. In an age of increasing stress and increasing health care costs, people seek healthy self-care practices in order to achieve and maintain optimum health. complement mainstream medicine for improved health maintenance or during those times when our health is compromised by illness, stress or disease. We benefit from generations of traditional healers around the world who have walked before us and utilized mushrooms and plants for their healing potential. Now western science is confirming the value of mushrooms as healing agents. Integrating medicinal mushrooms into our normal diet or as dietary supplements can help us all maintain good health. Join mycologist and author Greg Marley for a medicinal mushroom talk focused on the common Northeastern wild and cultivated mushrooms providing health benefits in our lives and available in the woods or foraged in a good market.

#GregMarley has been studying, growing, collecting and cooking #WildMushrooms for more than 45 years. He teaches #MushroomIdentification and ecology to hundreds of new #foragers as well as consulting in cases of mushroom poisoning. Greg is the author of Mushrooms for Health; Medicinal Secrets of Northeastern Fungi (2009) and Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares, The Love Lore and Mystique of Mushrooms (2010). Marley lives and mushrooms along the coast of Maine. When not #mushrooming he works as a mental health trainer and consultant in suicide prevention and response after a loss."

Source:
https://curtislibrary.libcal.com/event/15947333

#SolarPunkSunday #MushroomForaging #MushroomIdentification #Mushrooms #SpendTimeInNature #HealingWithNature #LibrariesRule #MaineEvents

#BrunswickME - Science for #SelfReliance: Integrating #MedicinalMushrooms into your Life

In-Person
Thursday, April 9, 2026
5:00pm - 6:30pm
Morrell Meeting Room, Curtis Memorial Library

For Adults and Seniors

"Join #MOFGA and #CurtisMemorialLibrary for a special talk on mushrooms. In an age of increasing stress and increasing health care costs, people seek healthy self-care practices in order to achieve and maintain optimum health. complement mainstream medicine for improved health maintenance or during those times when our health is compromised by illness, stress or disease. We benefit from generations of traditional healers around the world who have walked before us and utilized mushrooms and plants for their healing potential. Now western science is confirming the value of mushrooms as healing agents. Integrating medicinal mushrooms into our normal diet or as dietary supplements can help us all maintain good health. Join mycologist and author Greg Marley for a medicinal mushroom talk focused on the common Northeastern wild and cultivated mushrooms providing health benefits in our lives and available in the woods or foraged in a good market.

#GregMarley has been studying, growing, collecting and cooking #WildMushrooms for more than 45 years. He teaches #MushroomIdentification and ecology to hundreds of new #foragers as well as consulting in cases of mushroom poisoning. Greg is the author of Mushrooms for Health; Medicinal Secrets of Northeastern Fungi (2009) and Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares, The Love Lore and Mystique of Mushrooms (2010). Marley lives and mushrooms along the coast of Maine. When not #mushrooming he works as a mental health trainer and consultant in suicide prevention and response after a loss."

Source:
https://curtislibrary.libcal.com/event/15947333

#SolarPunkSunday #MushroomForaging #MushroomIdentification #Mushrooms #SpendTimeInNature #HealingWithNature #LibrariesRule #MaineEvents

#BrunswickME - Science for #SelfReliance: Integrating #MedicinalMushrooms into your Life

In-Person
Thursday, April 9, 2026
5:00pm - 6:30pm
Morrell Meeting Room, Curtis Memorial Library

For Adults and Seniors

"Join #MOFGA and #CurtisMemorialLibrary for a special talk on mushrooms. In an age of increasing stress and increasing health care costs, people seek healthy self-care practices in order to achieve and maintain optimum health. complement mainstream medicine for improved health maintenance or during those times when our health is compromised by illness, stress or disease. We benefit from generations of traditional healers around the world who have walked before us and utilized mushrooms and plants for their healing potential. Now western science is confirming the value of mushrooms as healing agents. Integrating medicinal mushrooms into our normal diet or as dietary supplements can help us all maintain good health. Join mycologist and author Greg Marley for a medicinal mushroom talk focused on the common Northeastern wild and cultivated mushrooms providing health benefits in our lives and available in the woods or foraged in a good market.

