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.
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
Walker School fifth graders weed spinach – just one aspect of a model school garden program. Abby, one of the most eager garden helpers, with a bag of garden produce to take home. By Jean English Photos by Carolyn Wason “Fun! Friends! Games! And don’t forget planting!” Those are a few benefits of the
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
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
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
Drawing by Toki Oshima By Peter Hagerty, Low Impact Forestry Project About 20 years ago a group of friends and I began a series of courses on a new form of logging. The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association supported our effort with classrooms and a woodlot. Since then over 1,000 students have attended Low
Only the scions outnumber the people at the Seed Swap and Scion Exchange. John Bunker photo Scion Exchange, Grafting, Planting and New Apple Books By John Bunker The Maine Heritage Orchard at MOFGA is beginning to wake up after a winter of huddling under ice and snow. Meanwhile the heritage orchard crew was out pruning
Emily Oakley spoke at MOFGA’s Farmer to Farmer Conference about making a living on a small farm and about having input into national organic standards. Left to right: Jim Gerritsen (Wood Prairie Family Farm), Emily Oakley, and Eric Sideman and Dave Colson from MOFGA. English photo As organic foods gain an ever wider audience and
Karen and Paul Volckhausen. Photo courtesy of Happy Town Farm Sheep are an integral part of nutrient cycling at Happy Town Farm. English photo Karen’s cut flower business has grown since she retired from nursing. Photo courtesy of Happy Town Farm Paul and Karen Volckhausen were the “farmers in the spotlight” at MOFGA’s 2017 Farmer
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