AgrAbility

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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Small Bites – Planned Decision Making Reduces Frustration (and Increases Happiness!)

Small Bites – Planned Decision Making Reduces Frustration (and Increases Happiness!) 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 […]

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AgrAbility News for February 2021

Maine AgrAbility News University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine AgrAbility were recently awarded an Extension Risk Management Education Grant to support their Boots-2-Bushels (B2B) program. B2B is a comprehensive nine-month market gardening education and training program for military veterans, their family members, and farmers with disabilities in Maine. The program includes ten weeks of […]

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Roots of the Soil: Land Succession Issues among African American Farm Families

Part of the AgrAbility Webinar Series Wednesday, July 8 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET FREE This webinar will focus on the unique challenges faced by African American farm families regarding the transfer of land from generation to generation.* Program speakers will discuss the importance of and the power inherent in land ownership by African American […]

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AgrAbility Helps Grower Keep Doing What She Loves

The DeForest Times-Tribune reported that health problems forced Cheryl Mayr, who wears braces on her ankles, to scale back at Country Bloomers Greenhouse. But an AgrAbility project has helped her keep doing what she loves. Through resources introduced by AgrAbility, Mayr got a wagon that allows her to go out into her fields with water […]

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How Safely Do You Operate Your Tractor?

“As a woman who began farming in her 40s, I know that training for women is often sketchy or nonexistent. Women who come into farming may have had little exposure to working with tractors and need the opportunity to learn,” says Ellen S. Gibson, Farm Education Specialist, Maine AgrAbility, in an article for the Maine […]

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Maine AgrAbility participates in Franklin County 100 year celebration

A century of programs and services provided by University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Franklin County office was celebrated Wednesday afternoon, June 19. UMaine Extension 4-H’ers, Homemakers, and staff brought animal projects and other displays. Maine AgrAbility Project Coordinator Lani Carlson had several adaptive tools on display. Hannah Carter, Maine’s new Extension Director, and John Prichard, […]

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