#umaine — Public Fediverse posts

#UMaineCooperativeExtension - Bulletin #2750, An Introduction to #SeedSaving for the #HomeGardener

By Mark Hutton

"Rediscovering Seed Saving

"Seed saving is an ancient art that enabled humans to cease being hunter-gatherers. Up until the end of World War II, home gardeners typically saved their own seeds, because high-quality seeds at affordable prices were generally not available. However, seed saving declined with the development of the commercial seed industry, which made low-cost, high-quality vegetable and flower seeds readily available. Presently, renewed interest in #heirloom, unique, and locally adapted vegetable and flower varieties is sparking a resurgence in seed saving.

"Seed-saving is a natural next step for passionate gardeners. Saving seeds not only allows home gardeners to save money; it provides them with an opportunity to express their creativity! This is because saving seed is a form of selection—the very basis of plant breeding. When choosing which plants to save seed from, a gardener must decide which plants have the most desirable characteristics in terms of meeting their goals for plant size, yield, fruit quality, maturity date, attractiveness, etc., thus helping to improve the offspring. When you save seed from your garden, you can create a cultivar uniquely suited to your location, your aesthetic sensibilities, and culinary tastes. Saving seeds takes time, planning, and attention to detail. Here are some basics to get you started on your seed saving adventure."

Learn more:
https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/2750e/

#SolarPunkSunday #UMaine #Maine #GrowYourOwn #Seeds #HarvestingSeeds #HeirloomSeeds #Gardening #HomeGardens

Off to a rough start to the week at work, but #ThreeGoodThings have made my evening better…

1) Calibre update seems to have resolved my intermittent remote access issues

2) BookOrbit testing is going well, might move to this from Calibre

3) Daughter got her first college acceptance letter in the mail!! #UMaine

#UMaine #TickLab - #Ticks of Maine

"There are fifteen different tick species that have been found in Maine, though not all are permanent residents. Some may arrive in the state on wildlife hosts and do not establish viable populations. Other species have thrived in Maine and are now widespread throughout much of the state. The biology and ecology of ticks can vary significantly based upon species and can determine the level of threat each species poses.

The Most Commonly Encountered Tick Species of Maine:

- Blacklegged Tick or #DeerTick (Ixodes scapularis)
- American #DogTick (Dermacentor variabilis)
- #WoodchuckTick (Ixodes cookei)

Other Tick Species Found in Maine:

- Asian Longhorned Tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis)
- Brown Dog Tick or #KennelTick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)
- Gulf Coast Tick (Amblyomma maculatum)
- Ixodes angustus
- Ixodes brunneus
- Ixodes dentatus
- Ixodes gregsoni
- #LoneStarTick (Amblyomma americanum)
- Mouse Tick (Ixodes muris)
- Rabbit Tick (Haemaphysalis leporispalustris)
- Seabird Tick (Ixodes uriae)
- Squirrel Tick (Ixodes marxi)
- Winter Tick or #MooseTick (Dermacentor albipictus)

Source [includes more information and photos]:
https://extension.umaine.edu/ticks/maine-ticks/

#SolarPunkSunday #MaineTicks #TickIdentification #TicksInMaine #UMaineCooperativeExtension #UMaineCoopExtension #TickPrevention #SpendTimeInNature #TickSafety

Stewed #BlackBeans

#UMaineCoopExtension: "Mainely Dish" Recipe Video Series.

