Follow the new UMaine Gardens at Tidewater Farm Instagram account (@umainegardens_tidewaterfarm) for updates on events, workshops, and programs! Catch a glimpse of how the gardens transform from season to season with photos of flowers in bloom, wildlife habitats, and gardening techniques used throughout the year!
UMaine Gardens at Tidewater Farm Instagram Account
August 1st, 2018 8:57 AMGrowing Fruit Trees: Guides and Publications
July 31st, 2018 11:50 AM
Whether starting for the first time or in the tree fruit business for many years, these resources are designed to guide growers in determining knowledge gaps and skills that may be gained to be more successful in tree fruit production.
The purpose of these links is to provide the home orchardist with the knowledge to successfully grow fruit trees under the conditions that exist in Maine.
Farmer Skill and Knowledge Checklist for Tree Fruit Growers in Maine
A Guide to Harvest and Storage of Fruit Trees in Maine
Planting and Early Care of Fruit Trees
If you would like to know more about tree fruit production or other types of gardening, please contact the University of Maine Cooperative Extension or the Highmoor Farm or visit the UMaine Extension website.
It’s Berry Season and We’ve Got the Publications!
June 28th, 2018 10:47 AMBerry season is upon us and we have several publications from growing the berries, to preserving and cooking them.
Maine Food for June: Strawberries, Berry Jams and Spring Peas
May 25th, 2018 1:23 PMUMaine Extension offers Tips for Using Maine Fruits and Vegetables Available in June
We all look forward to the signs of spring after a long cold Maine winter. Strawberries are definitely one of those spring harbingers we crave.
Freezing berries in season and making your own low-sugar jams and jellies are simple, easy ways to increase your access to a year-round supply of local foods, cut back on sugar and reduce your grocery bill.
Kathy Savoie, UMaine Extension educator, cautions that you should get up-to-date information if you are planning on canning food. Over the years, there have been changes in scientific expertise as well as canning equipment and there is new information on the best methods, canners, jars, and seals to use to ensure a safe result.
Looking for a local food preservation workshop near you to learn more? How about Preserving the Harvest: Strawberry Jam at our UMaine Regional Learning Center in Falmouth (75 Clearwater Dr) on Wednesday June 27th. This hands-on food preservation workshop will teach you the basics of canning and freezing strawberries, including how to use a water bath canner to preserve jam. Learn from the experts. We will provide fresh produce and canning jars. Register online.
Visit extension.umaine.edu to order or download bulletins to fit this season, including June favorites such as Bulletin #4047 Let’s Preserve Strawberries, Bulletin #4039 Let’s Preserve: Jams, Jellies and Spreads, Bulletin #4383 Freezing Fruits and Bulletin #4256 Vegetables and Fruits for Health: Peas.
Support your local farmer by shopping at a farmers’ market
The vibrant farmers’ market scene in Maine offers shoppers a fun way to access fresh food from friendly, hard-working farmers. Most home gardeners in Maine try to have peas to harvest by the Fourth of July, but you can add peas to the menu even earlier by going to local farmers markets and vegetable stands. Common types you will find in the market include shell (green) peas as well as edible-pod peas such as snow peas (Chinese pea pods) and sugar-snap peas.
About University of Maine Cooperative Extension: As a trusted resource for over 100 years, University of Maine Cooperative Extension has supported UMaine’s land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension helps support, sustain and grow the food-based economy. It is the only entity in our state that touches every aspect of the Maine Food System, where policy, research, production, processing, commerce, nutrition, and food security and safety are integral and interrelated. UMaine Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H.
About the University of Maine: The University of Maine, founded in Orono in 1865, is the state’s land grant and sea grant university. As Maine’s flagship public university, UMaine has a statewide mission of teaching, research and economic development, and community service. UMaine is among the most comprehensive higher education institutions in the Northeast and attracts students from Maine and 49 other states, and 67 countries. It currently enrolls 11,240 total undergraduate and graduate students who can directly participate in groundbreaking research working with world-class scholars. The University of Maine offers 35 doctoral programs and master’s degrees in 85 fields; more than 90 undergraduate majors and academic programs; and one of the oldest and most prestigious honors programs in the U.S. The university promotes environmental stewardship, with substantial efforts campus wide aimed at conserving energy, recycling and adhering to green building standards in new construction. For more information about UMaine, visit umaine.edu
Great Publications for Memorial Day Weekend
May 21st, 2018 4:08 PM
The first long weekend of the summer season is about to begin and that means people are spending more time outdoors. We’ve got publications about grilling safely, dealing with those pesky bugs and insects, gardening information, and much more! Below is just a sample of publications available from UMaine Extension’s publications catalog:
#4278 Barbecue and Tailgating Food Safety
#4279 Food Safety for Camping and Hiking
#5047 Ticks
#2367 Lyme Disease
#5108 Insect Repellents
#5110 Mosquito Management
#4279 Food Safety for Camping and Hiking
#5047 Ticks
#2367 Lyme Disease
#5108 Insect Repellents
#5110 Mosquito Management
#2286 Testing Your Soil
#2367 Establishing a Home Lawn in Maine
#2243 Maintaining a Home Lawn in Maine
#2166 Steps to a Low-Input, Healthy Lawn
#4266 Vegetables and Fruits for Health: Rhubarb
#2514 Growing Rhubarb in Maine
#2068 Growing Peaches in Maine
#2514 Growing Rhubarb in Maine
#2068 Growing Peaches in Maine
#4033 Refrigerator Spring Pickles
4-H Club Visits the Big Apple!
