The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener is turning 50! In 1974, volunteer Tim Nason transitioned MOFGA’s mimeographed newsletter into a newspaper. While today — in the age of Google searches, YouTube tutorials, Craigslist, Facebook groups and podcasts on every subject— a source of aggregated information on a certain topic can easily be taken for granted,
As of the writing of this article in January, MOFGA is in the process of closing our books on 2023 and the Together We Grow 50th anniversary campaign. Planned in 2019 and officially launched in 2021 with the ambitious goal of raising $12 million and engaging 30,000 volunteer hours over three years, the campaign was
MOFGA’s certification program had a busy but productive year in 2023, completing all required inspections and reviews, all while navigating implementation of the largest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) rule change since its inception in 2002. The Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) rule became effective on March 20, 2023, and will be
Hi all, My name is Bo Dennis, and I am the beginning farmer program specialist at MOFGA. I am also the farmer at Dandy Ram Farm, a flower farm based in Penobscot territory of Monroe, Maine. Each year, I see the direct effects of climate change on our farm — the intense storms with flooding
Every five years, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducts a nation-wide survey of farmers and ranchers to understand the trends in “land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures.” These data can be teased out at the state- and even the county-level to help us understand how farming has changed
In honor of Black History Month, MOFGA is excited to highlight Black agrarian and environmental history. We took a look back at books we reviewed in The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener featuring diverse perspectives from Black voices. This list includes celebrations of Black agrarian joy, spiritual traditions, intersectional environmentalism and more. “The Art &
MOFGA’s Certification Services (MCS) was recently recognized with an Investing in INTEGRITY Data Quality Award for the second time in three years. The award, given by the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program recognizes accredited organic certifiers for their “extraordinary support of the National Organic Standards.” Congratulations MCS! “Credit should go first and
MOFGA was awarded an Organic Market Development Grant to work in partnership with the Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership, to promote organic dairy and increase consumer demand for products made with milk produced in the Northeast. “We’re excited that the USDA has awarded this organic marketing grant that will benefit Maine and the entire Northeast
MOFGA unveiled the 2024 Common Ground Country Fair artwork earlier today at the Maine Agricultural Trades Show in Augusta. The artwork for the fair’s promotional materials and iconic T-shirts is selected from contest submissions each year and the winning design is highly anticipated. This year’s artwork by Maya Kuvaja is titled “Owl with Apples.” This
In the final days of 2023, MOFGA is reflecting on all that we’ve accomplished together this year. With your help, we: To help ensure we cross the finish line of our 50th Anniversary Campaign, you can make a contribution to MOFGA before the end of the year. December 31, 2023, will be the last day