#GregMarley has been studying, growing, collecting and cooking #WildMushrooms for more than 45 years. He teaches #MushroomIdentification and ecology to hundreds of new #foragers as well as consulting in cases of mushroom poisoning. Greg is the author of Mushrooms for Health; Medicinal Secrets of Northeastern Fungi (2009) and Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares, The Love Lore and Mystique of Mushrooms (2010). Marley lives and mushrooms along the coast of Maine. When not #mushrooming he works as a mental health trainer and consultant in suicide prevention and response after a loss."

Source:
https://curtislibrary.libcal.com/event/15947333

#SolarPunkSunday #MushroomForaging #MushroomIdentification #Mushrooms #SpendTimeInNature #HealingWithNature #LibrariesRule #MaineEvents

#BrunswickME - Science for #SelfReliance: Integrating #MedicinalMushrooms into your Life

In-Person
Thursday, April 9, 2026
5:00pm - 6:30pm
Morrell Meeting Room, Curtis Memorial Library

For Adults and Seniors

"Join #MOFGA and #CurtisMemorialLibrary for a special talk on mushrooms. In an age of increasing stress and increasing health care costs, people seek healthy self-care practices in order to achieve and maintain optimum health. complement mainstream medicine for improved health maintenance or during those times when our health is compromised by illness, stress or disease. We benefit from generations of traditional healers around the world who have walked before us and utilized mushrooms and plants for their healing potential. Now western science is confirming the value of mushrooms as healing agents. Integrating medicinal mushrooms into our normal diet or as dietary supplements can help us all maintain good health. Join mycologist and author Greg Marley for a medicinal mushroom talk focused on the common Northeastern wild and cultivated mushrooms providing health benefits in our lives and available in the woods or foraged in a good market.

#GregMarley has been studying, growing, collecting and cooking #WildMushrooms for more than 45 years. He teaches #MushroomIdentification and ecology to hundreds of new #foragers as well as consulting in cases of mushroom poisoning. Greg is the author of Mushrooms for Health; Medicinal Secrets of Northeastern Fungi (2009) and Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares, The Love Lore and Mystique of Mushrooms (2010). Marley lives and mushrooms along the coast of Maine. When not #mushrooming he works as a mental health trainer and consultant in suicide prevention and response after a loss."

Source:
https://curtislibrary.libcal.com/event/15947333

#SolarPunkSunday #MushroomForaging #MushroomIdentification #Mushrooms #SpendTimeInNature #HealingWithNature #LibrariesRule #MaineEvents

#BrunswickME - Science for #SelfReliance: Integrating #MedicinalMushrooms into your Life

In-Person
Thursday, April 9, 2026
5:00pm - 6:30pm
Morrell Meeting Room, Curtis Memorial Library

For Adults and Seniors

"Join #MOFGA and #CurtisMemorialLibrary for a special talk on mushrooms. In an age of increasing stress and increasing health care costs, people seek healthy self-care practices in order to achieve and maintain optimum health. complement mainstream medicine for improved health maintenance or during those times when our health is compromised by illness, stress or disease. We benefit from generations of traditional healers around the world who have walked before us and utilized mushrooms and plants for their healing potential. Now western science is confirming the value of mushrooms as healing agents. Integrating medicinal mushrooms into our normal diet or as dietary supplements can help us all maintain good health. Join mycologist and author Greg Marley for a medicinal mushroom talk focused on the common Northeastern wild and cultivated mushrooms providing health benefits in our lives and available in the woods or foraged in a good market.

#GregMarley has been studying, growing, collecting and cooking #WildMushrooms for more than 45 years. He teaches #MushroomIdentification and ecology to hundreds of new #foragers as well as consulting in cases of mushroom poisoning. Greg is the author of Mushrooms for Health; Medicinal Secrets of Northeastern Fungi (2009) and Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares, The Love Lore and Mystique of Mushrooms (2010). Marley lives and mushrooms along the coast of Maine. When not #mushrooming he works as a mental health trainer and consultant in suicide prevention and response after a loss."

Source:
https://curtislibrary.libcal.com/event/15947333

#SolarPunkSunday #MushroomForaging #MushroomIdentification #Mushrooms #SpendTimeInNature #HealingWithNature #LibrariesRule #MaineEvents

#TrescottME - #Scionwood Exchange & #SeedSwap

April 11 @ 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

In partnership with #HealthyAcadia and #MOFGA

#CobscookInstitute
10 Commissary Point Rd
Township of Trescott, ME 04652

All Ages
Free (or by donation)

"This by donation event will feature seeds for swapping and scionwood for grafting. We are also accepting seed donations for use in Cobscook Institute’s #CommunityGarden.

Seed Swap

Please bring seeds you’ve saved with descriptions for folks to share, trade and enjoy. We are also accepting seed donations for the Community Garden.

Envelopes and labeling materials will be available.

Scionwood Exchange

Many Scions will be available for sharing with descriptions and instructions. Please feel welcome to bring scionwood that you responsibly collected to share as well, with the apple variety and description. Labeling materials and bags will be provided."

Event page:
https://cobscookinstitute.org/events?e=4-11-2026-scion-exchange-and-seed-swap&m=

#SolarPunkSunday #SeedExchange #ScionExchange #MaineEvents
#GrowYourOwn #GrowYourOwnFood
#GardeningForPollinators

#RockportME - 2nd Annual SEED FEST

April 11 @ 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM

"The #RockportPublicLibrary will host its second annual SEED FEST on Saturday, April 11. This free, family-friendly event will take place on the upper and lower levels of the library. From 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., visitors can browse educational exhibits and activities covering #SeedStarting, #pollinators, #SoilHealth, #Composting, #NativePlants, #HeirloomVegetables, growing #rice and #grains in #Maine, #Wabanaki #FoodSovereignty, and much more!

"At 12:30 p.m., Petra Page-Mann of #FruitionSeeds will deliver an interactive keynote presentation. Page-Mann and her nonprofit seed company are strong advocates of 'gift culture,' which involves giving away seeds to promote food cultivation and community building. This ethos aligns perfectly with the theme of SEED FEST.

"The event is generously sponsored by the Rockport Library Foundation and is organized in partnership with several organizations, listed alphabetically: Herbal Hummingbird Hub, Knox Lincoln County Beekeepers, Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District, Maine Grains and Maine Grain Alliance, Maine Heirloom Seed Network, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association [#MOFGA], #MaineRiceProject at Ararat Farms, #MerryspringNatureCenter, #Niweskok: From the Stars to Seeds, Roots n Shoots, #UMaineCooperativeExtension, and #WildSeedProject.

"The exhibiting partners will provide valuable information, hands-on activities, items for sale, and an abundance of free seeds and seedlings. Additionally, #midcoast artist Katharine Cartwright’s beautiful #BotanicalPaintings will be showcased in the library’s lower level for a month-long exhibition titled 'In My Garden.' "

FMI:
https://www.rockportlibrary.net/event/2nd-annual-seed-fest/

#SolarPunkSunday #BuildingCommunity #GrowYourOwnFood #GYO #IndigenousFoodSovereignty #FoodSovereignty #LibrariesRule #SeedFest #WabanakiFoodSovereignty #SoilIsLife

Virtual Event - #NewEngland - Which #NativePlants Help #Wildlife? The Science Behind Informed Plant Selection

Thu Mar 12, 2026 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM EDT

"You’re ready to plant more native species in your garden to support wildlife. As you start to plan, you might have a few questions. Which plant species make the biggest difference? Does it matter if a plant is a cultivar? How important is local ecotype? Which plant traits attract which #pollinator?

In this talk, Desirée L. Narango, Ph.D., from the #Vermont Center for #Ecostudies, will share research that evaluates how different native plant species and characteristics influence interactions with pollinators and songbirds. Drawing from her research and that of other experts in the field, she will explore what we know (and still don’t know) about common questions in #EcologicalGardening. The talk will also highlight ways you can contribute data through community science and help improve the information available for wildlife-friendly planting decisions.

This event is co-hosted by #WildSeedProject and #MOFGA. The webinar will be recorded, and a recording will be shared with registrants within a few days of the event taking place.

Registration info: This event’s sliding scale registration is designed to keep the class as accessible as possible while also covering MOFGA’s and Wild Seed Project's costs. Recommended price for non-members is $15; recommended price for members is $10.

Scholarship funds are available to community members in order to increase program accessibility, and participants in MOFGA’s Journeyperson program are welcome to register at no-cost. You’re welcome to use the fund by checking “Scholarship/JP” at checkout. For any questions about scholarship funds, please email [email protected]."

To register:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/testorg8/2045541?trackingConsent=1

#SolarPunkSunday #GardeningForPollinators #GardeningForWildlife #NativePlantSpecies #NativePlantWorkshops

#MOFGA #VirtualEvent - #Gardening Q&A

February 25 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Free (asking for a $5 donation).

"Join MOFGA for our first Gardening Q&A of 2026!

Whether you’ve been gardening for decades or you’re daydreaming about starting your first garden this year (or somewhere in between), these informal Zoom conversations are a chance to discuss whatever gardening topics are on your mind. Bring your questions for a casual conversation and a chance to connect. Questions about planning, #pests, #SoilHealth, and more are all welcome.

This Gardening Q&A session will be recorded, and a recording will be shared out with all registrants. Registrants can submit their gardening questions in advance."

FMI and to register:
https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/gardening-qa-9/

#SolarPunkSunday #SharingKnowledge #GardenPlanning #OrganicGardening #BeginningGardening #Homesteading #VegetableGardening #GrowYourOwn

ON THEIR WAY TO WORK!!! SUCH HARDENED CRIMINALS!!!

#ImmigrantRights group says 17 people were arrested by #CBP agents while riding bus in #Skowhegan

Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition says it has seen more immigration enforcement activity in rural areas

Jacob Murphy, February 12, 2026

Excerpt: "Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition says the workers were staying in the former #KyesMotel in #SkowheganME. The bus regularly picks them up and brings them to #BackyardFarms.

"Backyard Farms grows #tomatoes and #lettuce and ships the produce across the country.

"Local growers are concerned that the agricultural workforce will significantly shrink with increasing immigration enforcement.

" 'The reality we're seeing is that the recent surge in ICE activity is causing uncertainty for farm labor that doesn't stop at a visa status. It’s making it harder for farms to maintain a reliable workforce, which will ultimately ripple out into the broader economy," said Jennifer Wilhelm with Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. "

Read more:
https://www.wmtw.com/article/immigrant-rights-group-says-17-people-riding-a-bus-were-arrested-by-immigration-enforcement-agents-in-skowhegan/70317074

#MIRC #Maine #ICEOutOfMaine #ICEOut #DefundICE #DefundDHS #MOFGA #MaineFarms #Farmworkers #USPol #MainePol #FuckICE

50th #CommonGroundCountryFair Silent Auction

February 13 @ 8:00 am - February 23 @ 9:00 pm

"We will have a collection of curated, high-quality items available that reflect #MOFGA’s mission and Fair history to celebrate the 50th Fair and raise funds to support MOFGA’s mission through memorabilia, unique experiences, and community storytelling.

Participate in the auction and support MOFGA’s mission of supporting farmers, empowering people to feed their communities, and advocating for an organic future."

Source:
https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/50th-common-ground-country-fair-silent-auction/

Auction website:
http://www.32auctions.com/MOFGA2026

#SolarPunkSunday #CommonGroundFair #OrganicGardening #OrganicFarming #MaineEvents #MOFGAFundraising #SilentAuction

Virtual Event - #BookDiscussion of “The #Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World”

February 12 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

"Join us for a virtual book discussion of 'The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World,' by #RobinWallKimmerer.

Free. Registration Required."

About the author:
"As Indigenous scientist and author of #BraidingSweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmerer harvests serviceberries alongside the birds, she considers the ethic of reciprocity that lies at the heart of the gift economy. How, she asks, can we learn from #IndigenousWisdom and the plant world to #reimagine what we value most? Our economy is rooted in scarcity, competition, and the hoarding of resources, and we have surrendered our values to a system that actively harms what we love. Meanwhile, the serviceberry’s relationship with the natural world is an embodiment of reciprocity, #interconnectedness, and gratitude. The tree distributes its wealth—its abundance of sweet, juicy berries—to meet the needs of its natural community. And this distribution ensures its own survival. As Kimmerer explains, 'Serviceberries show us another model, one based upon reciprocity, where wealth comes from the quality of your relationships, not from the illusion of self-sufficiency.' "

