"Take rest; a field that has rested gives a beautiful crop."
- Ovid
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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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DuPont-Dow Corn Defeated by Armyworms in Florida: Study
Bloomberg - 11/16/2012. By Jack Kaskey - Fall armyworms in southern Florida survived a pesticide engineered into corn by Dow Chemical Co. (DOW) and DuPont Co., the second insect to show signs of resistance to genetically modified crops in the U.S., according to a study. |
Corporate Giant Comes Out Against GMOs
Willamette Live - 11/15/2012. Kaiser Permanente – the largest managed healthcare organization in the United States – recommends that its members limit their exposure to GE crops. “Despite what the biotech industry might say,” reports Kaiser Permanente, “there is little research on the long-term effects of GMOs on human health. Independent research has found that several varieties of GMO corn caused organ damage in rats. Other studies have found that GMOs may lead to an inability in animals to reproduce.” The article recommends buying organic foods to avoid GE ingredients; avoiding foods made with non-organic corn, cottonseed, canola and soy oil; buying foods with the Non-GMO Project Verified seal; and asking at local markets if their foods are GE-free. |
Cherry tomato ‘Jasper’ new 2013 AAS winner
All America Selections - 11/14/2012. Cherry tomato ‘Jasper’ F1 is one of the three vegetables which are announced by the All-America Selections (AAS) as new 2013 winners. ‘Jasper’, bred by Johnny’s Selected Seeds, has according to the AAS judges an excellent taste, a long harvest window and outstanding performance. An added bonus is high disease resistance to Late Blight, Fusarium races 1, 2 and Early Blight.” |
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Check out MOFGA's
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Yeomans Plow for sale by Plowshares Community Farm: "The Yeomans Plow is the king of reduced tillage. We have switched from tillage systems to permanent orchards, so we do not ne..." |
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Peach trees available this spring by Plowshares Community Farm: "Contender Peach (yellow freestone), more cold hardy than most. Just $24 each, 3/8" caliper, the best size for establishing l..." |
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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 8 - Film presented by MOFGA’s Green Cemetery Committee |
MOFGA's Green Cemetery Committee invites the public to a free film series on End of Life issues. 1:30 p.m. at MOFGA's Education Center in Unity. Several short films will be shown to inform about choices and inspire planning and preparing ahead. Save the date for the last film in our series to be shown on April 12. FMI contact Nancy at 568-7597. |
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. |
22 – Maine Maple Sunday |
Some sugarhouses are offering events on both Saturday and Sunday. List of participating sugarhouses. This list includes three MOFGA certified organic maple syrup producers: Kinney's Sugarhouse in Knox, Sparky's Moody Mountain Maple in Hope and Strawberry Hill Farms in Skowhegan. MOFGA certifies more than four dozen organic maple syrup producers. |
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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