Here at the UMaine Extension Office we have started the Master Gardener Class of 2012 and we have a full house of gardening enthusiast. 

Items of interest!

Are you wondering what plant hardiness zone you’re in?

• The USDA Agricultural Research Service has some new information on their website about this and much more.

Funding Opportunity ​alert!

• Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grants Funder:

Lowe’s is offering grants to K-12 public schools and parent-teacher groups associated with public schools. There is a preference for funding requests that have a permanent impact, such as facility enhancement (both indoor and outdoor), as well as landscaping/cleanup type projects. Projects that encourage parent involvement and build stronger community spirit will be favored. To provide the tools that help our educators and parent groups through these challenging times efficiently and with the greatest impact, basic needs will take priority in this round of grant selection.

Winter Survival Camp for Children of Military Families:

• The University of Maine 4H Camp & Learning Center at Bryant Pond announces the winter survival camp for children of military families, 14-18 years of age on February 19 to 24, 2012.

Learn, grow, eat, give; Blueberry plant sale to benefit UMaine Extension Master Gardener Volunteer’s program.

• The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and its Master Gardener Development Board are now conducting an online high bush blueberry plant sale to raise funds for the Master Gardener Volunteers program.

Maine Vegetable & Fruit School 2012:

• The Maine Fruit & Vegetable School will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on two dates in two locations in Maine. March 8in Portland and March 9in Bangor. Pre-registration is required. The cost for the Vegetable & Fruit School is $35 per person and includes lunch. For more information please contact: Mark Hutchinson, Extension Educator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Knox-Lincoln Counties, 377 Manktown Road, Waldoboro, ME 04572-5815, 207-832-0343 or 1-800-244-2104 (in Maine), mhutch@maine.edu. Or contact your local UMaine Extension office at 1-800-287-1495.

Maine Maple Sunday March 25, Statewide

• Join Maine’s maple producers to celebrate Maine Maple Sunday on March 25, 2012. It’s the day when sugar makers around the state open the doors of their sugarhouses for the public to join them in their rites of spring-making maple syrup.Most sugarhouses offer free tasting and live demonstrations of how syrup is produced from tap to table. Many offer a variety of other treats and activities including syrup on pancakes or ice cream, sugar bush tours, sleigh or wagon rides, live music, and lots more. For more information visit the Maine Maple Producers website.

Fruit Tree Pruning & Grafting Class on April 14, 2012

• Learn to prune fruit trees with Renae Moran, University of Maine tree fruit specialist. A one-hour lecture will be followed by a demonstration in the orchard and a chance to prune apple, peach, pear, and plum trees. There is no charge for the class, but please bring your own pruning tools and lunch. After lunch, there will be a grafting demonstration. More information.

Welcome to the Master Gardener Class of 2012

• You are beginning a journey in learning that we hope you will find enjoyable, informative, and useful for you in educating yourself, along with your friends, neighbors, and the community you live in through volunteering. This year’s class has the benefit of being the first to have access to an online manual that is constantly being updated to keep you informed on the newest information available. Once again welcome and have a great time!

Volunteer Opportunities

• The Pittsfield Garden Club is looking for someone to present a gardening topic (such as seed starting) or other topic of gardening interest for approximately 1 hour on March 17 at 1:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Pittsfield Public Library.
• Hammond Tractor Company would like to have Master Gardener and UMaine Extension display at their open house on March 31 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at their Fairfield location.
• Master Gardener Workshops: In our efforts to bring gardening information to our community, we are looking for Master Gardeners to do workshops here at the UMaine Extension office in Skowhegan on gardening topics for the general public. We can work with you on selecting a topic and date, and help in preparing materials you might need.
• If you are interested in any of the above topics please contact Tom at (1-800-287-1495) or e-mail thomas.goodspeed@maine.edu.

Thank you

• Once again Kathy and I want to thank all of our Master Gardener Volunteers for their efforts, support, and all the work they have done in their communities. We hope you continue your efforts in the upcoming year and have a great time volunteering and gardening in 2012!
• We would also like to thank Walley Seavey for taking on the job of getting our library back in shape.
• Also, don’t forget this year’s Master Gardener Course will focus on Fruits & Vegetables. If you are interested in attending on any of the nights, please feel free to join us. We do need to know a week before if you will be attending.

Thanks Again & Happy Gardening!

Tom

As I say this, I’m looking out the window at a green lawn and the forecast calls for rain with warmer temperatures for tomorrow here at the UMaine Extension Office in Somerset County.