Feb 13, 2024

Makes 4, 1 cup servings

Ingredients:

1/2 pound (8 ounces) dry black beans
1.5 tablespoons vegetable oil
¼ cup onion, finely chopped
(Optional) 1.5 tablespoons jalapeno, pepper finely chopped
1 clove (1 tablespoon) garlic, finely chopped
½ teaspoon cumin powder
1-quart water - approximately 4 cups
1 bay leaf
¼ teaspoon salt

Method:

1. Soak the beans using the method of your choice - traditional soak, hot soak, or quick soak (link to beans publication)

2. Drain and rinse the black beans.

3. In a large heavy bottom pot, heat the oil over medium heat.

4. Once the oil is hot, add the onion, jalapeno (optional), and garlic. Add ¼ teaspoon of salt.

5. Stir and cook until the vegetables have softened, 3-5 minutes. Reduce heat if vegetables are browning.

6. Add cumin and bay leaf. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes.

7. Add rinsed black beans and add about 1 quart (4 cups) of water or just enough water to cover the beans.

8. Bring to a simmer, do not boil. Cook on a simmer until beans are tender, 1.5-2.5 hours. Can be transferred to a crock pot or oven for easy cooking.

9. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Recipe courtesy of Rob Dumas, University of Maine Food Science Innovation Coordinator and Facility Manager for the School of Food and Agriculture; Certified Executive Chef, American Culinary Federation.

Please note: This video was filmed using non-stick cookware that contains PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.” As of January 1, 2026, the state of Maine has banned the sale of cookware with intentionally added PFAS, including non-stick cookware coated with Teflon used in these videos. Mainely Dish now uses PFAS-free alternatives in Extension programs and videos. Certain non-stick coatings on cookware, such as PTFE, commonly known by its brand name Teflon, may contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are associated with numerous health and environmental effects. Below are resources to help consumers avoid PFAS exposure while using non-stick cookware and make informed decisions about purchasing PFAS-free alternative."

Video and links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogm1n_aTATU&list=PL8D1C914E1E1FEA69&index=45

#SolarPunkSunday #VeganRecipes #BlackBeanRecipes #EasyRecipes #RecipeVideos #MainelyDish #UMaine #EatingOnABudget #DietForASmallPlanet #UniversityOfMaineCooperativeExtension

#Maine - #WabanakiAlliance holds U.S. Senate candidate forum, participants discuss gaps in #IndigenousEducation

By Arianna Perdomo on April 20, 2026

"Democratic U.S. Senate candidates #DavidCostello and #GrahamPlatner outlined their positions on tribal sovereignty and education during a debate organized by the Wabanaki Alliance on April 16 on Indian Island in Old Town, which is home of the #PenobscotNation. The event was hosted by Penobscot Nation members and offered a chance to discuss non-partisan policy affecting #WabanakiNations and candidates’ plans to support those communities.

"Located less than 15 minutes from the #UniversityOfMaine, #IndianIsland sits along the #PenobscotRiver. This reservation serves as a cultural and historical center for the Penobscot people. Within the community there are buildings and museums that reflect ongoing preservation efforts of Wabanaki culture. According to the Wabanaki Alliance, the Penobscot Nation is one of the oldest continuous governments in the world and remains committed to protecting territories, culture and language as a federally recognized #SovereignNation.

"The debate was moderated by Dr. #DarrenRanco, chair of the #NativeAmerican programs at #UMaine. Notably, Democratic candidate Gov. #JanetMills and five-term Republican candidate Sen. #SusanCollins were extended invitations to participate, but were not in attendance. However, Costello and Platner offered insight on their approach to ongoing issues facing Wabanaki nations.

"Opening remarks were delivered by #MaulianBryant, executive director of the Wabanaki Alliance and Chief of the Penobscot Indian Nation, #KirkFrancis. Each candidate then gave a five minute opening introduction explaining why they are running.

"The first round of the debate consisted of eight questions surrounding topics of tribal sovereignty, environmental justice, regulation and the implementation of legislation that would help address these issues. Costello and Platner agreed that there needs to be a restructuring of the government and a new balance of power. Both candidates stated that they would support legislation that helped extend the power to engage the Wabanaki people in issues that are important to them."

Read more:
https://mainecampus.com/category/news/2026/04/wabanaki-alliance-holds-u-s-senate-candidate-forum-candidates-discuss-gaps-in-indigenous-eduction/

Recording of the forum:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_yvkISNZEc&t=74s

#USSenate #UselessSusanCollins #MainePol #Elections2026 #TribalRights #Wabanakik #WabanakiSovereignty
#WabanakiCulturalPreservation #WabanakiHistory #NativeAmericanHistory #CulturalPreservation #WabanakiConfederacy

#Maine & #NewHampshire - Map of Certified Pollinator-Friendly Gardens

Bagley Pond Perennials
Open to the public.

