Tour the hobby-scale maple sugaring operation at Tessier's farm in Skowhegan. We'll see the Tessier's 50 bucket system, learn how they balance boiling with the rest of their farm operation and discuss how they designed and built their own flat pan evaporator.REGISTER HEREQuestions? Email [email protected]
Join Michael Friedland to learn about Maine's lumber economy. Friedland is the owner of a socially and environmentally conscious lumberyard in Southern Maine that uses a farmers' market model to aggregate and sell products from small sawmills. We will discuss the difference between sustainable forestry and sustainable forestry products and explore opportunities and obstacles to […]
This introductory one and half-day in-person field course is suitable for new or beginning chainsaw operators, and is designed to serve women and non-binary participants. Our overwhelming focus is on safety and creating a space where participants feel comfortable asking questions and learning at their own pace. Chainsaws are serious business. Topics to be covered […]
Join Conservation biologist Aleta McKeage to learn about the role assisted tree species migration may play in maintaining resilient forests in Maine and help MOFGA and Waldo SWCD establish a small climate-adapted tree research site. During this hands-on volunteer workday, we'll briefly discuss the stresses native trees are currently experiencing, explore the risks and benefits […]
This introductory one and half-day in-person field course is suitable for new or beginning chainsaw operators. Our overwhelming focus is on safety and creating a space where participants feel comfortable asking questions and learning at their own pace. Chainsaws are serious business. Topics to be covered include personal protective equipment (PPE), saw operation and maintenance, […]
This introductory one and half-day in-person field course is suitable for new or beginning chainsaw operators. Our overwhelming focus is on safety and creating a space where participants feel comfortable asking questions and learning at their own pace. Chainsaws are serious business. Topics to be covered include personal protective equipment (PPE), saw operation and maintenance, […]
This half-day field course taught by foresters, soil scientists and experienced land managers is a great introduction to the basics of forest ecology and active stewardship. While touring Hidden Valley Nature Center, we will cover woodland ecology, silviculture, legal issues, management plans, forest tending activities and more. Designed for those with beginner to intermediate experience […]
Join us to learn some new skills & enjoy a summer's day on the MOFGA grounds!This free & family-friendly event is open to all. All workshops are hands-on ... come learn with us • Try out a scythe or expand your scything know-how! Learn about sharpening & peening a blade; mowing technique; making hay and […]
Join us for a moderate hike to explore both managed forests at MOFGA and unmanaged old forests along the Hills to Sea trail. We’ll discuss the value of unmanaged, late-successional forests for carbon storage and healthy ecosystems, and see some spectacularly large, old trees. Leaders Buck O'Herin and Aleta McKeage will also share information about […]
Learn the basic skills needed to safely use a winch-equipped farm tractor in the woods. This beginner-level course will cover basic tractor and winch operation, building hitches, skid trail layout, landing management and techniques to limit residual stand damage. The course will not include hands-on tree felling instruction. Please bring a lunch.$100; $75 MOFGA members.REGISTER […]
Learn safe chainsaw operation in this one-and-a-half-day course open to femme, non-binary, trans and women participants. We'll cover personal protective equipment (PPE) and chainsaw selection and practice safe handling and open-face bore cutting techniques with instructor supervision. Designed for beginners. Our overwhelming focus is on safety and creating a space where participants feel comfortable asking […]
Join professional sawyer Nick Zandstra for a hands-on opportunity to learn about portable bandsaw mills. The course will cover basic mill operation, mill yard layout and techniques to maximize lumber quality while milling hardwood and pine logs harvested from the MOFGA woodlot.Please note: Though the course will be taught using a fully-hydraulic Woodmizer mill, the […]
See Dewey’s Lumber and Cedar Mill in operation and learn how they’ve succeeded by staying small and producing a high-quality, specialized product.REGISTER HERE.Questions? Please email [email protected]
Learn the basics of starting or growing a financially viable small sawmill business. We'll discuss opportunities for sawmill businesses and explore different models, strategies and products. This is the first in a two-part business development webinar series led by Harry Watt, Wood Products Specialist at North Carolina State Extension. Designed for aspiring and beginning small-scale […]
Join Harry Watt, wood products specialist at North Carolina State Extension, to learn about marketing avenues and opportunities for small sawmill businesses. We'll also discuss product pricing, basic financial metrics and cost of production. Designed for aspiring and beginning business owners but open to all.REGISTER HERE.Questions? Please email [email protected]
$60 general admission; $55 for MOFGA members Make Your Own Festive Wreath with organic balsam fir greens! Join Celebration Tree Farm & Wellness Center to learn how to make your own wreath. We’ll provide organic balsam fir greens harvested from the forest in Durham, along with dried flowers from Wolfe's Neck Farm, pine cones, and […]
Join Joseph Roy, private lands wildlife biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, for a discussion about wildlife habitat management. Joe will share the four principles of wildfire habitat: cover/shelter, food, space and water. He will cover ways to maintain and improve the condition of each of these elements to benefit wildlife, […]