Well, it’s been a very strange fall with the early snow, then warmer than usual temperatures, snow again, and back to the warm weather. Not a real good situation for our plant friends, but great for the heating bill.

A new year is here and I’m looking through the half dozen or so seed catalogs I’ve received wondering what should I plant this year. If you’re going through the catalogs you received in December, you may have questions on how to make gardening just a little more interesting, easier, and efficient in 2012.

Some of the questions you may be asking yourself…

1. What did that soil test say I needed to do? (You did get your soil tested? Didn’t you?)

• If you’re having trouble understanding the information you received back from your soil test, the Analytical Laboratory and Maine Soil Testing Service has several fact sheets to help you.
• If you haven’t done a soil test yet, check out our fact sheet Testing Your Soil, which explains the benefits, and now through March 31^st you can have a test done at a reduced price of $12.00 for the basic test!

2. When can I start my seeds to have them ready to go when the soil in my garden is ready?

• The University of  Maine Cooperative Extension has some great information on this and more. See Bulletin #2751, Starting Seeds at Home.

3. Raised bed, square foot garden, what’s that? Would raised beds make it easier to maintain, harvest, and take care of my soil and plants?

• If you recently decided to scale back your garden or just want to try something new, raised beds may be an option to look into. You may also want to try making a square foot garden. In combination, both methods have many advantages, and more information can be found by following the links from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension website or by visiting your local UMaine County Extension office.

4. I hear a lot about native plants. How do I know what is native and what is not, along with what varieties can be found to plant?

• Lois Berg Stack, Extension Professor and Ornamental Horticulture Specialist, has developed information on Native Plants. To view this information, see Bulletin #2502, Native Plants: A Maine Source List.

Items of interest!

• Have questions about protecting Trees & Shrubs against winter damage? The University of Minnesota has information on what to do to help protect landscape plantings.

• Have questions about salt damage in landscape plants? Purdue University has a very informative bulletin on the subject (Salt Damage in Landscape Plants) on their website.

Upcoming events!

• If you’ve thought about how much fun it would be to raise your own bees for their honey or to pollinate your small fruit garden, fruit trees, and vegetable gardens, but just didn’t know how to get started, then this event is for you!

Somerset Beekeepers
Basic Beekeeping for Beginners  

February - March 2012

Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 PM
(First meeting will begin at 6PM for registration)
Where: Somerset County Extension Office
7 County Drive, Skowhegan, ME 04976
Cost: The course fee is $40 per person/couple and includes a 1 year membership with the Somerset Beekeepers
Instructor: Samantha Burns
Contact: Questions about the course may be addressed to Samantha Burns, sam7anthaburns@gmail.com, 696-4906

The UMaine Somerset County Cooperative Extension:

• Has announced its winter /spring 2012 Master Gardener Course, starting on January 23 at the office in Skowhegan from 6:00 to 9:00 pm on Monday nights. Check out the UMaine Cooperative Extension Somerset County Gardening & Horticultural website for more information or contact Tom Goodspeed at (1-800-287-1495).

The 71st annual Agricultural Trades Show:

• Will be held at the Augusta Civic Center on, January 10 thru 12, 2012. Admission is FREE! Show hours are:

• Tuesday, January 10, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Wednesday, January 11, 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
• Thursday, January 12, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

For more information, please visit the 2012 Maine Agricultural Trades Show website. This show provides an atmosphere to walk through, observe, and educate the public about different areas of agriculture.

Somerset County Soil and Water Conservation District.

• Announces a workshop on Invasive Plants in the Woodlot. Save the Date: early February, 2012, possibly February 8. This Full Day Session is sponsored by the Somerset County Soil and Water Conservation District. The focus will be on invasive plants in the woodlot. Speakers will include Lois Berg Stack, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, and Carl Bickford, NRCS Forester. Information will include identifying and managing invasive plants in the woodlot, and Federal programs available to help manage invasive plants. Registration is required. For more information, visit the Somerset County Soil and Water Conservation District’s website, or call Carol at 474-8324 x3.

Winter Survival Camp for Children of Military Families:

• The University of  Maine 4H Camp & Learning Center at Bryant Pond announces the winter survival camp for children of military families, 14-18 years of age on February 19 – 24, 2012. For more information, please visit the UMaine 4-H Camp & Learning Center at Bryant Pond website.

Thank you!

