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SustainME is a program designed in partnership with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the University of Maine 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Bryant Pond. Outdoor skills-focused workshops follow three distinct paths: Hunting/ Fishing, Wild Edibles/Foraging, and Backyard Farming, with the goals of helping people gain the knowledge, self-confidence, and practical skills to be more self-reliant with an emphasis on sustainable food sources and preparation.

The mission of SustainME is:

  • To provide skills-based workshops that introduce new outdoor activities that will inspire future involvement in hunting, fishing, backyard farming, and foraging through a broad array of topics and a diverse group of instructors.
  • To connect people to their food in a meaningful way, whether it’s wild-caught, hunted, gathered, raised, or grown.
  • To engage people and inspire a greater appreciation for providing for yourself, your family, and your community.
  • To connect people to additional resources, mentors, and community partners that complement these program areas, and will further develop these skills.

 

Fall SustainME Workshop

  • Date: Saturday, September 24th, 2022 
  • Start / End Times: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Registration Fee: $95.00
  • Location: Bryant Pond 4-H Camp, 17 Conservation lane
  • Minimum Age:  18 Years and older
  • Group Limit: 12 per session

Register Online 


Your September 24th workshop choices

Session I Choices:

  • Learn to Hunt: Whitetail Deer Hunting
  • Archery Shooting Skills
  • Intro to Fly Fishing and Casting
  • Wild Edibles: Seeking Nature’s Bounty
  • Basics of Fermentation
  • Map and Compass Skills

Session II Choices:

  • Learn to Hunt: Field Dressing and Tracking
  • Beginners Guide to Rifle Shooting
  • Herb Drying and Preservation
  • What to do with Your Food Scraps
  • Fish Processing and Campfire Cooking
  • A Survival Guide to Being Outdoors in the Fall

A sample of topics that you can expect to see in future SustainME programs is listed below.

Hunting and Fishing

  • Becoming a Hunter: Getting started
  • Choosing the right equipment
  • Field Dressing wild game
  • Finding places to hunt
  • Wild game cooking: various game meats (bear, deer, moose, upland birds, small game).
  • Wild fish cooking: fresh and saltwater fish
  • Bow Hunting Skills
  • Map and Compass navigation
  • Fly Fishing Techniques
  • Surf Casting Basics
  • Wildlife Identification
  • Habits and Habitats
  • Fly Tying
  • Mounting a scope
  • Firearm Cleaning
  • Tracking Wild Game
  • Fishing for various species (trout, salmon, perch, bass, etc)
  • Hunting tactics (specific to various species-turkey, bear, deer, moose, etc.)
  • Smelting
  • Ice Fishing techniques
  • Reading the forest and its various ecosystems
  • Many other specific skills/topics

Foraging and Gathering

  • Foraging for Fiddleheads
  • Mushroom ID and gathering techniques
  • Wild Edibles
  • Chaga: Uses and benefits, ways to prepare
  • Preserving wild found food items
  • Reading the forested landscape
  • Tidepool foraging
  • Various cooking workshops using wild ingredients
  • Foraging for mast crops: uses for nuts, acorns, and other items
  • Identifying Maine’s wild fruits and berries
  • Planning your diet within season
  • Many others focused workshops

Backyard Farming

  • Raising cows for milk or beef
  • Raising pigs for meat as well as various uses such as land clearing
  • Gardening (various themed workshops on fruit, veggies, herbs, etc.)
  • Bee Keeping
  • Raising goats and sheep
  • Sustainable farming practices
  • Irrigation solutions
  • Composting techniques
  • Raising Chickens for eggs and meat
  • Pest Proofing your garden and animals
  • Soil Science
  • Hobby Farm Basics
  • Indoor Herb Gardening
  • Hydroponics
  • Tools and equipment
  • Using a chainsaw
  • Many other garden agriculture topics