Grow Your Own Organic Garden

Are you concerned about the rising cost of food? Unsure what the term “certified organic” means? Interested in learning how to grow your own vegetables in a sustainable manner?
Join us for an evening long workshop on how to grow your own garden. We’ll talk about the basics of soil science, how to enrich your soil to produce healthy, high-yielding plants. The course will also cover the basics of making and using compost, the principles of crop rotation and how to incorporate green manures and manage nutrients in the garden. Other topics will include how to tell the difference between cultivated plants and weeds, basic weed control strategies and common insect pests and methods of natural insect control. The instructor will be an experienced farmer or gardener from your region.

April 1, 2010 6-9pm, unless otherwise noted
A complete list of alternative dates/venues is at the bottom of the page.

Each year MOFGA sponsors this statewide educational event at over 30 different locations in Maine. Classes run from 6 to 9 p.m. The workshops are open to the public and to people of all gardening skill and experience levels. They are designed to provide folks with essential skills and knowledge needed to make a transition from conventional to organic gardening. The workshop is offered in partnership with Maine's Adult & Community Education program and community sponsors.

Participants will acquire an understanding of:

the basics of soil science, and how to enrich soil to produce healthy, high yielding plants;
composting methods;
the principles of crop rotation, and how to incorporate green manures and manage nutrients in the garden;
the difference between cultivated plants and weeds, and basic weed control strategies; and
common insect pests and methods of natural insect control.

Classes will be offered at more than 30 locations throughout Maine. Presenters are seasoned MOFGA farmers and gardeners. Please refer to the list below and register using the contact information given for each location.

MOFGA Fact Sheets of Interest

Resources (pdf)

2010 Grow Your Own Organic Garden Locations:

Augusta, Augusta Adult & Community Education, Location: Cony High School, Web Address: www.augustaschools.org, Instructor: John Pino

Bath, RSU 1 Adult Education, Location: 800 High Street Room 301, Web Address: , Instructor: Ben Dearnley

Buxton, Bonny Eagle Adult Education, Bonny Eagle High School, www.sad6.k12.me.us/ae, Instructor: Richard Rudolph

Boothbay Harbor, Boothbay Region Adult Education, Location: Boothbay High School, Web Address: www.boothbayae.org, Instructor: Kyle DePietro

Bucksport, Bucksport Adult & Community Education, Bucksport HS, Broadway, Rm 112, www.bucksportadulted.com, Instructor: Paul Volckhausen

Cape Elizabeth, Cape Elizabeth Community Services, Location: Turkey Hill Farm, Web Address: www.cape.k12.me.us/commserv, Instructor: Sarah Marshall

Damariscotta, Union 74 Adult Education, Location: Great Salt Bay School, 595 Main St. - (Business Rt. 1), Web Address: www.schoolunion74.org/adulted, Instructor: Brendan McQuillen

Dover-Foxcroft, Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative, Location: Dexter Regional High School 14 Abbott Hill, Web Address: www.pvaec.org, Instructor: Jason Kafka

Ellsworth, Ellsworth Adult Education, Location: Ellsworth High School, Web Address: www.ellsworth.maineadulted.org, Instructor: Daniel Huisjen

Fairfield, MSAD 49 Adult & Community Education, Location: Annex, across st from Adult Ed office, 4 School St, Web Address: www.msad49.org, Instructor: Kate Newkirk

Farmington, MSAD 9 Adult & Community Education, Location: Mount Blue Middle School, Web Address: www.fcae.msad9.k12.me.us, Instructor: Bonnie Clark

Fort Kent, MSAD 27 Adult & Community Education, Location: Community High School, Web Address: www.msad27adulted.info, Instructor: Julie Trudel

Gorham, Gorham Adult Education, Location: Gorham Middle School, Room A115, Web Address: www.gcvce.org, Instructor: Bruce Stedman

Gray, MSAD 15 Adult & Community Education, Location: New Gloucester High School, Web Address: www.MSAD15.org, Instructors: Dan & Laird McClure

Hampden, MSAD 22 Adult Education, Location: Reeds Brook Middle School, 28 A Main Road, Instructor: Molly Crouse

Houlton, MSAD 29/70 Adult Education, Location: 18 Military Street, Web Address: www.msad2970adulted.org, Instructor: Dick York

Kennebunk, Adult Education Of The Kennebunks & Arundel, Location: Kennebunk High School, Web Address: www.kennebunk.maineadulted.org, Instructor: Helene Lewand

Kittery, Kittery Adult Education, Location: Robert W Traip Academy, Web Address: www.kitteryschools.org, Instructor: Eric Sideman

Lewiston, Lewiston Adult Education, Location: 156 East Ave, Web Address: www.lewistonadulted.org, Instructor: Bridgette Bartlett

Mount Desert, Mt Desert Island Adult & Community Education, Location: Mt Desert Island High School, Web Address: www.mdihs.u98.k12.me.us, Instructor: Suzanne Morse

North Berwick, Noble Adult & Community Education, Web Address: www.sad60.k12.me.us/nace, Instructor: Mort Mather

Orono, Orono Adult & Community Education, Location: Orono High School, Room 104, Web Address: , Instructors: John Jemison & Eric Gallandt CANCELLED

Porter, MSAD 55 Adult & Community Education, Web Address: www.sad55.org, Instructor: Martha Tracy

Rockport, Five Town CSD Adult & Community Education, Location: 25 Keelson Dr, Web Address: fivetowns.maineadulted.org, Instructors: Diane Schivera & Rosey Guest

Thorndike, MSAD 3 Adult & Community Education Program, Location: MOFGA Common Ground Ed Center, Web Address: www.msad3.org, Instructor: Jack Kertesz

Topsham, Merrymeeting Regional Adult Education, Location: Brunswick High School, Web Address: www.merrymeeting.org, Instructor: Nathan Drummond

Trescott Township, Cobscook Learning Center, Location: Cobscook Learing Center, Web Address: www.thecclc.org, Instructors: Carly DelSignore & Carol Bryan

Waldoboro, MSAD 40 Adult Education, Location: Medomak Valley High School, Web Address: www.msad40.org/schools/adult, Instructor: Sharon Turner

Waterville, Barrels Community Market, Location: Barrels Community Market, Web Address: www.barrelsmarket.com, Instructor: Ed Bowser POSTPONED- Please check Barrels' website for rescheduled date.

Wells, Wells-Ogunquit Adult Community Education, Location: Wells High School, Web Address: www.wocsd.org/Adult Community Education, Instructors: Marilyn & Rick Stanley

The course will also be presented at the following locations on different dates.

Belfast, April 12th- Belfast Coop & Belfast Free Library, Location:Abbott Room, Instructor: CJ Walke
Freeport, April 14th- Freeport Community Library, Location: Freeport Community Library, Instructor: Tracy Weber
Monmouth, April 2nd- Location: Cumston Public Library, Instructor: Nancy Chandler
Vinalhaven, May 8th- Instructor : Karen Jackson

Is it in your community? Check out the Maine Adult Education Website by clicking here.
Interested in being a teacher? Hosting a class in your community? please call the MOFGA office at 207-568-4142.