Once again Kathy and I want to thank all of our Master Gardener Volunteers for their efforts, support, and all the work they have done in their communities. We hope you continue your efforts in the upcoming year and have a great time volunteering and gardening in 2012! Also, don’t forget this year’s Master Gardener Course will focus on fruits and vegetables. If you are interested in attending on any of the evening sessions, please feel free to join us. We do need to know a week before if you will be attending. If you know of anyone who might be interested in the course, please have them contact us at the office (1-800-287-1495) or point them to our online information.

Thanks Again & Happy New Year!

Tom

Wow! It’s been almost a year since I became a member of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension in Somerset County. I want to thank everyone here at the UMaine Extension Somerset County office and at the University for making me feel so welcome. I would also like to thank all of the people in Somerset County that I have come in contact with in my daily activities and the Master Gardener Course. I would like to take this time wish you all a Happy Holiday Season.

Upcoming opportunities!

• Gardening Grant available now for 2012 Youth Gardening Grant for garden projects. More information.

• UMaine Extension Somerset County has announced its winter/spring 2012 Master Gardener Course starting on January 23 at the office in Skowhegan. For more information check out the Gardening & Horticultural website.

• The agenda for the 2011 Maine Potato Pest Management Conference has been set for December 7, 2011 in Presque Isle, Maine. More information.

Things to do in the garden?

• Well the garden season is almost over for 2011, even if the weather seems to encourage you to Plant Now! Stop and think before taking the chance on losing something you may really want for spring. There are some things that you can still plant and they should be OK. If you find a good deal on spring blooming bulbs or possibly your favorite garlic, they should be all right too set out — as long as your ground isn’t frozen. You may possibly find a deal on some small trees and shrubs that you can put in now. The key to planting small trees and shrubs this late in the fall is not to stimulate a plant into sending out new growth! Most plants that have been outside in the nursery are already shutting down for the winter so the key here is not to encourage new growth now that will surely die later when the real weather hits. Plant as usual, but do not fertilize, and be sure to water and mulch heavily. For more information, see Bulletin #2366, Selecting, Planting, and Caring for Trees and Shrubs in the Maine Landscape.

• Cut back any remaining dead plants in the perennial bed or dead blossoms off from shrubs such as hydrangea if you don’t care for the winter interest that they will bring when covered with frost or snow.

•  If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to mulch and do whatever maintenance on your roses that you have been putting off.

• One more thing that you can do now is to put tree wrap on any young, new trees that you planted this season, to protect them from rodent damage.

Items of Interest!

For the upcoming holiday season, the University of Maine has the information you are looking for!

• Have you ever wondered how to make your own Christmas wreath? See Making Balsam Fir Wreaths, Bulletin #7012, to learn how.

• Want to know how to grow balsam fir trees for your own continuous supply of balsam tips? See Growing a Continuous Supply of Balsam Fir Wreath Brush, Bulletin #7089.

• Have you ever wondered how Christmas tree farms affect the environment or how to select and care for your tree? The Maine Christmas Tree Association’s website has some timely information on the effects of Christmas tree farms in Maine, along with additional interesting information.

• One of the most popular holiday house plants at this time of year is the Poinsettia. Poinsettias now come in a wide range of colors and can be found in many different sizes. The University of Illinois has a great website with many interesting facts, along with tips on how to care for Poinsettias.

• See Bulletin #4374, Food for Holiday Giving: Safety Comes First! for information and tips on food for holiday gift giving, or watch our Holiday Foods Safety Tips video.

• Ever wonder what the temperature really is when the wind is blowing the snow around in midwinter and you are feeling like spring will never return? Find out in Bulletin #9024, Wind Chill.

• Wondering what you can do around the house to cut down on your energy costs? Visit our Energy website and check out the information for Homeowners & Renters, along with other great energy tips.

Thank you!

• With 2011 coming to a close, Kathy and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all the work you have put in here at the UMaine Extension office in Skowhegan and out in your communities. Due to your efforts, you have supplied over 950 volunteer hours to your communities and have reached over 1000 people. That’s an accomplishment that everyone can be proud of. Thanks again and keep up the great work in your communities. Don’t forget it’s never too late to report your hours!

Thank You & Happy Holidays,

Tom

Raised bed for square foot gardening

Hi everyone, here’s the latest fruit tree update. The trees have all gained in size or are holding their own. As you can see by the following pictures, their progress is very encouraging for the upcoming winter. We will still be planting the replacement Goji Berries this month. We will be selecting a new site for them away from the snowplowing area!