Bedford, New Hampshire (Farm)
Farm

#BelfastME #SoupKitchen
Public

#BridgesHouse (#NHGovernor’s House)
Open to the public. New Hampshire
Governor’s House.

#BrownfieldME Public Library (Municipal)
Public.

Canterbury, NH (Farm)
Petals in the Pines Farm.

Center for Northern Woodlands Education
Open to the public.

Children’s Garden at #FortWilliams Park (Municipal)
Public.

#CurtisMemorialLibrary Children’s Garden (Public)
Open to the public.

Dedham, ME (Farm)
Open to the public.

#Elkins Public Library (Municipal)
Public.

Frisbee Field
Public.

Georges River Land Trust, Cushing, ME
Open to the public.

Grace Episcopal Church, Concord, NH
Public. Church garden.

Hancock Town Library (Library/Municipal)
Public

Haney Hillside Garden, Coastal Maine Botanic Gardens-Organization
Public.

Law Farm Nature Trails
Open to the Public. Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Libra Sun Flower Farm
Farm.

Lincoln, Maine (Historical)
Open to the public for viewing.

McLaughlin Garden and Homestead
Open to the public.

Merrimack, New Hampshire (Business)
Business.

New Gloucester Fairgrounds, ME
Open to the public.

New Gloucester Public Library (Library)
Public library

Nottingham, New Hampshire (Farm)
Farm.

#PollinateNewEngland Garden at Wells Reserve at #Laudholm, #WellsME
Public.

#PollinatorGarden at NH #Audubon Center Massabesic, Auburn NH
Public.

#TheSustainabilityInstitute- James Hall Pollinator Garden
Public.

Thornton Oaks Retirement Community
Public.

Tom Settlemire #CommunityGarden- Brunswick
Community Garden

#TrentonButterflyGarden (Municipal)
Public.

#UMaine Gardens at #TidewaterFarm, #FalmouthME
Open to the public.

#UniversityOfMaineCooperativeExtension, Oxford County
Organization.

#WalesPark Pollinator Garden
Open to the Public. Belfast, Maine.

FMI:
https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/map-points-category/all/

#SolarPunkSunday #GardeningForPollinators #MaineGardens #NHGardens #ButterflyGardens #PollinatorGardens

So, right off the bat, I found a #Hackerspace I didn't know about at #UMaine in #Orono (which I will highlight for SPS). They do RaspberryPi, but not Linux -- but have some cool SPS stuff going on (like speaker repair). There are also some Linux Groups, but I haven't found any that specifically offer workshops. I'll keep looking, @BrambleBearSnoring ...

@coreysnipes

Hype for the Future 62O: UMaine-Presque Isle Solar System Model

https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2026/01/01/hype-for-the-future-62o-umaine-presque-isle-solar-system-model/

#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; [email protected]."

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 [email protected].

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

#HowToVideos from the #UMaineCooperativeExtension

#VictoryGardens for #Maine

A series of videos for #Mainers growing their first #VegetableGarden.

- Episode 1: Vegetable Gardening – Where to Begin
- Episode 2: Planning Your Garden
- Episode 3: Preparing Your Garden Soil
- Episode 4: Get Planting
- Episode 5: Managing Weeds
- Episode 6: How to Water Your Garden
- Episode 7: What’s Wrong With My Plant?
- Episode 8: What to Do With Your Harvest
- Episode 9: Pain-Free Gardening
- Episode 10: Preparing Your Garden for Winter

Watch:
https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/victory-gardens-for-me/

#SolarPunkSunday #Gardening #FoodSecurity #GrowYourOwn #GardeningVideos #UMaine

Some highlights from the #APCAW conference on #AshTrees and #EmeraldAshBorer

#JohnDaigle mentioned chemical treatment on selected trees combined with biological control releases. May not need to keep using chemical treatments if the bio-control takes hold.