May 10th, 2018 8:42 AM
The PHS 4-H club in the General Assembly room at the United Nations.
The PHS 4-H Club recently returned from New York City and, according to the teens, the adventure was amazing and eye-opening. The PHS 4-H club is supported by the Portland Mentoring Alliance. The 4-H club conducts leadership activities, college preparation exercises and community service. Teens take an annual trip to visit an urban college and to learn American history and civics. There were eleven juniors and seniors who went on the trip with two adult volunteers and an Extension staff member.
Highlights included a visit to NYU admissions, a touching visit to the 9/11 memorial, a visit to the Whitney Art Museum, and a tour of the United Nations. Several students want to study criminal justice and be a police officer so the students asked NYPD officers a lot of questions on the trip. The teens visited Harlem where they tried some traditional southern American cooking (to mixed results) and shopped at an African bazaar.
Nasteho and Nimo model the clothing they bought at the African Market in Harlem.
The teens have been planning the trip since October. The teens had to identify potential colleges and sites to visit, conduct service learning projects, and attend leadership meetings in order to go on the trip. The teens also met with mentors on a weekly basis and maintained their grades and school attendance. Many of the teens loved visiting NYC but most came to the conclusion that they would prefer a college with more green space and less traffic! One of the best parts of being in New York City, said one teen, is that “everyone can be themselves and no one looks at you for standing out from the crowd. You can just be yourself there.”
Publications for Spring
May 1st, 2018 12:40 PMSpring is here and that means the planting and growing season is getting under way in some parts of our state and people are pursuing outdoor activities. We have resources to educate you about pruning trees and shrubs, starting seeds at home, insect repellents, ticks, mosquitoes and Lyme disease. Fiddlehead season is almost here, and maybe in the southern part of the state, and we have information on cooking and pickling, with recipes and an instructional video.
#2751 Starting Seeds at Home
#2762 Growing Vegetables in Container Gardens
#4198 Facts on Fiddleheads
#4060 Facts on Edible Wild Greens in Maine
#2514 Growing Rhubarb in Maine
#2067 Growing Strawberries
#2422 Growing Fruit Trees in Maine
#2172 Raspberry and Blackberry Varieties for Maine
#2065 Propagation of Plants by Grafting and Budding
#2411 Planting and Early Care of Fruit Trees
#4198 Facts on Fiddleheads
#4060 Facts on Edible Wild Greens in Maine
#2514 Growing Rhubarb in Maine
#2067 Growing Strawberries
#2422 Growing Fruit Trees in Maine
#2172 Raspberry and Blackberry Varieties for Maine
#2065 Propagation of Plants by Grafting and Budding
#2411 Planting and Early Care of Fruit Trees
#2701 Designing Your Landscape for Maine
#5037 Japanese Beetle
#2513 Pruning Forsythias in Maine
#5047 Ticks
#2367 Lyme Disease
#5108 Insect Repellents
#5110 Mosquito Management
#5037 Japanese Beetle
#2513 Pruning Forsythias in Maine
#5047 Ticks
#2367 Lyme Disease
#5108 Insect Repellents
#5110 Mosquito Management
Two New Publications: Storey’s Guides
February 22nd, 2018 10:13 AM
#1113 Storey’s Guide to Raising Pigs, Third Edition
Learn how to successfully raise your own pigs with a focus on a sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices. Expert tips on making your hog operation more efficient and profitable. Great resource for beginners. 374 pages. $19.95
#1114 Storey’s Guide to Raising Sheep
Drawing from years of hands-on experience, Paula Simmons and Carol Ekarius provide expert advice on breed selection, lambing, feeding, housing, pasture maintenance, and medical care. You will also find tips on profitably marketing your meat and fiber products, as well as information on obtaining organic certifications. 438 pages. $19.95
Maple Syrup Publications & Videos
February 20th, 2018 9:41 AMMaine Maple Sunday is not until March 25, but the sap is already flowing in some parts of the state. We have several publications and videos in our publications catalog worth checking out:
#7036 How to Tap Maple Trees & Make Maple Syrup
#7038 Maple Syrup Quality Control Manual
#7041 Licensing and Regulations for Maple Syrup Processing in Maine
Remember, Cooperative Extension has a variety of publications available that may interest both you and your clients; everything from agriculture, small business, home, family and youth, gardening and lots more! So pull up a chair and browse the publications catalog. You’ll be amazed at what you find!
4-H Healthy Living Summit
February 20th, 2018 8:58 AM
University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H sent a delegation to the 4-H Healthy Living Summit in Washington DC for the weekend. They did two live updates on our Facebook page, check them out!!
Some insight from our UMaine Extension group at the 4-H Healthy Living Summit: https://www.facebook.com/UMaineExtensionCumberland/videos/10155349119021938/
Our 4-H Healthy Living Summit delegation unveils their action plan empowering ME and you 4-H Healthy Relationships! Facebook live video: https://www.facebook.com/UMaineExtensionCumberland/videos/10155351926926938/
