We are excited to build, expand, and maintain MOFGA’s trail system at our Education Center in Unity, ME. Be part of building the infrastructure for visitors to enjoy for years to come! SIGN UP HERE. Stay tuned for more volunteer dates this fall!
Join our Low-Impact Forestry Specialist and spend the morning helping us remove invasive plants from our woodlot.So called "invasive" plants in our woodlot, including shrubby honeysuckle, multiflora rose, false glossy buckthorn, bittersweet vine, and more, are being actively managed. We are working on removing these plants over time through a cost-share program with NRCS. Learn more […]
Join Out in the Open alongside MOFGA’s Low Impact Forestry staff for a forest work day. Learn basic trail maintenance skills while finishing a ¼ mile trail and create a fairy village. This will entail moving and cutting limbs using hand saws and other tools, and happen with guidance from an experienced trail builder. The […]
Join us for a morning of races, a farmer’s market, music, and so much fun! This is not your ordinary race. Racehorses have been giving their all on the Cumberland Fairground track for 154 years. Imagine the finish you’ll have tapping into their spirited, courageous, and determined energy! We are getting creative with details to […]
Join herbalist, farmer, and author Kathi Langelier for a guided tour of Herbal Revolution’s certified organic herb farm in Union, Maine. With over 30 years of experience, Kathi will share insights into cultivating medicinal herbs and running a value- added herbal products business. Come walk the farm and learn the ins and outs of running […]
Join Maine Grain Alliance's Director of Heritage Seed Restoration, Richard Roberts, for a winter grain planting demonstration on September 4! This workshop is an excellent hands-on opportunity for established and/or transitioning organic grain growers of any scale.REGISTER HERE.NOTE: Exact date and field location (Skowhegan area) are subject to change based on weather conditions. Please register […]
Tour an urban backyard garden featuring permaculture design principles in Scarborough, Maine!Gardener and herbalist Katie Sol DeLorme has spent the past ten years building her backyard garden, guided by permaculture design principles. The garden now feeds her family and community, grows a variety of herbs that she uses for her botanical products business, and offers […]
This event is hosted by the Maine Tasting Center.Calling all garlic lovers! If you want to grow your own garlic (or grow bigger and healthier garlic), this is the class for you! This class will be taught by Meredith Coffin, a large-scale garlic farmer from Freedom Maine, and a popular speaker at the Common Ground […]
This event is hosted by the Maine Tasting Center.What to do with all that fresh garlic you harvested from your garden? Do you want to explore savory jams? Do you want to learn how to safely use the water-bath technique for preserving jams and jellies. Then this is the class for you!Join us for a […]
Join us for an afternoon forest tour of Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson, Maine. Hidden Valley Nature Center covers nearly 1,000 acres of forested land and is managed with low-impact forestry principles in mind. Learn more about sustainable forestry at Hidden Valley Nature Center here.This tour will include up to a mile of walking. Participants will encounter uneven […]
This event is hosted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.This webinar will cover the essentials of growing your own garlic, from planting and care to harvest and storage. Participants will also learn how to identify and address common issues that may arise during the growing season. Perfect for gardeners of all levels.Speaker: Peyton GinakesBio: Peyton […]
The Common Ground Country Fair will be held at MOFGA’s Common Ground Education Center in Unity, Maine on September 19, 20, and 21, 2025. 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 […]
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, the techniques discussed are […]
This event is hosted by College of the Atlantic (COA).Do you love Robin Wall Kimmerer's words and hunger for putting them into practice in your life? Join us for a lively, participatory practice and conversation of gift economy with Petra Page-Mann of Fruition Seeds. After 12 years of selling regionally adapted seeds from their farm […]
This event is hosted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.This webinar will review the past growing season, highlighting what worked well and what can be improved. We’ll explore fall tasks that help wind down the garden, while also laying the groundwork for a more successful season ahead. Topics include planning adjustments, planting considerations, and […]
Join one of Maine's largest organic grain growers, Sean O'Donnell, for a farm tour and field day at Rusted Rooster Farm, featuring an in-depth discussion on grain growing, post-harvest handling, and a (weather-dependent) oat harvest demonstration!REGISTER HERE.
