"One hears a lot about the rules of good husbandry; there is only one — leave the land far better than you found it."
- George Henderson, The Farming Ladder
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PO Box 170
Unity, ME 04988
Phone: 207-568-4142
Fax: 207-568-4141
Email: mofga@mofga.org
Physical Address:
294 Crosby Brook Road, Unity, ME
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Spring Growth Conference:
Farming in the Face of Climate Change
Saturday, March 7, 2015 (snow date March 8)
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Common Ground Education Center, Unity
On-farm nutrient cycling is a key way that farms can build resilience in the face of climate change. At this year's Spring Growth Conference, co-sponsored by MOFGA, Unity College and The Resilience Hub, participants will hear about historical trends impacting Maine's weather patterns and the theoretical opportunities for closing the nutrient loop. The keynote speaker is John Aber from the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of New Hampshire. MOFGA's organic crop specialist, Eric Sideman, will facilitate a farmer panel discussion of practices on the farm. Details and registration.
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Organic and Sustainable Agriculture News
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Organic farming boosts farmers markets
ABC News [Australia] - 1/29/2010.By Simon Santow – In the rich soils of Byron Bay, farmer Alisdair Smithsom grows seasonal fruit and vegetables for local markets, and is helping to grow the local economy at the same time. Farmhand Beck was unemployed when she moved to the area, and found the best way to eat organic food was to volunteer on an organic farm for one day a week in exchange for a box of vegies. "A year and a half later, I'm living on the farm, working on the farm, and it's fantastic," she said. |
Six Meaningless Claims on Food Labels
The New York Times - 1/28/2010.By Tara Parker-Pope – Although food labels are supposed to tell us exactly what’s in the food we’re buying, marketers have created a language all their own to make foods sound more healthful than they really are. Today’s “Consumer Ally” column on AOL’s WalletPop site explores misleading food-label lingo, noting that some commonly used phrases have “almost no meaning.” |
Organic or conventional, farmers are working in unison
Kennebec Journal - 1/26/2010.Op-Ed by Jon Olson, Maine Farm Bureau – Maine agriculture is on a roll. While the number of farms in the United States is declining, the number of Maine farms is growing. The last U.S. Department of Agriculture census counted 8,136 Maine farms in 2007. That's a gain of over 2,000 farms in the last 10 years. Farmers markets are increasingly popular and more and more people are signing up to buy directly from farmers through CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture). |
And the winner of the USDA food safety sweepstakes is …
Grist - 1/26/2010.By Tom Laskawy – Dr. Elizabeth Hagen! No, you’re not expected to know who she is. Suffice it to say that, as anticipated, USDA Chief Tom Vilsack turned to an under-the-radar choice for Under Secretary of Food Safety. Hagen, currently the USDA’s Chief Medical Officer, will, if confirmed, take charge of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which is responsible for the safety of meat and poultry products. The interesting aspect of this pick is that she is an infectious disease doc and public health specialist who has been working at USDA for several years – and thus should have a good grounding in food safety methods. |
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Check out MOFGA's
online community!
Create your own profile website
List products and services that you offer
Post classified ads
Join forum discussions |
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MidCoast Farm For Rent by Second Draught Farm: "28 Acre farm for rent in farm-friendly Washington, Maine. Approximately 12 open acres suitable for vegetables or grazing. P..." |
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Seeking 10 Bred Ewes by Sylvester Manor Educational Farm: "I am on the search for ten bred ewes. Healthy is the most important. I am open to any breed. Ideally bred to lamb in April..." |
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Program Manager New Lands Farm by New Lands Farm: "New Lands Farm, a member of Ascentria Care Alliance, works to provide refugee and immigrant farmers with the tools and resour..." |
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Head Chef and Assistant Chef by Hog Island Audubon Camp: "Head Chef and Assistant Chef to work at the historic Hog Island Audubon Camp, in Muscongus Bay, Bremen, Maine. This is a 4-1/..." |
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February 27 - Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Fair in Augusta |
Friday, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., Viles Arboretum, 153 Hospital St., Augusta. Information at www.vilesarboretum.org or call 207-626-7989. More information. |
February 28 - School Garden Regional Gathering |
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Morris Farm, Wiscasset. Please RSVP at Eventbrite. Learn about other Regional Gatherings near you at www.msgn.org. |
February 28 - Organic Orcharding Series: Pruning Fruit Trees |
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Common Ground Education Center, Unity. Instructor: C.J. Walke. $50 non-members; $35 members. Information and registration. |
February 28 - Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Fair in Portland |
