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.
Grow Your Own Organic Garden will be offered at locations around the state.
Each year MOFGA sponsors this statewide educational event at over 20 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.
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 20 locations throughout Maine. Presenters are seasoned MOFGA farmers and gardeners. Please refer to the list below and register using the phone numbers given for each location.
MOFGA Fact Sheets of Interest
Resources (pdf)
A PowerPoint presentation of the class is available online.
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: TBA
Freeport, April 14th- Freeport Community Library, Location: Freeport Community Library, Instructor: TBA
Gardiner, MSAD 11 Adult Education, Gardiner HS, Room 313, www.msad11.org/adulted, Instructor: Michele Roy
Gorham, Gorham Adult Education, Location: Gorham Middle School, Room A115, Web Address: www.gcvce.org, Instructor: TBA
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: TBA
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: , Instructor: Eric Sideman
Kittery, Kittery Adult Education, Location: Robert W Traip Academy, Web Address: www.kitteryschools.org, Instructor: TBA
Lewiston, Lewiston Adult Education, Location: 156 East Ave, Web Address: www.lewistonadulted.org, Instructor: Bridgette Bartlett
Monmouth, April 2nd- Location: Cumston Public Library, Instructor: Nancy Chandler
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
N 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: , Instructor: John Jemison & Eric Gallandt
Porter, MSAD 55 Adult & Community Education, Web Address: www.sad55.org, Instructor: TBA
Rockport, Five Town CSD Adult & Community Education, Location: 25 Keelson Dr, Web Address: fivetowns.maineadulted.org, Instructors: Diane Schivera & Rosey Guest
Sullivan, Sumner Adult Education, Location: Sumner Memorial High School, 2456 US Highway 1, Web Address: www.sumner.maineedulted.org, Instructor: Cynthia Thayer
Thorndike, MSAD 3 Adult & Community Education Program, Location: MOFGA Common Ground Ed Center, Web Address: www.msad3.org, Instructor: TBA
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: TBA
Wells, Wells-Ogunquit Adult Community Education, Location: Wells High School, Web Address: www.wocsd.org/Adult Community Education, Instructors: Marilyn & Rick Stanley
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.