Grow food safely in urban soils with UMaine Extension

LEWISTON, Maine — University of Maine Cooperative Extension is hosting a workshop with community partners to explore best practices for growing food safely in urban soils. The event will be held from 5:30–7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15 at 208 Bates Street in Lewiston. The event is co-hosted with Gather to Grow, American Farmland Trust and other community partners.

Urban farmers and gardeners will engage in activities and discussions to understand the potential contaminants in urban soils and strategies to grow food safely. The workshop will feature several interactive sessions to prepare growers to interpret risk, amend their soils, build raised beds and learn the history of lead contamination. Partner organizations will be tabling with information about sustainable urban growing, soil testing and community events.

Refreshments will be provided. The event is free, and registration is requested on the event webpage. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Carrick Gambell at carrick.gambell@maine.edu or 207.691.1238.

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.