$60 general admission; $55 for MOFGA membersMake Your Own Festive Wreath with organic balsam fir greens!Join Celebration Tree Farm & Wellness Center to learn how to make your own wreath. We’ll provide organic balsam fir greens harvested from the forest in Durham, along with dried flowers from Wolfes Neck Farm, pine cones, and ribbons. You’ll […]
Are you concerned about the impacts of climate change on forests? Join this webinar to learn about how our forests are impacted by climate change and steps we can take to increase forest resilience. You will also learn about available resources, including a new resource recently developed by UVM Extension, Vermont Forests, Parks and Recreation, […]
Understanding how to manage and take care of forests in an uncertain future is a complex undertaking. In this webinar with Vermont Counnty Forester Ethan Tapper, we’ll discuss how to balance managing forests for climate resilience and adaptation, carbon sequestration and storage, wildlife habitat, and biodiversity, while also considering the benefits of local renewable resources […]
Join us for a hands-on low-impact forestry project! Our forests in Maine face extraordinary stressors and, at the MOFGA campus, our monoculture pine stands and our young stands are especially vulnerable. To help demonstrate proactive climate action, we are planting a selection of carefully selected new tree species which will be observed and cared for in […]
$200; $150 MOFGA members.Learn safe chainsaw operation in this one-and-a-half-day course open to femme, nonbinary, trans and women participants. We'll cover why well-fitting personal protective equipment (PPE) is important and where to find it. We'll also perform basic chainsaw maintenance, and practice safe handling and cutting techniques with instructor supervision. This workshop is designed for […]
MOFGA's campus in Unity, Maine, is home to acres of forests and fields as well as demonstration gardens, orchards and other plantings. We hope you'll join us for this opportunity to enjoy and learn from these features on campus this summer as part of our twilight gatherings. MOFGA is home to a collection of trees […]
$200; $150 MOFGA and Lakes Environmental Association members. Learn safe chainsaw operation in these one-and-a-half-day courses. We’ll cover personal protective equipment (PPE) and chainsaw selection, and practice safe handling and open-face bore cutting techniques with instructor supervision. Designed for beginners. REGISTER HERE. Learn more about our chainsaw safety courses.
Join us for a walk and talk to explore our new climate adapted tree planting! We will meet to see the new planting of 14 trees (with 14 more to come) with Aleta McKeage of the Waldo County Soil & Water district, who is partnering with us on this project. Our forests in Maine face extraordinary stressors. The MOFGA campus […]
$100; $75 MOFGA members.Learn the basic skills needed to safely use a winch-equipped farm tractor in the woods. This beginner-level course will cover basic tractor and winch operation, building hitches, skid trail layout, landing management and techniques to limit residual stand damage. The course will not include hands-on tree felling instruction.This workshop is full!Email [email protected] […]
The Common Ground Country Fair will be held at MOFGA’s Common Ground Education Center in Unity, Maine on September 22, 23, and 24, 2023. MOFGA’s annual celebration of rural living features 1000+ exhibitors and speakers, and emphasizes vibrant communities, sustainable living and local economies, while highlighting organic agriculture. Learn more here. Advance tickets are on sale […]
$100; $75 MOFGA members.Join professional sawyer Nick Zandstra for a hands-on opportunity to learn about portable bandsaw mills. The course will cover basic mill operation, mill yard layout and techniques to maximize lumber quality while milling logs harvested from the MOFGA woodlot. Please note: Though the course will be taught using a fully-hydraulic Woodmizer mill, […]
Join University of Maine Extension Maple Industry Educator Jason Lilley to learn everything you need to know about making your own maple syrup. We'll discuss identifying and tapping trees, collecting and boiling sap, filtering, grading, and canning syrup. Jason will focus on homestead-scale systems that require a limited initial investment in equipment. This webinar is […]
*Free for Journeyperson program participants and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color). Scholarship application for anyone interested is available here. Mushrooms are a delicious addition to almost any garden, homestead, woodlot, or farm. In this workshop, learn how to select mushroom logs and varieties, with a specific focus on shiitakes; design an appropriate site for growing […]
*Update: this panel was originally hybrid but is now fully remote (on Zoom). Registrants will receive access to the Zoom link ahead of the event.* Join us for a panel presentation featuring wood bank leaders from around the state of Maine who will share their stories of organizing and running wood banks. Sharing similarities with food […]
Join us for a discussion on available financial incentives and assistance with the Maine Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service! Financials can be a large limiting factor to stewarding your land well. Luckily, there are resources available - whether you need a new bridge, have an understory of barberry, or simply need an updated forest […]
*Registration is free for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) community members, as well as individuals enrolled in MOFGA's Journeyperson program.Learn about assisted migration efforts at MOFGA's woodlot; strategies for growing nursery stock; planting new trees for assisted migration; as well as more broadly planning climate adaptation efforts. Plus, enjoy lunch with colleagues!REGISTER HEREOur […]
*Registration is free for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) community members, as well as members of the MOFGA Journeyperson program. In this session, Dr. Jay Wason and two of his current graduate students, Laura Pinover and Emily MacDonald, will discuss how their recent and ongoing research efforts are helping us understand how forest […]
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