EricTopper: "Pheromones could draw EAB away from places which would fall under the bio-control umbrella."
John replied that it has not been tested, as far as he knows.

John Daigle: "The goal ultimately is to co-exist. Get brown ash to evolve to be more resistant, possibly by cross-breeding with other ash trees. That is being done with Manchurian ash and is having success."

Ella MacDonald: "Brown ash used for Wabanaki basket making. Green ash not as suitable for basket making.
We might breed brown with green ash - green ash might be more resistant to EAB. Possibly white ash with brown? However, there us no federal store of black or brown ash seeds. Seed collecting of those two are important. Folks can collect it themselves, after positively identifying the species."

FMI about #SeedCollecting from #APCAW / #UMaine

#Ash Protection Collaboration Across #Waponahkik

Seed Collection and Ash Regeneration

Includes:
- Collecting Ash Seed
- Seed Collection Map and Reporting Tool
- Processing and Storing Ash Seed
- Growing Ash From Seed

https://umaine.edu/apcaw/seed-collection-and-ash-regeneration/

#SolarPunkSunday #Biodiversity #Rewilding #PreserveTheSacred #Maine
#EAB #EmeraldAshBorer
#AshTrees #InvasiveSpecies #Wabanaki
#ProtectTheForests
#MaineNews #SaveTheTrees #WabanakiCulture #WabanakiBasketry #WabanakiTradition #Forestry #ProtectTheSacred #TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge #NativeAmericanBasketry #Sustainability #IndigenousStewardship #CulturalPreservation #InvasiveSpecies #EAB #PreservingNature #TEK #TIK #TraditionalIndigenousKnowledge #Basketry #PreservingTheSacred #PreservingTheForest #WabanakiConfederacy
#WabanakiAlliance

I posted the whole article because of the paywall. I listened to #EllenMacDonald at the #APCAW conference on #EmeraldAshBorer earlier this week. She and #JohnDaigle of #UMaine were facilitating the workshop. This article contains a lot of the same information I learned at the workshop! Seed banks + teaming up with the Wabanaki peoples - modern technology meets traditional knowledge!

Native seeds preserved, protected to counter surging invasives

Calling all home gardeners and eco enthusiasts! Lend a hand this spring: Assist Wabanaki tribes and scientists fighting to save ash trees or partner up with statewide neighbors through local seed banks.

March 17, 2025

"The sun radiated overhead as Tyler Everett surveyed the green hills of the Mi’kmaq Nation in Presque Isle.

"Ash trees, mainly brown ash, are cultural keystone species for Wabanaki communities and wetland ecosystems in the Northeast. However, they’re under threat due to the spread of the emerald ash borer.

"This collective of forest caretakers works together to raise awareness of ash trees’ significance and the efforts, such as seed banking, to conserve them. It continues the work the Brown Ash Taskforce set forth 20 years ago after tribal members detected early signs of the invasive pest.

" 'Emerald ash borer was discovered by basket makers who noticed the trees, whose bark they relied on, looked very unhealthy,' Everett said. 'Our work today still centers around our tribal partners who first sounded the alarm.'

"#APCAW resembles a national movement, the #IndigenousSeedKeepersNetwork, cultivating solidarity within the matrix of regional grassroots seed #sovereignty projects — collecting, growing and sharing #HeirloomSeeds to promote cultural diversity.

"Here’s a look at some of the seed lending and preservation happening here in the Maine, from brown ash to Wabanaki flint corn.

" 'It may be no Doomsday Vault (also known as Svalbard Global Seed Vault),' said Emily Baisden, seed center director at #WildSeedProject. "But we’re doing some great work.'

"So, what’s a seed bank? Picture a temperature-controlled vault with billions of period-sized seeds in foil packets.

