Mort and Barbara Mather have cultivated crops, kids, organizations and theater work in the decades during which they’ve lived on their MOFGA-certified organic farm in Wells. One of the five vegetable garden areas, with ornamentals and fruit trees planted around the house as well. Mort starts seedlings in this small structure next to his equipment
Lois Labbe and Tom Roberts were the farmers in the spotlight at MOFGA’s 2018 Farmer to Farmer Conference. Sam Gerry (left), Jess Moquin (right) and their son, Malachite, are part of the Snakeroot crew. Labbe’s daughters, Debbie Ferguson (left) and Lori Labbe, are also involved with Snakeroot Farm. By Jean English Photos courtesy of Snakeroot Farm Tom
AgrAbility outreach: working with volunteers to build a raised garden bed at Farm & Homestead Day at MOFGA Cheesemakers move hundreds of pounds of milk in the course of their work, which makes the ergonomics of the cheese room an important consideration. AgrAbility coordinated assistance to help a farm family purchase a modified van, easing
The Soay sheep in the foreground is Jenny, with her twins born this spring; in the background is Juliana, with her single born this spring. Wayne Myers photo A 75 percent Icelandic cashmere dairy goat, the result of an Icelandic upgrading breeding project at Beau Chemin Preservation Farm. Wayne Myers photo By Jo Ann and
Adam Nordell and Johanna Davis grow MOFGA-certified organic vegetables, small grains, flint corn and dry beans in Unity, Maine. Here they stand in a chest-high-by-mid-July field of ‘Abenaki’ flint corn. Cederholm photo Nordell and Davis annually select their ‘Abenaki’ flint corn for seed. They look for eight rows of well-ordered kernels that fill the cob
Trees need at least 20 percent of their total height to have living foliage to thrive and grow well. English photo Maine district forester Morten Moesswilde discussed different uses for a forest, depending in part on soil characteristics and existing species. English photo. By Katy Green and Jean English Maine’s woodlots can provide income, materials
Gene and Mary Margaret Ripley, pictured with their daughter, Harriet, are the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District 2016 Outstanding Cooperators of the Year. The Ripleys rotate four categories or crops – summer crops, salad crops, carrots and fall brassicas – and try to leave at least four years before putting the same block
Kelsey Herrington of MOFGA-certified organic Two Farmers Farm in Scarborough is among the skilled new farmers in Maine. In this photo she is harvesting and preparing leeks for market. Along with Herrington, Dominic Pascarelli of Two Farmers Farm strives for efficient crop production. By Stowell Watters Photos by Lily Piel Every five years the U.S.
Gil Whitehead with Star and Red – and one of two Aussies on the farm. English photo Whitehead heads into the Christmas tree plantation with his team of oxen. In winter, the oxen haul out Christmas trees that customers select and Whitehead cuts. English photo By Jean English Sixteen-year-old Gil Whitehead of MOFGA-certified organic Winterberry
Nicholas Butler of the USDA NRCS Soil Science Division discussed forest stand improvement practices, the relationship of tree species in the woodlot to soil profiles, and the Ecological Site Survey (similar to the Web Soil Survey) that USDA is developing. English photo By Katy Green, Kacey Weber and Jean English In 2016, MOFGA cosponsored four
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