A youth working in a raised bed garden.
A youth participant in University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program is seen here working in their family's raised bed garden. The organization will host a free gardening and nutrition education program for young adults and adults with children at the Caribou Parks and Rec Maintenance Shop weekly this summer starting June 17.

UMaine Extension offers free gardening and nutrition series for young adults and families

May 21, 2026 Aroostook - Fort Kent, Aroostook - Houlton, Aroostook - Presque Isle, Food and Health, Garden and Yard, Home, Family and Youth, Horticulture, In-Person, News

Caribou, Maine – University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) will offer a free, hands-on gardening and nutrition education program for young adults and adults with children in the household at the Caribou Parks and Rec Maintenance Shop at 903 Main Street, Caribou. It will start at 10 a.m. on June 17 (rain date to be determined by enrolled participants) and will continue weekly through the summer.

This series of hands-on gardening and nutrition sessions is intended for individuals interested in learning how to grow their own food. Each family will have a raised bed garden to use on site and all garden materials will be provided.

The program will cover a range of topics, including food safety and cooking techniques that maximize nutrition while minimizing costs. The program will also provide free cooking tools to participants who complete all classes.

This gardening and nutrition series is a collaborative effort between UMaine Extension and Caribou Parks and Recreation, community partners who share a common goal of promoting healthy eating habits and enhancing food preparation skills. 

Registration is required. Space is limited to four families. To register or to request reasonable accommodation, contact Laurie Theriault at laurie.theriault@maine.edu or 207.249.4688.

This EFNEP class series is intended for families and young adults of Aroostook County who live in Caribou. For more information about classes in your area, visit the EFNEP class request page or email extension.efnep@maine.edu.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension

As a trusted resource for over 100 years, Extension has supported UMaine’s land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension seeks to build thriving communities and grow the food-based economy, focusing on aspects from production and processing to nutrition, food safety, and food security. Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H, which offers hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture, and civic engagement and creates a positive environment where participants are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles.