#oronome — Public Fediverse posts

#UMaineCooperativeExtension - Bulletin #4311, Planning and Managing a Community “Giving” Garden in Maine

By John Jemison, Extension Professor, Soil and Water Quality, University of Maine Cooperative Extension

"Fifteen years ago, I taught an Environmental Sustainability course for University of Maine Cooperative Extension. It was a seven-evening session involving approximately 20 hours of education/training. I asked participants to return 20 hours of service to the community. I also suggested (having never really gardened in a group or community setting) that we might consider taking some unused town land and starting a garden where we could supply food to the Birch Street Senior Citizen Center in #OronoME. A low-cost lunch is offered at the center four days a week, which helps ensure that Orono seniors do not go hungry. I thought some fresh food would be nice. The original plan fell through, but we altered the plan to grow diverse fresh vegetables and bring a bag of vegetables with a recipe to people living in low-income senior housing near the garden. We have delivered many tons of food over the past 15 years and made great connections with seniors in the area. All of us have learned a great deal about the challenges and rewards of growing food and working together. This publication is an effort to capture what we have learned and give others a guide to do this type of a program in another area. The information provided here should be reasonably applicable across all New England.

Guide Organization

This guide is intended to help anyone who has an interest in community gardening to do that task with skill and capacity. Gardening isn’t difficult, but gardening well is not easy. This guide can be useful for anyone who gardens, but I have designed it intentionally to help people start community gardens and community giving gardens. This guide provides information on gardening methods; pest management; what, when, and how to plant specific vegetables with a focus on #NewEngland growing conditions; delivery program basics; and putting the garden to bed for the winter. I have also included some links to recipes that can be given to the food recipients so that they know what to do with the foods we provide."

Learn more:
https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/4311e/

#SolarPunkSunday #CommunityGardens #FoodSecurity #Gardening #GivingGardens #BuildingCommunity #FreshFood

#OronoME - #UniversityOfMaine

Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism - Your on-campus food pantry and clothing exchange open to students and employees of the University of Maine.

#BlackBearExchange #FoodPantry and #ClothingSwap

"Having trouble paying your bills and having enough money to buy food? We are here to help. #FoodInsecurity is a reality for many college students and staff. We are here to invest in you and help you finish your education!

VISION

The Black Bear Exchange envisions a community where all those who work at and attend the University of Maine have equitable access to resources; and where creative, situation-specific collaborations are actively nurtured to meet needs. This community will also value the reuse of goods and seek to eliminate the waste of resources. These actions will minimize dependence on supra-local, socially unaccountable systems and better provide for the well-being of all community members.

#MAINECARD is required. You cannot visit without your card. MOBILE MAINECARDS ACCEPTED!

The Black Bear Exchange is now open in the new location – 139 Rangeley Road.

For the Fall 2025 semester, the BBE will be open:
Mondays 12:30-4:30
Wednesdays 12:30-4:30
Fridays 12:00-4:00
Saturdays 9:00-12:00

#Mainecard is required/mobile card works fine. Frozen, refrigerated and non-perishable foods are available weekly. Personal care items are available in the first week of the month. Clothing, shoes and accessories are available FREE."

https://umaine.edu/volunteer/BBE/

#MaineFoodPantries #FoodInsecurity
#SNAP #SNAPCuts #UMaineCommunity #Maine #FoodPantries

2/3 - #PineTreeActivism Calendar
Scheduled Events

Details confirmed as of Sat, April 26th

MAY DAY EVENTS (alphabetical by location)

MAY 1, Thur 12-1:00PM – #GrandIsleME Community Center, 366 Main St. #MayDayStrong: We are Many www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/779019/

MAY 1, Thur 4-5:00PM (& every Thur)– #KennebunkME Rt 1 & Fletcher St, front of Kennebunk Library. Weekly Stand Out To Speak Against Government Actions designed to benefit the powerful. Hosted by Democrats of Kennebunks & Arundel, one of the most active Democratic memberships in Maine.

MAY 1, Thur 12-1:00PM – #MadawaskaME 340 Main St (Pocket Park by Daigle's Furniture. Maine May Day Strong – We Stand United for a world where every family has housing, healthcare, fair wages, union protection, and safety – regardless of race, zip code, or immigration status.

MAY 1, Thur 3:30-6:00PM – #OronoME Village Green (behind the Orono Public Library), 39 Pine St. May Day – #UnionStrong, Stand United for Union Principles https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/780378/

MAY 1, Thur 3:30-6:00PM – #PortlandME - March through the city! 35 Bedford St, USM Portland Campus (in front of McGoldrick Ctr.) #MayDayMarchAgainstTrump – Strength in Solidarity! Starts at USM > Post Office > Portland HS > Portland Museum of Art for music & speakers. Organized locally by #MaineMayDayCommittee https://www.mobilize.us/mayday/event/778395/

Also, SURJ Meet-Up: Attend May Day Strong Rally together! 3:30-Start at USM. 5:00PM-Portland Museum of Art. 5:30PM-Rally begins Congress Square Park. Organized by Showing Up for Racial Justice: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/776818/

MAY 1, Thur 3:30-5:00PM – #WatervilleME 60 Front St, Head of the Falls. May Day Strong: Waterville – organized by Indivisible Mid Maine for The #NEA: www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/780831/

@AIF_Massachusetts @CrimethInc

#MayDay2025 #MayDayProtests #MayDay #MaineResists #MaineEvents #BadDOGE #ResistAuthoritarianism #Resistance