Saturday, 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., Urban Farm Fermentory, 200 Anderson St., Portland. Contact Ashley Bahlkow (207) 761-4769 (office); fsf@cultivatingcommunity.org. More information. |
March 1 - Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Fair in Belfast |
Sunday, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., Abbott Room, Belfast Free Library, 106 High St., Belfast. Contact Kate Harris – kate@belfast.coop or call 207-338-9509. More information. |
March 1 - Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Fair in Hallowell |
Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 20 Union St., Hallowell. Contact Jessica Gorton – mama_jess@hotmail.com or call 207-522-5536. More information. |
March 1 - Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Fair in Bangor |
Sunday, 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., Sea Dog Brewing Company Banquet Hall, 26 Front St., Bangor. Contact Kate Sheridan - kate@foodandmedicine.org; 207-613-5285. More information. |
March 6 - MOFGA’s Common Ground radio show |
10 to 11 a.m. on WERU, 89.9 and 99.9 FM and weru.org |
March 7 - MOFGA’s Spring Growth Conference: Farming in the Face of Climate Change |
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., MOFGA’s Common Ground Education Center, Unity. Keynote speaker John Aber and a panel of farmers focus on weather- and climate-related changes farmers are experiencing. Includes open discussion on strategies for farmers to deal with changing climate. Information and registration. |
March 12 - Growing Tomatoes in a High Tunnel |
Thursday, 10 a.m. to noon, Houlton Higher Education Center, Rm 110, 18 Military St, Houlton. Presented by Eric Sideman, Crop Specialist, MOFGA. Hosted by the Southern Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District. The class is the second in a three-part high tunnel series funded by the Broad Reach Fund of the Maine Community Foundation. 1 pesticide credit is available through the class. A complementary lunch will be served. Pre-registration is requested. Contact the SASWCD at 532-2087 x 101 or angela.wotton@me.nacdnet.net |
March 14 - MOFGA’s Organic Orcharding Workshop: Pruning
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10 a.m.to 3 p.m. Two locations: 1. New Leaf Farm, Durham (instructor: Angus Deighan); 2. between Ellsworth and Cherryfield (instructor: Brannin Buehner of Bear & Owl Tree Care). Learn to prune fruit trees to encourage vigorous growth, heavy fruit set and quality fruit yield. For beginning and experienced growers. $50 non-members; $35 members. More information. The workshop is also offered at Apple Acres Farm in Hiram. $25 per person. FMI visit the Resilience Hub. |
March 14 - Growing Issues: Urban Agriculture |
11 a.m., Bernard Osher Foundation Auditorium, Portland Museum of Art. Join this panel of experts on local sustainability in their discussion of the importance of public food forests, public orcharding, edible street trees, permablitzing and community gardens. A Community Collaboration between Portland Museum of Art and MOFGA. Free for PMA and MOFGA members ($10 for the general public). Schedule and details. |
March 18 - Hancock County Grower Meeting |
Wednesday, Hancock County Extension Office, 63 Boggy Brook Rd., Ellsworth. Sessions on certification, soil health and crop planning presented by local farmers. Opportunity to take the Pesticide Applicator License exam; RSVP at least 8 days prior. Details. |
March 18 and 25 - Organic Farming: Principles and Practices |
Two-part course designed to provide farmers with a strong background in soils, weeds and pest management, enabling them to make good management decisions. Lectures by Eric Sideman, MOFGA's organic crop specialist, and local farmers. Information and registration. |
March 21 - 21st Annual Rural Living Day |
Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Mt. View High School, 577 Mt. View Rd. (Rt. 220), Thorndike. Classes on gardening, forestry and rural life. Co-sponsored by MOFGA and UMaine Cooperative Extension. FMI: UMaine Extension, 1-800-287-1426. Deadline to register is Friday, March 13. |
March 21 - MOFGA’s Organic Orcharding Workshop: Renovating Old Trees |
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Locations: Palermo with Angus Deighan; Beech Hill Farm, Mount Desert with C.J. Walke; or Kermit Nickerson School, Swanville with Sean Murphy. Do you have old trees on your land that you would like to bring back into production? Learn how to renovate and tend your heritage trees. $50 non-members; $35 members. Information and registration. |
March 26 - Growing Issues: The Hidden World of Bees and Pollination |
6:30 p.m., Bernard Osher Foundation Auditorium, Portland Museum of Art. Hear Christy Hemenway from Gold Star Honeybees, Heather Spalding, MOFGA deputy director, and Fedco Seeds founder CR Lawn talk about our pollinators and the national and local issues that concern them and our food supply. Maine honey and mead tasting to follow. A Community Collaboration between Portland Museum of Art and MOFGA. Free for PMA and MOFGA members ($10 for the general public). Schedule and details. |
March 27 - Lincoln/Knox County Grower Meeting |
Friday, Knox-Lincoln County Extension Office, 377 Manktown Rd., Waldoboro. Sessions on certification, soil health and crop planning presented by local farmers. Opportunity to take the Pesticide Applicator License exam; RSVP at least 8 days prior. Details. |
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See the full calendar ... |
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