"Through storage, the goal is to preserve genetic diversity for future use, protect rare species and develop new crop varieties. Not only do seed banks play a role in food security, but also, at their best, they can restore plant communities after natural disasters like droughts or fires and provide valuable insight on how best to combat environmental stress.

"#SeedBanks operate at the community, national or global level — such as the #PetalmaSeedBank in California, which preserves the region’s agricultural diversity, or the #SvalbardGlobalSeedVault, the global backup for all other seed banks.

"In the far reaches of the Nordic island of Spitsbergen, the aforementioned 'Doomsday Vault' provides the world’s genebank, kept safe in case some catastrophe threatens the planet’s crops. If seed banks are a computer’s filing system, where documents are stored, Svalbard is the external hard drive.

"Enter Maine’s Wild Seed Project, an APCAW partner organization. The group hand collects and distributes 3 million seeds representing over 100 species of Northeast native plants yearly.

" 'Long-term seed banking requires #cryopreservation, akin to flash freezing,' Baisden said. 'It allows seeds to last for decades, if not longer. … We try not to store seeds for more than four years at Wild Seed. We dry them, place them in jars and label them by location. The newest are sold, and the older ones are used in our Seeds for Teachers program.'

"Baisden acknowledged the correlation between landscape management and biodiversity. When native plants disappear, likely through urbanization, the insects that depend on and coevolve with them also decline, as do the animals that rely on those insects (like birds).

" 'Most seeds sold in garden centers are propagated through clonal reproduction,' Baisden said. 'This minimizes genetic diversity, and as we know, #biodiversity is crucial for communal stability.'

"For a long time, the horticulture industry pushed to introduce non-native species that lacked natural predators and could quickly reproduce. Later, when forests were clear-cut in the 1900s, trees like the brown ash fell to the wayside, and non-native vegetation crept in.

" 'Maine, so far, is the only state with non-quarantine habitats free from emerald ash borer,' Baisden said. 'Studying these helps us plan ahead and learn. We hope that by working with #BasketMakers, foresters and scientists, we can store or distribute emerald ash borer–resistant seeds.”

Management shaped by Indigenous wisdom

"The spread of emerald ash borer has already caused 99% brown ash tree mortality in parts of Turtle Island, a small island between Mount Desert Island and Schoodic Point.

"As a group committed to science-informed strategies that align with Wabanaki priorities, APCAW has been collecting seeds (viable for up to eight years) from 46 healthy ash trees to store in a refrigerator at the University of Maine in Orono.

"As Everett noted, Indigenous people have long used brown ash as the primary material for #basketry, valuing its soft, splinty texture as ideal for weaving. The brown ash tree is also part of one of the #Abenaki origin stories.

" 'Brown ash was the root from which all #Wabanaki people emerged,' Everett said.

"The species’ decline evokes deep emotion. Recognizing this, Indigenous communities are at the forefront of APCAW outreach and land-management strategies.

"Program registration links are first shared with tribal partners, and they are often invited to co-facilitate or lead the event discussions. Occasionally, exclusive gatherings are held to allow basket weavers to connect in a more intimate setting.

" 'My job is to engage in a dialogue with our tribal partners and address any reactions they have,' Everett said. 'There’s a strong sense of responsibility to save brown ash, but opinions vary. Some hesitate about allowing the seeds to be stored outside the community.'

"Everett is currently drafting a document to serve as a resource for the #HoultonBand of #Maliseet Indians, #Mikmaq, #Passamaquoddy and #PenobscotNations. By spring 2026, he hopes to publish a public report acknowledging the priorities of Maine’s #Wabanaki people.

"#EllaMcDonald, a colleague of Everett, has centered her master’s thesis on the effectiveness of APCAW’s outreach efforts in inspiring action that benefits both the Wabanaki people and their native forests’ ecosystems.

" 'Out west, we’ve already seen devastating mortality rates of brown ash,' McDonald said. 'It’s just a matter of time before our situation escalates.'