#1 Native Plum (Prunus Americana)

Gained 6” in height since our last reporting on 6/10/2011, with only minor damage inflected by the Japanese Beetles.

# 2 Native Plum

Has gained 9” in height since 6/10/2011 and also has minor Japanese Beetle damage.

# 3 Elderberry Nova (Sambucus Canadensis

#4 Elderberry York (Sambucus Canadensis York)

Gained 16” and is supporting fruit for the first time. It has made it through the Japanese Beetle season and now is ready to supply food for the birds.

Fruit on Elderberry #4 York

#5 Paw Paw (Asimina Spp)

The Paw Paw has gained 3” from the last update. The plant has few leaves, but otherwise looks healthy. Although not a particularly robust or fast growing plant, it seems to be doing well.

#6 Paw Paw ( Asimina Spp)

Although having lost 4” due to the top dying back, this Paw Paw has gained two green leaves and seems to be gaining strength.

Numbers 7 & 8 were Goji berries that will be replaced.

# 9 Native Plum (Prunus Americana)

Is now 68” tall and is in good health, while showing some insect damage to the foliage.

# 10 Nanking Cherry (Prunus Tomentosa)

Has not gained in height since last reporting but is bushier at 32″. Leaves on the lower portion of plant are beginning to yellow (outer edges of leaves). Upper portion of plant appears healthy looking. Minor insect damage on leaves; Japanese Beetles present on leaves.

#11 Nanking Cherry (Prunus Tomentosa)

Has gained 4” since the last recording and it is also showing the same symptoms as # 10. Leaves on lower portion of plant are beginning to yellow (outer edges of leaves). Upper portion of plant appears healthy looking. Minor insect damage on leaves; Japanese Beetles present on leaves

# 12 Nanking Cherry (Prunus Tomentosa)

Now stands at  35″ tall, gaining 3” since the last reporting. Leaves on lower portion of plant are beginning to yellow (outer edges of leaves). Upper portion of plant appears healthy looking. Minor insect damage on leaves; Japanese Beetles present on leaves.

# 13 Native Plum (Prunus Americana)

Is now 37” tall and appears healthy, with some minor insect damage on the leaves.

At this time, the trees seem to be doing well overall. We have a few concerns that we will be looking into, such as the yellowing on the Nanking Cherries and finding a new location for the Goji berries that have just arrived. With the help of some Master Gardeners we will be preparing the trees for winter with a new covering of mulch and some new rodent guards where needed.

 

4-H Calendar of Events

• September 2-5th, 2011 Harmony Fair
• September 8th-11th—Clinton Fair
• September 16th-18th—New Portland Lions Fair
• September 16th—October 2nd—Eastern States Expo, Springfield, Mass
• October 2nd-9th—Fryeburg Fair
• October 21st-Somerset County Awards and Recognition night
• November 24– Nov 30 –National 4-H Congress– Atlanta GA
• December 1– Re-enrollment forms due

PLEASE NOTE

The 4-H Leader Association meeting will be held on September 14th , at 7:30 pm at the Somerset County Extension Office.

October 3 – 8 National 4-H Week

Thinking of  Ways To Celebrate National 4-H Week ???

Post them on our Facebook page to discuss!

New Facebook page for 4-H Somerset County. Take a look and LIKE us!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Somerset-County-4-H-UMaine-Extension/225852284123172

DUE DATE FOR 4-H PROJECT RECORDS

Have you been working on your 4-H Project Records?

4-H members are asked to have their records completed and turned in to their 4-H leader by October 1st to give your leader a chance to look them over. The records will be due in the Extension Office October 7th, to be reviewed before Achievement Night on the 21st.

If you need copies of the records as well the requirements and guidelines for completed records, please give Gail or Debra a call at the Extension Office.

4-H RE-ENROLLMENT PACKETS

Re-enrollment packets will soon be in the mail to all of our present 4-H members as well as our current 4-H volunteers. We would ask that all forms be updated, if necessary, and any required signatures added to the forms before returning them to the Extension Office. The adult standards of behavior forms and non-discrimination forms  must be re-signed every year. If re-enrolling, all paperwork should be returned to the Extension office by December 31st, 2011.

The Skowhegan State Fair 2011

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Skowhegan Fair. It is amazing to see the scope of activities  and projects that everyone had completed. Your creativity and accomplishments are an inspiration to the community. Come to the Awards and Recognition night on October 21st and share in the glory! We hope you all had fun!

