Eastern Maine Regional Opportunities for Ocean, Timber and Soil (ROOTS) Conference

Saturday, March 22, 2025
Snow Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
University of Maine at Machias
Reynold’s Center
116 O’Brien Avenue, Machias, Maine 04654 (Google Maps)

The 2025 Eastern Maine ROOTS Conference brings together industry leaders in agriculture, food, forestry management, fisheries, and aquaculture. Presenters and service providers from UMaine, local agencies, and non-profit organizations will be present to share information with Eastern Maine farmers, fisherfolk, growers, woodland owners and interested community members.

This conference, previously named the “Downeast Agriculture and Forestry Conference,” enters its fourth year in 2025. UMaine Cooperative Extension is partnering for the first time with the Washington County Food Council (a group co-facilitated by staff from Healthy Acadia and Full Plates Full Potential) and local industry leaders to provide a full agenda for conference guests.

On Saturday March 22nd, the day will kick off with a Keynote Address to center on value-based approaches to connecting with the land and natural resources. Next will be a speakers’ panel, Wood and Food Banks: Inspiration from Eastern Maine for Heat and Food Security Efforts. After the morning speaker panel, a catered lunch will be provided featuring special local foods. Afternoon sessions offer industry-specific talks and workshops. During the course of the day, participants can network with representatives from local agencies, institutions and non-profits.

For more information contact Rachel White at rachel@maine.edu, Assistant Professor of Sustainable Agriculture and Livestock.

Registration

Cost: Pay what you can ($10-$60) includes lunch featuring local foods. Financial assistance is available. Please contact Tara Wood, tara.a.wood@maine.edu for the coupon code.

2025 Conference Agenda

8:30 a.m. – Welcome, coffee & refreshments (Conference Room)

9:00 a.m. – Introduction and Keynote Address (Conference Room)

Our Part in the Interdependence of all Living Things
Keynote Speaker: Rowen Luuring
Rowen Luuring is a passionate 21 year old local to Washington County. She revolves her work around her longstanding passions – caring for the community, its natural spaces, and its young people. Currently, Rowen is employed by AmeriCorps and works at Washington Academy, teaching Sustainable Agriculture and managing the school’s garden alongside a coworker. Prior to this experience, Rowen has a history working in stewardship and several applications in working with youth. Looking forward, Rowen has aspirations to be enrolled as a student in College of the Atlantic in the fall of 2026 semester. She plans to pursue a degree in Human Ecology that she will be able to use to the benefit of the Downeast community. In her free time, Rowen loves to knit with her cat, Daisy, close by.

9:45 a.m. – Morning panel (Conference Room)

Wood and Food Banks: Inspiration from Eastern Maine for Heat and Food Security Efforts

11:15 a.m. – Networking and visiting resource tables (Lobby)

11:45 a.m. – Catered lunch (Conference Room)

12:30 p.m. – First session of industry-specific talks/workshops:

OCEAN: Tides of Change: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities of the Working Waterfront
TIMBER: Working Together for Forest Stewardship: NRCS, Foresters & Small Woodland Owners
SOIL: Improving Viability of Agriculture in Downeast Maine

1:45 p.m. – Second session of industry-specific talks/workshops:

OCEAN: From Sea to Stream: Conservation Strategies for Healthy Waters and Thriving Ecosystems
TIMBER: Downeast Coastal Forests & Climate Change
SOIL: Soil Fertility Best Practices

3:00 p.m. – Open time to network and visit resource tables

4:00 p.m. – End

Sponsorship Opportunity

The Eastern Maine Regional Opportunities for Ocean, Timber and Soil Conference planning committee extends an open invitation to interested businesses and organizations to be a sponsor of the conference and help make it a success. Sponsorship provides benefits to your organization and opportunities to interact with farmers, fisherfolk, growers, woodland owners and interested community members from Eastern Maine.

Benefits of conference sponsorship include

Logo and link on conference web page
Recognition in conference social media campaign
Introduction and recognition during opening session of conference program
Registration and lunch for two individuals
One exhibit space in prominent location

Thank you for considering sponsorship of this important event. If your organization is interested in becoming a sponsor, please complete this form or email Rachel White, Eastern Maine ROOTS Conference Planning Lead at rachel@maine.edu to discuss sponsorship opportunities.

Sponsorship Form

Exhibitor Information

We invite you to exhibit at the Eastern Maine Regional Opportunities for Ocean, Timber and Soils (ROOTS) Conference. This conference is a unique opportunity to connect with farmers, fisherfolk, growers, woodland owners and interested community members from Eastern Maine. There will be multiple times scheduled for participants to visit tables.

Complete and Submit to Exhibit at the 2025 Eastern Maine ROOTS Conference:

2025 Eastern Maine ROOTS Exhibitor Registration Form

$50 fee includes table, conference registration and lunch for two people.

Questions? Contact Tara Wood, tara.a.wood@maine.edu, 207-255-3345

Planning Committee

Anna Carter, Commercial clam harvester, member of Lubec Shellfish Committee and Planning Board, advocate of small-scale aquaculture
Brian Greulich, Licensed Forester, NRCS technical service provider
Eddie Nachamie, Ecology and Environmental Sciences Student, University of Maine, Orono
Jessica Leahy, Professor, School of Forest Resources, University of Maine, Orono
Kirsten Tenney, Full Plates Full Potential
Lucy Zwigard, Washington County Food Programs Coordinator, Healthy Acadia, Machias, and co-facilitator of the Washington County Food Council
Rachel White, Sustainable Agriculture and Livestock Educator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Conference Planning Lead
Regina Grabrovac, Washington County Food Programs Manager, Healthy Acadia
Sandy Fortin, Healthy Eating Active Living Coordinator, Maine DOE Farm & Sea to School, Regional Local Foods Coordinator, Healthy Acadia
Tara Wood, Administrative Specialist, University of Maine Cooperative Extension

If you are a person with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Tara Wood at tara.a.wood@maine.edu or 207.255.3345 to discuss your needs. Receiving requests for accommodations at least 10 days before the program provides a reasonable amount of time to meet the request, however all requests will be considered.

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

Cooperative Extension: Agriculture