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• Map of Unity College campus (in PDF)

• Directions to Unity College
  90 Quaker Hill Rd
  Unity ME 04988

• If you have questions, please email Sonia or call 1-800-287-1426 (in Maine) or (207) 342-5971.

WORKSHOP AND BRUNCH DETAILS

(click here for a PDF of the brochure)

Early Morning Session: 10:00 - 11:00

1. Growing Dahlias 
Paul’s presentation and photographs reflect his personal experience, Master Gardener training, and years of research, which has focused on heirloom varieties.  He’ll give a brief history of the dahlia, show you how to cultivate them in your garden, and he’ll give a tuber to each participant.   - Paul Fenton

2. How About Hazelnuts?
Dave has researched growing hybrid hazelnuts on his farm for the past 7 years. Learn the details of plant choice, planting and care for your hazel shrubs. It is possible to grow quality hazelnuts anywhere in Maine!  - Dave Fuller, UMaine Extension

3. Tour of New Modern Energy Efficient “Unity House”
Mass-producible, customizable, sustainable, adaptable green home - second home designed and constructed as part of the groundbreaking Open Prototype Initiative  - Cindy Thomashow, Unity College

4. Four Notorious Landscape Insect Pests       
This workshop will look at with the biology and management of four landscape insect pests:  European chafer, Japanese beetle, Lily leaf beetle and Rose chafer.   -Clay Kirby, UMaine Extension 

 È This Mushroom workshop is a double session È
 and runs from  10am-12:15pm

5. The Foolproof Four Edible Wild Mushrooms:
A 1940's Concept updated for the New Millennium
In his 1943 Book Common Edible Mushrooms, Clyde Christensen introduced the US public to a concept of a handful of wild edible mushrooms that were easily recognized, commonly found and safely edible.  The concept of the "Foolproof Four"  has endured well over the past 66 years.  We will look at Maine's Foolproof mushrooms and how they relate to Christensen's list.  Along the way we will answer any other mushroom questions that come up. - Greg Marley, Mushrooms for Health

Late Morning Session: 11:15 - 12:15

  IF you are taking the Mushroom Workshop from early morning session
 the 11:15am-12:15pm workshops will not be available because of the time overlap. 

6. Intensive Raised Bed Gardening - This Class is FULL
Shelley moved to Maine in 1985 to pursue her passion for gardening. After completing the Master Gardener training in 2003, her interest in intensive &  organic vegetable production blossomed and now operates Breatheasy Farm in Appleton, focusing on raising vegetables & nursery stock for Fedco Trees. She’ll show you how to create raised beds: incredibly productive, easy to manage (nearly weed free!), and intensively planted to maximize harvest, discussing techniques, pitfalls, and the promise of this style of gardening.     - Shelley Johnson

7. Perennials & Wild Plants for the Cutting Garden  
Charlie grew up learning the art & science of finding & collecting wild perennials.  Together with his wife Barbara Walch, they operate Fire Flower Gardens & Pottery in Thorndike, where they grow and sell plants, fresh and dried flowers and organic food crops. Charlie is also a basket weaver using willow and other natural products from the farm and gardens. His talk will include when, where and how to find & collect wild species, and how they fit in a cottage garden, as well as willow growing. Willow starts and whips will be available to grow for basket making. His beautiful photos of flowers and garden projects will fill out the program. - Charlie Krause

8. Starting from Sod
Beginning gardeners need some handy tips to be successful the first year. Rick Kersbergen has seen many of the mistakes of beginning gardeners and will offer valuable insight into avoiding trouble! - Rick Kersbergen, UMaine Extension

9. Green Funerals
We'll describe what makes for a "green" or "natural" funeral, offer sources for more information, tell you about the two green/natural cemeteries in Maine, and show you how you can conduct your own home funeral, including how to make a casket, green/natural burial and we’ll be sharing info about the home funeral movement.         - Klara Tammany & Chuck Lakin

BRUNCH: 12:30 - 1:15
Delicious brunch buffet prepared by the Unity College dining staff!
Grand variety including vegetarian choices:

Afternoon Session: 1:30 - 2:30

10. Food Preservation & Root Cellaring This Class is FULL
Your garden can provide food for your household for much of a year. Deciding what to keep and how are key to your preservation success. In this presentation we will discuss how to choose what to preserve and the best ways to keep those foods, and how to assess your house’s capacities for food preservation. We will consider canning, pickling, freezing, and root cellaring. - Sandy Oliver

11. Attracting Pollinators
The focus will be on native, wild pollinators such as bumble bees and solitary bees.  We’ll discuss their habits and habitats and ways gardeners can help conserve these important insects in their own backyards. - Mary Yurlina

12. Forcing & Arranging Spring Branches and Flowers 
Anna Kessler is a professional flower arranger who has judged internationally. Anna will show you how to gather branches from your own yard and garden to force into blossom and leaf. She’ll cover which plants have the most beautiful form and structure, how to cut them, and how to bring them out of dormancy in an elegant display of spring – right when you  need it most. - Anna Kessler

13. Raising Backyard Pigs
Raising your own pork is a rewarding process but is not for everyone.  It may or may not fit your space, budget, lifestyle or temperament.  Local farmer Clayton Carter will discuss his experience as a beginning "backyard hog farmer".- Clayton Carter

14. Growing Great Winter Squash and Pumpkins - .                   
Learn about varieties, management, and how to foil common pests so you can have squash and pumpkins for the fall and winter. - Caragh Fitzgerald, UMaine Extension