2023 Course Schedule

Course Schedule

Week:

1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7  |  8  |  9  |  10  |  11  |  12  |  13  |  14  |  15  | 16

Required Reading

Week 1: January 17, 2023

  • 12:00 Noon-4:00 p.m.
  • Soil Health
  • Jason Lilley, University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Week 2: January 31

  • 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
  • Crop Planning
  • Anne Martin, Maine AgrAbility

Week 3: February 14

  • 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
  • Small Fruit Production, Safe Food Handling
  • Dave Handley, Ph.D., UMaine Extension

Week 4: February 28

  • 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
  • Vegetable Production (Leaf, Cucurbit, and Nightshade Vegetables)
  • Caleb Goossen, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)

Week 5: March 14

  • 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
  • Vegetable Production (Root, Allium, and Brassica)
  • Mark Hutton, Ph.D., UMaine Extension

Week 6: March 28

  • 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
  • Farm Visit: Seedling Production
  • T.B.D.

Week 7: April 11

  • 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
  • Disease Management
  • Alicyn Smart, Ph.D., UMaine Extension

Week 8: April 25

  • 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
  • Cash Flow, Enterprise Budgets
  • Nicolas Lindholm, MOFGA, Blue Hill Berry Co.

Week 9: May 9

  • 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
  • Off-Site: Tools and Equipment Maintenance and Safety, Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC), Hinckley
  • Jason Lilley, UMaine Extension

Week 10: May 23

Week 11: June 6

  • 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
  • Bookkeeping
  • Anne Martin, Maine AgrAbility

Week 12: June 21 (Wednesday)

  • 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
  • Farm Visit: No-Till Farming
  • Ian Jerolmack, Stonecipher Farm, Bowdoinham

Week 13: July 11

  • 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
  • Farm Visit: Small-Scale Tools for Small-Scale Farming
  • Erica Emery, Rustic Roots Farm, Farmington

Week 14: July 25

  • 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
  • Marketing/Branding
  • Melissa Arndt, UMaine Extension

Week 15: August 22

  • 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
  • Farm Visit: Raising Poultry
  • T.B.D.

Week 16: September 5 

  • 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
  • Farm Coaching: Communication
  • Polly Shyka and Abby Sadaukus

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Anne Martin at anne.martin1@maine.edu or 207.944.1533.

In-Person Farm Visits/Field Days

Materials Required

  • Personal garden work gloves, and season-appropriate clothing for outdoor field work to include head, footwear, sun protection, and bug spray. Bring a lunch for farm field days.
  • March 28: Seedling Production, T.B.D.
  • May 9: Tractor Safety and Equipment Maintenance, Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC), Hinckley Campus
  • May 23: Harvest and Storage, T.B.D.
  • June 21 (Wednesday): No-Till Farming, Stonecipher Farm, 1186 River Road, Bowdoinham, Maine 04008
  • July 11: Small Tools to Use in Small-Scale Farming, Rustic Roots Farm, 120 Vipah Lane, Farmington, Maine 04938
  • August 22: Poultry Operation – T.B.D.

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Anne Martin at anne.martin1@maine.edu or 207.944.1533.

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2018-70027-28588.

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