"The group is focused on a project that will test the resistance of native trees to the emerald ash borer next fall in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service. This involves working with private #landowners, who will be asked to grow ash seeds and monitor their growth over time to assess their survival capacity.

"McDonald encouraged readers to get involved. The UMaine website will soon feature a map with priority areas for seed collection and locations where kits with all the necessary materials can be picked up. Those curious can contact [email protected] or sign up for the newsletter to receive updates on upcoming events.

" 'We are witnessing an unprecedented change,' McDonald said. 'What inspires me is to see groups across sectors working together to prepare. So many people genuinely care about our environment. … Together we can make a difference.'

Get involved

"Wild Seed Project held its first online seed-sowing demonstration in November 2021. Now, it offers a range of in-person programs and community events. Courtesy of Wild Seed Project

"There are a few options to join the movement.

"Locals can donate resources to area seed banks, like the Wild Seed Project, or research projects, like APCAW.

"Or harness the power of the dollar and purchase #NativeSeeds for a #rewilding project or #AbenakiFlintCorn, a product that honors seed keepers of the past and pays royalties to APCAW.

"To get involved through volunteerism, the Wild Seed Project actively seeks #SeedStewards to collect, clean, process and package seeds.

" 'The nonprofit is also building a first-of-its-kind Native Seed Center at Cape Elizabeth Land Trust’s Turkey Hill Farm, where plants will grow among natural seed banks, along the woodland edge and throughout the farmstead meadow. To donate, visit wildseedproject.com/the-native-seed-center.

Source [paywall]:
https://www.pressherald.com/2025/03/17/native-seeds-preserved-protected-to-counter-surging-invasives/

#SolarPunkSunday #TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge #NativeAmericanBasketry #Sustainability #IndigenousStewardship #CulturalPreservation #InvasiveSpecies #EAB #PreservingNature #Biodiversity #PreservingTheSacred #PreservingTheForest

[Full article - is behind a paywall] ‘We will not put up with #ICE’: #Students call for #SanctuaryStatus at #UMaine

By Sofia Langlois on April 14, 2025

A rally for sanctuary campus status at the University of Maine was hosted by Students for a Democratic Society (UMO-SDS) in partnership with #JewishVoiceForPeace (JVP) and Triota Epsilon Psi on April 12 in front of Fogler Library. Despite the rainy weekend, dozens of students showed up with handmade signs demanding protections for international students from deportation at an administrative level.

To create a sanctuary campus status at UMaine, the university would need to enact policies that limit Immigrations Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to campus and student information. It would also include a commitment to “non-cooperation” if asked to aid in a search for undocumented students.
SDS Member Gabriel Veilleux led the demonstration with chants before his speech. Some of these rally cries included “Say it once, say it twice: We will not put up with ICE,” “Money for housing and education, not for war and deportation” and “Black Bears, hear us shout: Sanctuary status now.”

Veilleux described current threats of deportation, arrests and detainment that have the potential to reach UMaine. He, like the other participants, believes that university administration must pass a resolution codifying sanctuary status measures to protect immigrants and international students. Veilleux stands firm that the “attack on one is an attack on all” mentality applies to this situation, insisting that UMaine would fail its entire community by remaining neutral.

“We stand here to send a message that the students of UMaine will never yield to the threats and pressure imposed upon us, that we will be steadfast in our #resistance to the #Trump Administration and that we will do all we can to defend our community from ICE invasions and kidnappings,” said Veilleux.
Triota Member Franny Wilson-Charuk addressed the crowd as a proxy for Cheyanne Goroshin, who was absent. Goroshin expressed that UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy cannot uphold her priority to “promote student success” without protecting vulnerable populations on campus. She also emphasized that international students should not be expected to fight for their rights alone. Their ability to succeed may also impact that of their domestic peers and the functioning of UMaine as a whole.

“How do we ensure the success of students when their peers continue to be picked off the streets and detained? How do we ensure student success when admins can’t guarantee that students will be protected from ICE in all buildings on this campus, and when there is no protocol for protecting students who live off campus?,” said Wilson-Charuk.

