AgrAbility

AgrAbility News for December 2021

Maine News Maine AgrAbility is launching 2022’s Boots-2-Bushels: Boot Camp for Market Gardeners and Farmers. This program is supported by Maine AgrAbility, the Extension Risk Management Education (ERME) Program, Farm Credit East, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), and local farms throughout Maine. There are 25 people signed up, of which 15 are veterans/family, […]

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Article from News Center MAINE: COVID brings added stress to disabled Maine farmers already facing winter challenges

By Courtney Lanning Financial worries, unpredictable weather, and isolation make farming a tough job, but COVID brought a new layer of stress for Maine agriculture workers, especially if they’re disabled. “Farming can be stressful even in the best of times,” Leilani Carlson, Maine AgrAbility coordinator at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, said. When those […]

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AgrAbility News for November 2021

Maine News We are excited to have launched registration for the 2022 Boots-2-Bushels: Boot Camp for Market Gardeners and Farmers. This class teaches how to go from seed to salary for all beginning farmers of all abilities interested in growing and selling their own farm produce. Registration is open to veterans, family members, and all […]

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Honoring Bravery this Veterans Day

This will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.  (Elmer Davis) On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we celebrate the bravery of our Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen – many of whom fought in far-off lands to preserve the […]

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AgrAbility News for September 2021

Maine AgrAbility News Maine AgrAbility’s Boots-2-Bushels (B2B) finished the growing season with its last on-farm tour. B2B participants and Maine AgrAbilty staff visited Grace Pond Farm in Thomaston, Maine on September 15th for an in-depth tour of their organic poultry, livestock, and dairy farm. The field day focused on the history and lessons learned by […]

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Closer Look: Harvest of Hope

By Cheryl Tevis1 Reprinted with permission from the National AgrAbility Project. Mike Koepke was 13 when he began helping his dad on the family farm near Cut Bank, Montana. “My older brother told me he wasn’t coming back after college, so I decided to make agriculture my life,” he says. In 1982 he and his […]

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Small Bites: Demoralized? Depressed? How much worry is too much worry?

Authored by Coach Polly Shyka Small Bites are short, informational articles with practical ideas about stress reduction, improved communication, and farm and family well-being. They are written by coaches from UMaine Extension’s Farm Coaching team. Farm Coaches are available at no cost to work remotely with farmers and farm teams. How much worry is too […]

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AgrAbility News for March 2021

Maine AgrAbility News The Boots-2-Bushels (B2B) program is ramping up for the growing season, spending two days in the field cleaning out the greenhouse and high tunnel.   We held our quarterly Maine AgrAbility Advisory Council meeting in March via zoom. We welcomed 3 new members representing the forestry industry, Assistive Technology, and a farmer-client. […]

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FishAbility for Maine Fishermen – March 2021

By Brie Weisman, Occupational Therapist Also published by Commercial Fisheries News, March 2021 Fishermen’s work has been acknowledged by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as one of the most dangerous jobs in America. Combining physical labor with working outdoors in the cold and wet, often on slick surfaces, all increase the likelihood of injuries. […]

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Small Bites: The true cost of getting distracted and ways to avoid it! 

Authored by Coach Abby Sadauckas Small Bites are short, informational articles with practical ideas about stress reduction, improved communication, and farm and family well-being. They are written by coaches from UMaine Extension’s Farm Coaching team. Farm Coaches are available at no cost to work remotely with farmers and farm teams. Getting distracted This morning I […]

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