FMI and to register:
https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/book-discussion-of-the-serviceberry-abundance-and-reciprocity-in-the-natural-world/

#SolarPunkSunday #MOFGA #TheServiceBerryBook #IndigenousAuthors #IndigenousFood #Foraging #Nature #EthicalHarvest #HonourableHarvest

#PortlandME - Buyer and Seller Meet-up & Farmer Social
February 7 @ 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm

"Join #MOFGA and The #RodaleInstitute for a buyer and seller meet-up and networking event at Allagash Brewing, followed by a tour of the facility and a farmer social and drinks. Connect directly with local buyers and growers, learn from their real-world experience, and tap into resources that can boost your business. Farmers can explore new sales channels, buyers can discover trustworthy local suppliers, and everyone can build the relationships that keep our regional food system thriving.

RSVP for this free event

This event is part of our Farmer to Farmer Conference program, check out more on the conference here!

This event is supported through the United States Department of Agriculture (#USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (#TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP)."

Learn more / RSVP:
https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/buyer-and-seller-meet-up-farmer-social/

#SolarPunkSunday #OrganicGrowers #FarmerToFarmer #TransitionToOrganic #RegionalFood #MaineGrowers

#MOFGA - #PlantCorridors

By Heather McCargo, Photos by Jean English, Winter 2014-2015

"#NativePlant corridors attract #pollinators and #wildlife to your farm by stretching across your property to connect your piece of #NativeHabitat to nearby #meadows, #wetlands or #woodlands. This creates a much larger area for #NativePollinators to #forage, raise young and migrate. Corridors may run along a road, between fields, in a #swale or on the edge of a #forest, connecting habitats off the property and returning native plants to the parts of the farm not suitable for traditional crops.

This article describes two approaches to creating native habitat corridors: changing #mowing habits to favor native species, and planting woody and herbaceous combinations to increase native plant diversity on the farm.

Populations of all native species are in decline across the state. Our human footprint is taking its toll on wild creatures, including pollinators such as #bees and #butterflies that are so important on the farm for crop pollination. Native plant species each share an evolutionary history with indigenous insects, birds, reptiles, mammals, bacteria and fungi. When native plants are gone, many of these creatures go too, leading to a collapse of ecosystem function. Farmers benefit from the services provided by a healthy ecosystem, such as groundwater recharge; clean surface streams and ponds; pollination; a diversity of birds, spiders and amphibians to eat many insects including crop pests; and beneficial soil fungi and bacteria. Fortunately, when native plants are reintroduced into a landscape, many of these other creatures return.

As farmers and landowners, we can bring native plants, and the attendant diversity, back into the Maine landscape in a way that works with a farmer’s busy schedule. Many native plants thrive in dry, wet and shady areas that are poor sites for traditional farm crops."

Learn more:
https://www.mofga.org/resources/pollinators/plant-corridors/

#SolarPunkSunday #GardeningForPollinators #NativePlantCorridors #Gardening #Farming #Homesteading #Nature #NatureConservation #NatureRestoration #Maine

#UnityME - #MOFGA #SeedSwap & #ScionExchange 2026

March 29, 2026 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

MOFGA’s Education Center
294 Crosby Brook Rd
Unity, ME 04988 United States

Let us know you're coming!

* In the event of severe weather, the Seed Swap & Scion Exchange will be postponed to the following Sunday, April 5 from 12-4 pm.

"Gardeners and orchardists are invited to bring their #seeds, #scionwood and #cuttings to share. If you don’t have any, come anyway! There is always plenty of seeds and scion to go around.

If you’ve been to the event before, you know that space can get tight at the start of the event. We encourage folks to join the event later in the day — we promise, there are still plenty of seeds and scions available over the duration of the event!

Community members and local seed #growers regularly bring an incredible variety of #vegetable, #fruit, #flower, and #herb seeds. We also regularly have over 150+ types of scionwood to share, including scionwood sourced from MOFGA’s orchards. We will also have limited quantities of #rootstock for sale. Custom #grafting is available by donation to the #MaineHeritageOrchard.