Wilson-Charuk went on to list multiple ways in which UMaine can take meaningful action. The first is to increase transparency by publishing a list of every building that is restricted or unrestricted from ICE with an explanation as to why. Secondly, to initiate statements from UMPS that agree to prioritize student safety, even from federal agents. The final and primary action is to establish sanctuary status at UMaine.

SDS Member Morgan Ramsay described two situations where international students were targeted as a result of peaceful #activism.

On March 8, Columbia University Graduate Student #MahmoudKhalil was arrested at his apartment by ICE, despite being a permanent resident with a green card. Khalil helped lead protests against Israel. Awaiting trial, Khalil wrote a letter about the circumstances.

At Tufts University, Turkish Doctoral Student #RumeysaOzturk was detained by masked ICE officers dressed in plain clothes on her way to meet friends for dinner on March 25. Ozturk co-authored an op-ed article showing support for Palestinians in Gaza. She had an F1visa and no criminal allegations, but was accused of Hamas alignment according to Ramsay.

“So far, over 600 international students and recent grads across the US have had their visas revoked by the Trump Administration. Many of these visa cancellations are in response to participation in student-led activism…,” said Ramsay. “The Trump Administration is making our constitutional rights increasingly conditional, especially for those who do not hold citizenship status.”

JVP president Talia Cullum mentioned #HolocaustRemembranceDay, or #YomHaShoah next month in connection to the current political climate. Yom HaShoah means “Day of the Catastrophe” in Hebrew. According to Cullum, the phrase “#NeverAgain,” which most frequently refers to the Holocaust, can be applied to issues that are happening now.

“Never again is now. Never again is here. We don’t want a new #gestapo force coming and picking up our students on our campus,” said Cullum.

Cullum also read “First They Came,” a poem written in 1946 by Pastor Martin Niemöller that is meant to inspire mutual advocacy.

Participants holding signs, and a banner that reads “Immigrant students deserve to feel safe at school. Demand sanctuary status now.” Photo by Sofia Langlois
SDS Member Ryan Kennedy shared that one third of immigrants in America are pursuing higher education. He went on to express frustration for federal actions but also for university inaction. Kennedy specifically referenced the Office of Diversity and Inclusion changing its name to the Office for Community and Connections to remove #DEI per the executive order.

“This may be just a name change to some, but what it indicates is fear in the university. When the university is scared, they will turn their back on their students,” said Kennedy. “President Ferrini-Mundy has not made any statements about protections for students, and that is honestly shameful.”

Katelyn Spearrin concluded the speeches by reiterating the rally demands. She insisted that sanctuary status measures must be done prior to harassment from ICE to adequately prepare. Spearrin also thanks participants for their involvement in the cause.

“Everyone who showed up today in support of our international students and staff for the protection of our several vulnerable populations by keeping ICE away from our campus, gaining sanctuary status and advocating for justice, are on the right side of history today,” said Spearrin."

Source:
https://mainecampus.com/category/news/2025/04/we-will-not-put-up-with-ice-students-call-for-sanctuary-status-at-umaine/

#MaineResists #MaineStudentsResist #ResistICE #Deportations #Fascism #Disappeared

Are you safe from digital obsolescence? Apple and Amazon discontinued 22 products and services in 2024 alone, while Microsoft and Meta shut down AI assistants. Could essential tech that you depend on be next? https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jonippolito_digitalcuration-digitalpreservation-glam-activity-7278801046661955584-3FxO

#Archives #Data #DigitalCuration #GLAM #Libraries #Museums #Digipres #DigitalPreservation #Emulation #Migration #Storage #OnlineLearning #UMaine

#FarmingtonMaine #PalestineSolidarity - Rally on Saturday, November 16th, 2024, 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM

Broadway & Main Street
169 Broadway
Farmington, ME, 04938
United States

"Our statewide antiwar coalition will bring its monthly protest series back to Farmington in November.

