When it comes to adapting to climate change, organic agriculture is climate-smart agriculture. This has been a difficult year for many farms in Maine. A late May frost impacted fruit and vegetable growers across the region, and in June and July, Maine saw a combined 11 inches more rain than average. This was a stark
MOFGA Certification Services Hosts USDA-NOP and the European Union’s Peer Review On September 18-20, 2023, MOFGA Certification Services (MCS) hosted the European Commission’s peer review of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP). Peer reviews are part of any organic equivalency arrangement between the USDA and another country, and are designed to
Looking to cozy up with a good book as the weather turns colder? Here’s a look back at some of our favorite books reviewed in The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener in 2023. The short list includes a book on body mechanics and movement ecology that may be useful for farmers and gardeners, as well
Check out the winter issue of MOFGA’s publication, The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener! In it, you’ll find tips for the farm, garden and homestead — including articles on growing potatoes in your organic garden, chickpea production in the Northeast, hoof care for livestock, and cooking with shallots and leeks. Plus, this issue features Migrant Justice’s Milk
Every year Maine’s farmers come together at the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association’s (MOFGA’s) Farmer to Farmer Conference to learn from peers and practitioners. Farmers and agricultural service providers participate in three days of programming, with farm tours, and over 30 educational sessions covering everything from farm planning and systematizing operations to farm management
Join the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) for Great Maine Apple Day, a celebration of the history, flavor and tradition of Maine apples. This beloved annual event celebrates the fall harvest with opportunities to connect with fruit enthusiasts, learn about apples and, of course, feast on an array of heritage apples. This event
MOFGA welcomed 64,162 attendees to the Common Ground Country Fair this year. This makes 2023 the third largest fair since its founding in 1977. In an incredible feat, the Common Kitchen served over 6,000 meals to hungry volunteers. On Friday, MOFGA welcomed 72 school buses with 2,815 students and 892 teachers/chaperones. In addition to a
The National podcast FoodPrint recently released a new episode featuring MOFGA staff Sarah Alexander, executive director and Caleb Goossen, organic crop and conservation specialist. The episode, titled PFAS: The ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Your Food, features the discovery of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on Maine farmland and the work being done in the state to
If you’ve been to the Fair before, you’re quite likely familiar with the traffic situation. That is, the long line of cars that wends its way along the back roads to the fairgrounds. While the scenery along the drive is beautiful, and spending more time anticipating the sights, smells and sounds of the Fair can
When it comes to capturing the essence of the Common Ground Country Fair, longtime MOFGA volunteer and former board member Eli Berry does it well in his essay in “The Organic Farming Revolution: Past, Present, Future.” He writes: Each year at fair time, a family reunion of a kind takes place among visitors, participants, and
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