UMaine Extension offers hands-on workshop on growing elderberries

FALMOUTH, Maine — University of Maine Cooperative Extension will host a workshop on growing elderberries at home on Wednesday, July 15 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the UMaine Gardens at Tidewater Farm in Falmouth.

Master Gardener Volunteer Joel Leak will lead this interactive workshop on growing elderberries, a native, low-maintenance shrub that can easily be incorporated into the landscape and grown for culinary use, including in syrups and jams. This workshop will teach the basics of selecting varieties, site preparation, planting, pest management, and harvesting. Participants will also explore the differences between native and cultivated elderberries, discuss growing conditions for success in Maine, and demonstrate seasonal care techniques. This workshop is an opportunity to gain practical knowledge and hands-on experience to grow and maintain elderberries in your own landscapes or gardens.

The registration fee is $15 and advance registration is required on the Growing Elderberries event webpage. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Pamela Hargest at pamela.hargest@maine.edu or 207.949.4524.

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.