It looks like you did!

New Portland Lions Agricultural Fair and The Maine Crafts Festival

September 16, 17, & 18

 See their webpage for the schedule of events, http://www.newportlandlionsfair.com or call 628-2916.

Submit entries in the Exhibit Hall Wednesday, Sep. 14th from 9-5 pm.

Paper Clovers

It’s time to raise awareness for the 4-H!

From ORONO — The Maine 4-H Foundation is inviting area businesses to participate in the Maine Clover Promotion Oct. 1-31 as part of its 4-H Month fundraising campaign.

The project raises money for 25,000 youths involved in Maine 4-H. 4-H is the youth development program of University of Maine Cooperative Extension. The foundation calls the campaign a great way for all to contribute to the youth in our state and to identify local businesses as a youth supporter in their communities.

The Maine Clover Promotion enables business customers to buy a “clover” for $1. Some businesses have hung the clovers in their stores and some have chosen to give them to customers making the donation. Seventy percent of the contributions go directly to local county 4-H programs and thirty percent goes to statewide programs such as summer camps and trips.

Last year, more than 50 businesses participated and more than 6,000 people purchased clovers.

The Maine 4-H Foundation invites all businesses to help make the 2011 campaign successful one. Contact the Maine 4-H Foundation directly at (207) 356-5904

or e-mail audrey.chapman@maine.edu for more information.

4-H Cookbook Update

The 4-H Cookbooks created by a collaborative effort of Somerset County 4-H Clubs are a fantastic fundraiser. The Crafty Crustaceans, Havin’ Fun, Hurdling 4-Ward, Norridgewock Community Clovers, Solon Pine Tree, and Wesserunsett 4-H clubs and many friends and family helped. (Special thanks to 4-H member Kaelie Merrill for typing the recipes and keeping us

organized and informed.) We still have cookbooks left to sell.  They are $10 each and would make great gifts for birthdays, weddings, and the upcoming holidays!  Can contact the Ext. Office or Vicki Merrill, memoriesmatter@tds.net,

if interested in purchasing one or more!

This educational event will feature Maryland’s Small Ruminant Specialist Susan Schoenian and is designed to equip producers with skills and knowledge about the identification and management of internal parasites. “Parasites are the biggest health problem for sheep and goats in Maine,” says UMaine Extension Educator Richard Brzozowski. “Parasites of sheep and goats are costly and can easily put someone out of business. For an efficient and profitable sheep or goat enterprise, parasite control needs to be deliberate and persistent.”

More information>>

Gardening items in September

• If you are thinking of how much fun it would be to grow your own garlic the University of Maine Cooperative Extension has information online at the Gardening & Horticulture website. Check out the video on growing garlic.

• Now is a good time to thin out your raspberry canes that have produced fruit. For more information on this and other questions you might have on brambles see Bulletin #2066 Growing Raspberries and Blackberries or visit the University of Maine Cooperative Extensions Gardening & Horticulture website to check out the information and videos.

• Need to repair an existing lawn or seed a new lawn? Check out the information on lawns from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Bulletin # 2367 Establishing a Home Lawn in Maine; or check out our website for a video on lawns.

• Fall is a great time to get your soil tested both for gardens and lawns. A soil test will provide you with accurate information on which nutrients and how much is needed to improve your soil. For more information about how to test your soil, see our video on testing your soil.

• Plant a fall cover crop in those spaces no longer producing vegetables. Cover crops are a great way to protect your soil from our unpredictable winters here in Maine and restore valuable nutrients that may have been depleted during the growing season. For information on cover crops, please see Cover Crops for Home Gardens by Cornell University or our article “Cover Crops for Season’s End” in the July issue of Maine Home Garden News.

• Is our climate really changing and how is it affecting gardeners in the Northeast? For more information on our Changing Climate and Agriculture in Maine, please visit  Maine Climate News.

Items of interest

• Fall Garden Clean Up Clinic

Now is the time to prepare your gardens for spring 2012. Friday September 16, 2011, from 1:00 to 2:30, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension in Somerset County will be hosting a presentation on how to clean up and prepare your gardens for the winter and spring 2012. The program will be held at the UMaine Extension Somerset County Office on 7 County Drive in Skowhegan, Me. This course is open and free to the public. For more information and to register for the event please call (207-474-9622) or toll free (1-800-287-1495).