The Shaw Institute is proud to be screening the award-winning documentary short film, SLUDGE: A PFAS UPRISING (28 minutes), followed by a panel discussion featuring filmmakers, PFAS experts, and Maine family farmers that are featured in the film. The audience will also have the opportunity to ask questions. Our team served as advisors on the […]
Join us for a farm field day at Sasanoa Brewing – Maine's only certified organic brewery! This event will feature a tour of Sasanoa's brewing operation with owner Kyle DePietro, alongside Seth Kroeck of Crystal Spring Farm and Ian Gerring of Blue Ox Malthouse. They will share insights on growing, sourcing, and brewing with organic […]
Join our Low-Impact Forestry Specialist for work in our Assisted Migration plot. Assisted Migration is the practice of aiding species in their movement as a response to climate change. MOFGA has set aside a small plot in our woods as a place for experimentation with Assisted Migration. Interested in learning more about assisted migration? Click […]
Join us for our three-part, online series: Starting Your Farm.First in the series is Accessing Resources. If you are interested in starting a farm, it is never too soon to consider your options of how to access land and capital resources. Join Maine’s Field Agent for Land For Good and Bo Dennis, MOFGA’s beginning farmer […]
How can gardening be a pathway for community resilience in the face of climate change? Join us for an evening webinar to hear from representatives of Mt. Joy Community Orchard, Cultivating Community, and Waldo County Bounty, about some localized efforts in Maine. Learn about the connections between gardening, community, and climate change; how these organizations build community at these […]
Join us for a morning forest tour of Steadfast Farm in Parkman, Maine. Sam Brown, forester and logger, has stewarded Steadfast Farm's woodlot with low-impact forestry principles in mind. As a volunteer and forestry community member, Brown has played a foundational role over the years in the development of MOFGA's Low-Impact Forestry Program.This tour will include up to a mile of walking. […]
This event his hosted by Cobscook Institute, with presentations from MOFGA's Orchard Manager, C.J. Walke.Join Cobscook Institute to celebrate the Apple! October 3-6 they'll host a slate of apple-related activities. Register separately for each event. Click to learn more. Apple Fest Schedule Friday, October 39:30-11:30am: Apple Harvesting Field Trip with Cobscook Experiential Program, open to the […]
This event is hosted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Join us for a webinar exploring three essential pillars of running a successful native plant nursery: passion, patience, and product. We’ll dive into the practical, logistical, and personal aspects of starting and sustaining a nursery business, including day to day operations. Whether you’re just […]
This event is hosted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.This webinar will review how to grow native plants from seed, focusing on easy to grow native perennials suited for Maine gardens. We’ll guide you through the process, from sowing seeds to transplanting seedlings, using straightforward techniques that any gardener can apply. Topics will include […]
Join us at the Blue Hill Co-Op for a cider and apple tasting to celebrate fall!The cider and apple tasting will begin at 4 pm. Sarah Alexander, Executive Director of MOFGA, will speak at 5:00 p.m. to share news, updates, and discuss the work ahead.RSVP HEREQuestions? Email Joseph Nowak at [email protected].
Join MOFGA's Low-Impact Forestry Program and the Maine Wood Banks Network for this day of learning about the importance and function of wood banks and supporting resources in local communities, wood selection and safety while burning wood, firewood processing, and stay for the afternoon work session to learn how to build a Holzhausen (German-style circular firewood stack). REGISTER HERE. Agenda: 9:00 […]
Registration is now open for the 2025 Maine Farm to Institution Summit! This year’s event, hosted by the Maine Farm & Sea to Institution Network and the Maine Farm to School Network, builds on the legacy of the Maine Farm to School Conference and expands its scope to engage other institutional settings from K–12 schools, Early […]
This event is hosted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.This webinar will cover the basics of composting, including how to start and maintain a compost pile. Participants will also learn how to properly use finished compost to enrich soil and support plant growth. Perfect for gardeners of all levels.Speaker: Nick RowleyBio: Nick Rowley is the […]
This event is hosted by the Maine Tasting Center. Join Waldoberry Farm, a local farm specializing in aronia berries and other unique fruits, for a deep dive into one of Maine’s most underappreciated superfruits! If you’ve never heard of aronia, you’re not alone—this class will introduce you to its history, flavor, and potential health benefits, all […]
Join us for our three-part, online series: Starting Your Farm.Next in the series is Selecting Enterprises. Once you have begun to explore your options for starting a farm, it is important to consider what you plan to grow and sell. Join Nicolas Lindholm, MOFGA’s business and marketing specialist, for an interactive workshop on enterprise selection […]
Join MOFGA members and friends and our Local Wood WORKS (LWW) partners for a day in the woods in Wayne to observe an in-progress 25-acre sustainable timber harvest and sawmill demonstration. The family will build a small year-round cabin with eastern hemlock, northern white cedar, and white pine milled from the woodlot and using income from the timber […]
*This workshop has reached capacity. To be added to the waitlist, please email [email protected] you're grazing livestock on pocket-sized pastures, join us to learn strategies for managing pasture health on homesteads with limited acreage. This workshop will take place at a small homestead, where pastures are managed on a tight rotational grazing plan. MOFGA's Livestock & Dairy Specialist, Jacki […]