Other items for sharing are welcome such as plants, cuttings, #seedlings, hatching eggs, #kombucha and #YogurtStarters, #salves and other homemade items.

The day’s offerings also include #gardening and #orcharding workshops and demonstrations. Our full list of educational offerings for the day is coming soon!"

FMI:
https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/seed-swap-scion-exchange-2026/

#SolarPunkSunday #SeedExchange #MaineEvents #GrowYourOwn #GrowYourOwnFood #GardeningForPollinators #GardeningWorkshops

So, out of curiosity, I've been calculating how many soybeans it takes to make a small block of tofu. I estimated a total of 920 soybeans for 1 dry cup (as called for in this recipe). The average seed production of a single, well-maintained soy plant is 50-100 pods (yielding 3 soybeans per pod). So that means 3 plants for a single, small block of tofu? Wow! And yeah. I have a friend who is a #MOFGA-certified grower who grew his own soybeans (and taught me how to make tofu), and he was like, "God damn! It ain't easy! Especially without pesticides!"

Tofu recipe:
https://sarahsvegankitchen.com/recipes/homemade-tofu/

Soybean plant production:
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/north-carolina-soybean-production-guide/the-soybean-plant

#VeganRecipes #Vegan #GrowYourOwn? #Soybeans #Tofu #FactoryFarming #Monocrops #SustainableFarming

#PortlandME - #MOFGA #Fundraiser at #Flatbread

Community Bake at Flatbread Company Portland

January 27 @ 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

"Join MOFGA for a community bake at Flatbread Company Portland!

Help us support farmers and gardeners across the state and while celebrating and eating good food. A portion of proceeds from all flatbreads sold from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. will be donated to MOFGA, to support our educational programming in 2026.

Stop by and chat with us as you enjoy your flatbread! When you stop by our table, you’ll be entered in a raffle to win a free ticket to our inaugural Gardener to Gardener Conference, on February 8 in Portland. Plus, MOFGA will have educational activities to take part in, and resources to take home. We hope to see you there!

Questions? Email [email protected]."

https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/community-bake-at-flatbread-company-portland/

#MaineEvents #OrganicFarming #OrganicGardening #Community #FarmingEducation

#MOFGA #UnityME - #Kvass #Fermentation Workshop & Community #Potluck

January 11 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Free

"Come discover the simple, satisfying art of making kvass! Kvass is a tangy, traditional fermented drink with roots in Eastern European foodways. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn accessible techniques for fermenting with ingredients common to Maine winters like bread, storage fruit, or root vegetables. Best of all, you’ll leave with your own jar of bubbling kvass to ferment at home!

REGISTER for free.

We’ll start by sharing a potluck meal, then gather around the table to learn, make, and connect. It’s a perfect way to deepen your food skills, meet others passionate about local food, and warm up a January afternoon with good company.

What to Bring:

A dish to share for the potluck.
A clean quart-sized jar with a tight-fitting lid (for taking your kvass home).
Your curiosity! All experience levels are warmly welcome.

Spots are limited — RSVP is required to help us plan. Registered participants will be notified directly in case of any weather-related changes."

Click link to RSVP & Secure Your:
https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/kvass-fermentation-workshop-community-potluck/

#SolarPunkSunday #MaineEvents #FermentationWorkshop #BuildingCommunity #CommunityPotluck

I found this great piece about #AcornBread -- written by a friend who I learned to make acorn bread from!

by Chris Knapp

"In autumn, all over the world, something wonderful happens: The acorns fall.

"The oak seed, which once sustained the bulk of human civilization, is now largely ignored as a food. Not so at our #Koviashuvik Local Living School (in #TempleME), where every fall my family, friends, apprentices and I spend three wonderful mornings crawling around in the nearby red oak grove picking up acorns. We are not playing; we are making a living and playing.

"This article offers a practical guide to processing acorns, a glance at the crop’s agricultural implications, and a chance to change the world – for as with any food or product, its conscious production and consumption create powerful opportunities for social and environmental change.

Using Acorns

"My family eats acorns in a variety of ways and uses 200 pounds of acorn flour a year. All our acorns come from the red oak, Quercus rubra, as that is our local oak. All acorns – whether from red or white oaks – are edible and all acorns contain enough tannin that leaching is a necessity.

