AgrAbility News for May 2022
Maine News
The Boots-2-Bushels class visited King Hill Farm in Penobscot ME on May 2 to learn about harvest and storage methods. The farm co-owner, and military veteran, Paul Schultz gave an excellent overview of their diversified and organic farm operations. These farms tours are also open to new Maine farmers participating in the Maine New Farmers project supported by the USDA.
On May 11, staff provided AgrAbility resources and presented Gardening & Ergonomics to 37 Bucksport Maine Garden Club members. During OT week at Kennebec Valley Community College, AgrAbility’s Kelley Spencer talked about Assistive Technology (AT) and farming, and Ketra Crosson shared information about adaptive driving and how similar techniques can be used to safely operate tractors and heavy equipment also.
Dillon Foley and his mom Kelly attended the 2019 NTW in Lincoln NE with Maine AgrAbility. Now a senior in high school Dillon was featured in his local high school paper: The Windham Eagle Newspaper highlights a student’s capstone project which focuses on self-sufficiency and benefits others.
On Friday May 6, we launched the first: Yoga for Sea Harvesters/Farmers event at Eros Oysters in Georgetown, ME. This yoga session included breathing practices and a series of standing movements designed to unwind your body after a day of lumping shellfish or seaweed. This event was offered by Antonia (Toni) Small of Ice House Oysters in Port Clyde, in collaboration with her teaching studio, Oryx Worx, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s FishAbility Project and the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association.
Toolbox Spotlight
Although weighing only around 20 pounds, the remote-controlled Battery-Powered Portable Winch can assist with many pulling/lifting tasks not only around the farmstead, but also out in the field and/or woodlot. Its brushless electric motor, which runs off a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, reportedly generates 1,000 to 2,200 pounds of pulling force at speeds of 5 to 25 feet per minute (depending on make/model).