This by-donation event and will take place at MOFGA’s Common Ground Education Center in Unity, ME with a mix of outdoor and indoor activities. Join MOFGA for a celebration of apples and the fall harvest! This event's mainstay is the apple, and the fruit is central among many of our vendors, workshops, and activities.This family-friendly event […]
This class is hosted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Visit this page for more info.The Maine Horticulture Apprentice Training is ideal for individuals looking to explore a new career path, enhance existing skills, or launch a business in horticulture. This program blends flexible, self-paced online learning with a hands-on apprenticeship guided by experienced industry mentors. “We developed […]
This class is hosted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Visit this page for more information.For those looking to build their gardening knowledge without any volunteer or apprenticeship requirements, the Maine Gardener Training offers a fully virtual option focused on foundational horticulture education. Designed for gardeners of all levels, this course provides in-depth instruction […]
This event is hosted by College of the Atlantic (COA).Join us for a discussion with Sarah Alexander, Executive Director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, on the evolving federal policy landscape and its impact on Maine's farmers and eaters. Learn how recent changes and ongoing debates in federal agricultural policy are directly shaping […]
This event has sold out. To be added to the waitlist, please email [email protected] the art of cheese making from Jean Koons, from Kennebec Cheesery in this evening workshop! This workshop will begin with an introduction to the history of cheesemaking, dairy cultures, and sanitation practices. Jean will then talk through the process of making yoghurt and cheeses while attendees participate […]
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 and structured to create a welcoming learning environment for LGBTQ+ beginner-level chainsaw users. Day 1 of this course will run 10am – 4pm, and Day […]
Join UMaine Cooperative Extension and Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association at Pine Root Farm in Steep Falls to discuss how to optimize soil health in sandy soils. Ruby Nelson, of Pine Root Farm, will discuss her current practices, process of transitioning to organic and the opportunities and challenges of growing on the sandy soils […]
Organic dairy farms are an integral part of Maine’s landscape and economy. Faithful Venture Farm, nestled in the rolling Searsmont hills of coastal Maine is owned and operated by the Mehuron family. The value of dairy is exemplified by this family in their dedication to the land and animals they steward. FREE. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Please […]
Join us for our three-part, online series: Starting Your Farm.The final part of our series is Planning for Your First Year in Production. Designed for participants who have attended session one and two, this workshop will cover how to create a production plan for your first year. This interactive workshop will guide you through the […]
Join us at the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association in Unity for a discussion on planning for disasters when owning livestock. We will have a presentation followed by a panel of speakers to discuss what to expect from authorities and industry professionals, to cover best practices vs the realities of having systems in place […]
Join one of the most engaging and impactful teachers on small farm finances, Julia Shanks, for a one-day intensive course that will focus on three core concepts: developing a chart of accounts, enterprise budgeting, and forecasting sales and expenses to build a cash flow projection for your farm. This daylong workshop will be part “lecture” […]
This event is hosted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.Join us for a webinar on integrating native plants into managed landscapes. This session will explore how native species can be used to meet both ecological and design objectives while reducing long-term maintenance and resource inputs. Whether addressing plant failure, overgrowth, or planning site enhancements, […]
Join us for this free, online event; a powerful conversation between climate visionary Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & food justice advocate Leah Penniman — exploring pathways to possibility as we face an uncertain climate future. Dr. Johnson’s book What If We Get It Right? invites us to center possibility, creativity, and hope in our climate […]
*This workshop has sold out. To be added to the waitlist, please email [email protected] to cook with a wide range of locally-produced ingredients, and enjoy a five course meal that embraces warmth amid fall's chill.We'll spend the start of the workshop learning cooking techniques from instructor Autumn Joy Jackson: occasional professional baker, home cook, and one of our […]
*Registration has filled for this workshop. To be added to the waitlist, email [email protected] Emily Springer of Meeting House Farm – a MOFGA-certified organic herb farm in Scarborough, Maine – to learn about the history and art of blending tea/tisane. Using locally-sourced herbs, create your own blend to take home. Learn to taste each herb separately and then […]
*Registration for this workshop has closed. To be added to the waitlist, email [email protected] us for a three-day workshop that will bring you through the process of slaughtering and butchering a pig, so that you can do so confidently, humanely, and safely with pigs at home or on-farm. On Day 1, participants will learn from Jason Tessier, […]
As the season transitions and farm work slows down, you may be stressing about what comes next. Come join other seasonal laborers in conversation about how to prepare for the offseason in Maine and learn about various resources. This workshop is happening on Zoom November 19 5-6:30. Please register here.
*The snow date for this event is December 8.Join MOFGA for our annual Kitchen Licensing Workshop!This in-person workshop is designed for farmers, homesteaders, and aspiring small business owners interested in producing value-added food products (e.g. cheese, ice cream, baked goods, preserves, ferments) to sell for retail in Maine. Participants will learn about the process of […]
Come explore MOFGA’s brand-new trail system and learn from MOFGA staff and Maine Forest Service District Foresters about: Trail design and building techniques Best Management Practices for sustainable trails Family-friendly woodlot recreation Hosted in collaboration with the Maine Forest Service & Maine Tree Farm Program. Free. Registration required.
Join MOFGA for a benefit bake at American Flatbread in Rockport!Take a break from the big week of cooking, and get yourself a flatbread. A portion of proceeds from all flatbreads sold from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. will be donated to MOFGA, to support our educational programming in 2026.Plus, MOFGA will be on-site with educational […]
This event is hosted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.Julia Baecher started East of Eden as a backyard passion project in 2012 and has since farmed at three different scales; from a home plot to a six-acre leased (and later owned) property, and back again. Each move brought new lessons in efficiency, investment, and […]
What is a Virtual Buyer-Seller Mixer: An online event for organic buyers and sellers - think online speed dating to support expansion of the U.S. organic supply chain! Participants' schedules will be created to connect sellers and buyer based on registration information and scheduling availability. For this buyer-seller mixer, we're focused on the organic and transitional […]
*This workshop has filled. To be added to the waitlist, email [email protected] this evening workshop, participants will learn about blending teas/tisanes for medicinal purposes. Learn from Emily Springer of Meeting House Farm – a MOFGA certified organic farm in Scarborough, Maine. This class will focus on the medicinal properties of a selection of herbs and how to combine them […]
Calling all farmers, buyers, distributors and other participants (and those who want to participate) in Maine’s wholesale food market channels! Do you want to increase your understanding of the current landscape of our northeast wholesale food network, what barriers or challenges or requirements exist, and what best practices help ensure success in entering into or […]
Join Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association at Hallbrook Farm in Thorndike to learn about their systems for managing risk. Pheonix and Megan O'Brien, of Hallbrook Farm, will discuss their current practices for fortifying infrastructure, markets and crop production against climate change, economic challenges and labor uncertainties. Participants will have an opportunity to discuss their […]
Join us for Growing Our Region: Northeast Organic Farming Symposium, a two-day online event designed to support and strengthen organic agriculture across the Northeast. Supported through the Transition to Organic Partnership Program, this free symposium brings together leading regional organizations to offer a unique series of hour-long webinars focused on intermediate to advanced farming practices. […]
For 24 years the MOFGA-El Salvador Sistering Committee has connected with two organizations in El Salvador that support local farmers, gardeners and communities in growing crops organically. Our committee visits El Salvador regularly and supports the outreach work of these organizations by raising funds for them and for the national US-El Salvador Sister Cities network. This year we […]
Help to build and maintain trails throughout wooded areas on the MOFGA campus. Volunteers may perform a variety of tasks under the leadership of our Low Impact Forestry Specialist. Sign up here! Volunteers should wear weather appropriate clothes, long pants, work boots, and your preferred method of bug and/or sun repellent. Be sure to bring […]
This event is hosted by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.Join Chris Laughton, from Farm Credit East, for a discussion of financial management basics you should know to manage your horticultural business. Topics covered will include: Understanding financial statements (balance sheets and income statements), cash flow budgeting, and financing and credit. Time will be provided […]
Come discover the simple, satisfying art of making kvass! Kvass is a tangy, traditional fermented drink with roots in Eastern European foodways. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn accessible techniques for fermenting with ingredients common to Maine winters like bread, storage fruit, or root vegetables. Best of all, you’ll leave with your own jar of bubbling kvass to ferment at home! […]
The State of Maine Agricultural Trades Show is sponsored by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. It takes place every January and is a place for farm, agricultural and related sectors to network and connect around business needs and trends. Producers and consumers alike visit this three day show to get professional expertise, learn […]
Join MOFGA Certification Service (MCS)'s Lead Maple Certification Specialist, Kristen Walker, to learn everything you need to know about organic certification of maple syrup. We'll discuss the annual certification cycle, applicant deadlines, organic system plans, MCS maple guidelines, recordkeeping, materials inputs, and MCS fees. Kristen will focus on production-scale systems. Designed for maple syrup producers and offered […]
If you’d like to connect with more local food sellers and buyers, register now to attend the Institutional Buyers, Local Producers & Distributors Matchmaking Event at the Ag Trade Show. Discover the potential of farm-to-institution and how organizations across the state are supporting the growth of this market channel. Meet with other farmers, food producers, […]
Join us for this evening webinar! In a talk combining themes from "No Meat Required" and the forthcoming "On Eating," author Alicia Kennedy will discuss the ways in which our imaginations, nostalgia, and traditions hold us back from creating space for new ways into a sustainable future of food based on abundance, regionality, and biodiversity.This […]