"Our daily bread is a delicious blend of 60 percent acorn and 40 percent sourdough #spelt from the Webb Family Farm in #PittstonME. We make #AcornOatmeal #porridge twice a week for breakfast with 50 to 75 percent acorn. My kids, ages 4 and 2, eat it right up!

"We make biscuits and cookies. I like a dense, 95 percent acorn flat bread held together with 5 percent soaked ground #flax. For a basic biscuit recipe that will please anyone, combine 2 cups of acorn flour with 1 cup of oat flour, add 2 tablespoons of good fat and 1/2 teaspoon salt. (For fat we use Maine-grown sunflower oil or lard.) Add water to make a moist but not runny batter. Form the batter into biscuits and bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 375 F. Will Bonsall ate a whole bowl of these crackers when we shared them with him."

Learn more:
https://www.mofga.org/resources/recipes/acorn-bread/

#SolarPunkSunday #AlternativeGrains #Acorns #WildEdibles #Foraging #MOFGA #Maine #FoodSecurity

An excellent resource from #EcoMaine!

#FoodWaste and #Composting

"Did you know that almost a third of what we throw away is leftover or spoiled food? If Maine is to achieve a 50% recycling rate, we need to recover our food waste, too – it’s worth the weight!

"ecomaine added food waste recycling to our sustainable waste management solutions in order to help Maine reach its recycling goal. We continue to build food waste recycling capacity in southern Maine, serving as a central collection point for grocery stores, institutions, and participating cities and towns.

"Collected food waste is transported to #ExeterME’s #AgriEnergy [#AgricycleEnergy] to be de-packaged and anaerobically digested to produce sustainable power, organic farm #fertilizer, and cow bedding for the #Maine family dairy farm #StonyvaleFarm. Any packaging removed from the food waste is delivered back to ecomaine to be burned for energy—keeping all of it out of our #landfills!

"By making #composting, anaerobic digestion, and food waste recycling so easy, we encourage our communities to dispose of their waste responsibly.

"For more on compost that’s 'Worth The Weight,' check out our informational pamphlet!

#BackyardComposting

"Backyard composting is one of the easiest ways to keep organic material out of the trash. It also has some other great advantages:

- It doesn’t weigh your trash down as much.
- It doesn’t get into ecomaine‘s waste-to-energy plant, making our combustion more damp and less efficient.
- It’s easy – and “grass-cycling” (leaving clippings on the lawn) is better for your grass!
- It saves Maine’s towns money on collection and hauling.
- And it saves YOU money on trash bags!

"There are no trucks or driving involved – no carbon emissions! You just walk it out to your bin, and that’s it.

"In the end, composting produces rich #soil for flower and vegetable #gardens – without paying for it (again) at the store.

Drop Off Locations

"If you’re looking for a compost drop-off location, instead of putting it in your backyard, here are a few… If you know of one that’s not here, let us know! (Some facilities may be for residents only; we advise calling ahead if you’re not sure.)

[I've found that transfer stations are usually residents only...]

#BridgtonME Transfer Station
118 Sandy Creek Rd, Bridgton, ME, USA

#BrownfieldME Transfer Station
Pequawket Trail, Brownfield, ME, USA

#CapeElizabethME Recycling Center
10 Cooper Dr, Cape Elizabeth, ME, USA

#EliotME Recycling Center
468 Dow Highway, Eliot, ME, USA

#FalmouthME Community Park
Winn Rd, Falmouth, ME, USA

#FalmouthME Transfer Station
100 Woods Rd, Falmouth, ME, USA

#FalmouthME Village Park
22 Hat Trick Drive, Falmouth, ME

#FreeportME Recycling Center
100 Landfill Road, Freeport, ME, USA

#NorthYarmouthME Town Hall / #SamRistichNatureTrail, North Yarmouth, ME, USA

#PortlandME: #BoydStreet #CommunityGarden
2 Boyd Street, Portland, ME

Portland: #BrentwoodFarms Community Garden
Brentwood Street, Portland, ME

Portland: #Libbytown Community Garden
175 Douglass Street, Portland, ME

Portland: #NorthStreetCommunityGarden
195 North Street, Portland, ME

Portland: Parkside/King Middle School
In the back of the school near the Fitzpatrick Stadium parking lot
92 Deering Avenue, Portland, ME

