In Your Community
York County, Maine

• Each year hundreds of limited-income York County families participate in University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Eat Well Nutrition Education Program, learning — in small groups, in schools, in their homes or through correspondence courses — strategies for expanding their food dollar and eating well on low budgets.
   

• University of Maine Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners have received in-depth horticultural training from university educators and industry experts. In return, they volunteer time to their communities.

  • In 2007, the Master Gardener program grew over 15 tons of produce, serving over 2,000 local citizens through local shelters, soup kitchens, food pantries and homes for shut-in seniors. These local volunteers planted vegetables as part of the “Plant-A-Row for the Hungry” program.
     

• The York County Farmers Network, organized through the efforts of University of Maine Cooperative Extension Educator Frank Wertheim, is a grassroots farmer-to-farmer organization which provides support for the farming community through education, social and Web interaction, resource exchange and market development. Currently 116 farmers are engaged in this peer learning network where they share best practices and resources for sustainable farm operations.
   

• 4-H is the youth development program of University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

  • Through afterschool programs, 4-H clubs and the Vaughn Island 4-H Environmental Summer Camp, over 2,000 youth annually learn valuable life skills in areas such as community service, environmental awareness, emerging technologies, creative arts and a range of interpersonal skills. These programs help Maine youth to succeed in social, cultural and economic life, in part through the invaluable efforts of 48 volunteer 4-H leaders in the county.
     

• University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Turn Beauty Inside Out Maine program is a community education project that challenges unhealthy media messages to girls. More than 100 public school teachers and parents participate.

  • A current program initiative is “Full of Ourselves,” a wellness program to prevent disordered eating and obesity.
     

• University of Maine Cooperative Extension provides staff support and education to Extension Homemaker groups. More than 100 York County Extension Homemakers participate in community education and service to the county and state.

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