MAINERS URGED TO SIGN UP FOR FREE DISPOSAL OF BANNED, UNUSABLE PESTICIDES

It’s not uncommon for new owners of older homes or farms in Maine to discover they have inherited hazardous waste—caches of old pesticides around their property. Old chemicals like DDT, lead arsenate, 2, 4,5-T, and chlordane are often discovered in barns, basements, sheds or garages. When these discoveries are made, homeowners quickly learn that disposal of old chemicals can be complicated and very expensive.

Fortunately, there’s an option that’s legal, responsible, and free. Just contact the Maine Board of Pesticides Control (BPC) for details. This fall, the state regulatory agency will dispose of banned pesticides or pesticides that have become caked, frozen or otherwise rendered unusable. And, again, there is no cost to homeowners.

Homeowners are urged to contact the BPC as soon as possible to register for the free disposal program. There will be four drop-off sites throughout the state.  Preregistration is required by September 30, 2011. To register, get details, and learn important information about the temporary storage and transportation of obsolete pesticides, go to the BPC website or call the BPC at 287-2731. (Excerpted from BPC press release 8/18/2011)

Items of interest

• The Maine Forest Service has just released its 5^th conditions report of 2011. The conditions report includes information on forest insects and diseases that are active now in our state, along with other useful information for home owners and forest professionals throughout Maine.

• The Food Timeline: Ever wonder how the ancient Romans fed their armies? What the pioneers cooked along the Oregon Trail? Who invented the potato chip, and why? Food history presents a fascinating buffet of popular lore and contradictory facts. Some experts say it’s impossible to express this topic in exact timeline format. They are correct. Most foods are not invented; they evolve. To see more food histories please visit the food time line.

Upcoming Area Events

• Somerset Prostate Cancer Support Group

For men, caring partners, and friends will meet the 2^nd Tuesday of every month at 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., at Redington – Fairview General Hospital’s Conference Room 1 in Skowhegan, ME. This is a significant challenge in ones life. Don’t make it more difficult by trying to do it alone.

The initial program will be on Tuesday, September 23rd from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in Conference Room 1 at RFGH.

Dinner will be served at no cost!

Call 207-634-2317 to pre-register for the initial program.

Area Fairs are in full swing across Maine here are just a few to get you started.

• The Harmony Fair is after the Piscataquis Fair; visit their website.
•  For more information on the Windsor Fair check out their website.
•  The New Portland Lions Fair is next running from September 16 through 18.
•  The Common Ground Fair, one of the largest and most unique fairs in the area, is scheduled to take place on September 23, 24, & 25;the fair opens each day at 9:00 a.m. For more information on the fair go to their website .
•  For a list of more area events, check out the University of Maine’s Agricultural Calendar for a list of events in and around our area. View the Calendar.

Thank you!

• To Richard Gondek for his donation and planting of Yarrow in our flagpole garden bed here at the UMaine Extension Somerset County Office in Skowhegan.
•  To Wally Seavey for the work he is doing here at the UMaine Extension Somerset County Office in Skowhegan.
• To Patricia Burdick for potting the rooted houseplant cuttings we had here at the UMaine Extension office!
• Thanks again to everyone that has turned in their volunteer hours! Keep up the great work!

Volunteer Opportunity:

• The New Portland Lions Fair

The New Portland Lions Club would like to have the UMaine Extension Somerset County display board at the fair, featuring garden information, on the 16^th, 17^th & 18^th of September. Also on the 18^th (Kids Day) they would like a demonstration on  worm composting. Melanie Farmer will be taking the display board and worm bin up to the fair. If you are interested in helping her out on this project, please contact Tom at 207-474-9622 or 1-800-287-1495 (toll free in Maine). This opportunity could be split up among a group of people with each one volunteering for different times if needed.

Here at the UMaine Extension office in Skowhegan we still have volunteer opportunities for Master Gardeners who would like to work on projects here at the office such as weeding, pruning, and other exciting projects to be done.

Monday, August 22
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

The Pond Construction and Maintenance Workshop will cover

• instructions for constructing a new pond and care of existing ponds;
• information on permitting with DEP;
• water quality basics; and
• building ponds specific for trout.

Location: University of Maine Cooperative Extension Somerset County Office, 7 County Drive, Skowhegan, ME

Cost: Free!

Contact: Kathy Hopkins at 1-800-287-1495 (in Maine) or khopkins@maine.edu.

Sponsored by: University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Somerset County Soil and Water Conservation District