Portland: #PaysonPark Community Garden
Dropoff located on Front Street.
Front Street, Portland, Maine

Portland: #ReicheSchool
Dropoff is on the Clark Street side.
166 Brackett Street, Portland, ME

Portland: #Riverton Community Garden
45 Verrill Street, Portland, Maine

#SacoME Dept. of Public Works
15 Phillips Spring Road, Saco, ME

Saco Parks & Rec
75 Franklin St, Saco, ME, USA

#ScarboroughME Public Works Facility
20 Washington Avenue, Scarborough, ME, USA

#SouthPortlandME City Hall
25 Cottage Rd, South Portland, ME, USA

South Portland Code Enforcement Office
496 Ocean Street, South Portland, ME

South Portland Golf Course Maint. Building
221 Westbrook Street, South Portland, ME, USA

South Portland High School
637 Highland Avenue, South Portland, ME, USA

South Portland Transfer Station
929 Highland Ave, South Portland, ME, USA

South Portland: Redback Community Center
95 Macarthur Circle West, South Portland, ME

#StandishME Transfer Station
150 Moody Rd, Standish, ME, USA

#SurryME: #ChickadeeCompost
Jill's Lane, Surry, Maine www.chickadeecompost.com

#VinalhavenME Transfer Station
178 Round the Island Rd, Vinalhaven, ME, USA

#YarmouthME Transfer Station
659 East Main Street, Yarmouth, ME, USA

Curbside Collection

And if you’re really not into the backyard thing, there are some companies who will pick it up for you!

- #WeCompostIt! (Greater Portland)
- #GarbageToGarden (Greater Portland)
- #ScrapDogs (Greater #CamdenME-#RockportME)
- #MrFoxComposting (Southern Maine & #NH)
- #ProjectEarth (Lincoln County)
- #ChickadeeCompost (All of #BlueHillME Peninsula, #DeerIsleME, #EllsworthME)
- #OneEarth Composting (#HampdenME)
- #AgriCycle Energy (Collection from businesses & organizations for anaerobic digestion – all over!)

Other Compost Resources:

Maine Department of Environmental Protection
207-592-0455

University of Maine Cooperative Extension
207-581-3188

Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at the University of Maine – Food Recovery
207-581-3195

Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association [#MOFGA]
207-568-4142

#WormMainea
207-831-3752

#MainelyWorm Bins

#UncleJimsWormFarm
1-800-373-0555

Source (with links):
https://www.ecomaine.org/food-waste-and-composting/

#SolarpunkSunday #Composting #WormBins #ReducingWaste
#Landfills #Maine #WasteToEnergy

#Maine 2025 #SeedSwap & #Scion Exchange

Sunday, March 30, 12 - 4 p.m.
Snow date: Sunday, April 6 *

At #MOFGA's #CommonGround Education Center in #UnityMaine

*Snow date to be called by Friday, March 28

"This will be an indoor and outdoor event, so wear your woolies and come enjoy a warm drink, see old friends, meet new friends and bring home some #scionwood for grafting and s#eeds for planting!

"#Gardeners and #orchardists are invited to bring their seeds, #scionwood and #cuttings to share. If you don’t have any, come anyway!

"Community members and local seed growers regularly bring an incredible variety of vegetable, fruit, flower, and herb seeds. We also regularly have over 150+ types of scionwood to share, including scionwood sourced from MOFGA’s orchards. We will also have limited quantities of #rootstock for sale. Custom grafting is available by donation to the #MaineHeritageOrchard.

"Other items for sharing are welcome such as plants, cuttings, #seedlings, hatching eggs, #kombucha and #YogurtStarters, #salves and other #homemade items.

"The day’s offerings also include gardening workshops, #FruitTree care demonstrations, vendors, educational booths, and more.

"This event is located at MOFGA’s Common Ground Education Center, 294 Crosby Brook Rd, Unity, Maine."

RSVP and FMI:
https://www.mofga.org/trainings/annual-events/seed-swap-and-scion-exchange/
#SolarPunkSunday #SeedSharing #SeedExchange #OrganicFarmers #BuildingCommunity