"Student organizers from #UMF will join us and I'm sure we'll get an update on their ongoing efforts to pressure the #UMaine system to #divest from #Israel.

"News of atrocities in #NorthernGaza continue to horrify the world as well as airstrikes in #Lebanon, #Syria, and #Yemen with many innocent victims.

"The U.S. response? Tell reporters that Israel has the 'right' to target #civilians meanwhile sending the #THAAD missile 'defense' system and U.S. troops to operate it!

"Bring your own signs and banners, or use ours. Join us for a late lunch afterwards.

Co-sponsors:

Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space, #MaineNaturalGuard, #PeaceWorks of Greater Brunswick, Communist Party of Maine, Maine #GreenIndependentParty, Citizens Opposing Active Sonar Threats (#COAST), Party for Socialism & Liberation Maine, Libertarian Party of Maine, People’s Party of Maine, Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine, Veterans for Peace - National, United National Antiwar Coalition (#UNAC), and Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights (#MVPR).

https://www.mvprights.org/events/farmington-palestine-solidarity

#NoWar #FreePalestine #Ceasefirenow #WorldWarBibi #IsraeliWarCrimes #DivestNow

More #autumn #leaves #nature #UMaine

Good for him!!!

Lone man protests for #Palestine before graduating at #UMaine

by Julia Bayly
May 4, 2024

"As pro-Palestine demonstrations, counter-demonstrations and police actions roiled university campuses across the country, things were pretty quiet at the University of Maine commencement Saturday morning.

"The only visible protester of the current U.S. and Israeli policy in #Gaza was graduating senior Declan Riorden of Bangor.

"Wearing a #Palestinian shawl representing the war-torn country’s fields, fishing and trade routes, Riorden said he was protesting in support of the Palestinian people and for accountability from this country."

https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/05/04/education/lone-man-protests-for-palestine-before-graduating-with-umaine-classmates/

#CeasefireNow #Maine #Gaza #GazaSolidarity #FreePalestine

Is #UMaine ’s Experimental 3D-Printed Dwelling the Future of Affordable #Housing? https://downeast.com/home-and-garden/umaine-3d-printed-home/

I almost paid a donation to get these #chestnut seeds last year. Apparently, lucky I waited.

Today's #washingtonpost reports that #maine researchers at #umaine and #universityofnewengland noted mislabled genetically engineered #americanchestnut trees that contained an error not disclosed by #suny

Hopefully, this is a minor setback.

I got my degrees at #UMaine, lived in Bangor for two years after school, and then in Waterville for another two. I return to #Maine often to visit my brother. My parents, other brother, and sister-in-law are all buried there.

I know enough about #Lewiston to recall classmates from that area calling it “LA", because it was often called Lewiston-Auburn, encompassing its neighbor-city. "I'm going home to LA this weekend!" and so on.

So that's all that in my thoughts and in my heart right now.

@jeff
Thanks for posting. I follow the #maine media sites daily especially for anything health or medical related and haven't seen this yet.
Apparently his mom is a #pediatric #picu doc fired by EMMC.
He's a 15 year old college junior at #umaine #umo

#northernlight #EMMC #bangor
#slapp

Why recent water temperatures in the North Atlantic have scientists buzzing | CBC News https://bit.ly/42JVPMe #NOAA #OceanTemperatures #ClimateChange #UMaine #cdnpoli @canadiangreens @cdnpoli

#UMaineSea2Sky Day 2: Our #UMaine team walked to the terminus of Sitaantaagu/Mendenhall #Glacier.

Tremendous recession since last year.

First photo is where we walked onto the glacier one year ago (12 May 2022).

Second photo was taken today from about the same location.

w/ @Alpinesciences and Karl Kreutz

Early morning view from ‘the office’, looking up the Mendenhall Glacier valley from the dormitory at University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau. Not a bad start to #UMaine Sea2Sky 2023 (ERS 410)…

w/ @Alpinesciences and Karl Kreutz

#Sea2Sky23 #UMaineECS #glacier