Agriculture

two hands holding soil

A Quick Reference For How To Take A Soil Test

  What does a soil test from the Cooperative Extension do? A soil test will tell you: -Nutrient levels in your soil – Soil pH levels – Presence of lead contamination, if any Why should I test my soil? A soil test will help you to optimize your garden or lawn by providing the information […]

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Merrifield Farmer making maple syrup.

Maine Maple Sunday

The annual Maine Maple Sunday is a beloved event here in Maine and a sure sign of Spring as rising temperature creates pressure inside trees, causing sap to flow. Each year nearly 100 participating sugarhouses (building where maple sap is boiled and maple syrup and maple sugar are made) across the state offer a variety of […]

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Young couple with a bushel of apples in an apple orchard

Pick-Your-Own Apples

Orchards in Cumberland County Apple picking is an excellent fall tradition to spend some quality time with your loved ones, and stock up on apples for all the autumnal apple treats and snacking you could want.  Follow this link to find several apple orchards in Cumberland County and follow the links to their sites to find […]

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Two New Publications: Storey’s Guides

#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, […]

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farmer driving a tractor in a field

Summer Agriculture Workshops

The purpose of the Cooperative Extension is to give local residents access to the resources and expertise generated from the University of Maine. Through programs, publications and especially workshops. This summer is chalk full of FREE Agriculture workshops for all your farming needs. But what is so beneficial about going?   Answered Questions There are […]

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chickens in a coop

Preparing for Your Backyard Poultry Flock

By Jason Lilley, UMaine Extension Cumberland Sustainable Agriculture Professional It’s the time of year when many families are heading to their local garden center or farm to pick up their backyard poultry flock. There are several things to consider and prepare before picking up those birds to ensure that the birds are healthy and productive. […]

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Little Ridge Farm, rows of planted beans

Succession Planting

By Jason Lilley, UMaine Extension Cumberland Sustainable Agriculture Professional Now that the garden soil is drying out and warming up, it’s time to get planting! Many gardeners wish that they had more space to get more veggies from. One way to increase your yields without increasing your garden space is with succession planting. Succession planting […]

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Preparing for Your Next Vegetable Garden

By Clark Whitter, Cumberland County Master Gardener, Class of 2010 Analyze At the end of the growing season, including fall and early winter crops, analyze what did well and what did not. If a crop has not done well for the last two to three years, consider cutting back on some vegetables or change some […]

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seedling plants in a greenhouse

Maine Seed Distributors

By Tayla Mann, UMaine Extension Staff, Administrative Clerk Here at the UMaine Extension we love local. Local foods, local farmers, and local seeds. Lucky for us, Maine has some great seed distributors worth talking about! Johnny’s Selected Seeds Johnny’s, created in 1973, prides themselves in being 100% employee owned and producing safe, non-GMO seeds. They provide a […]

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Preserving Your Fresh Garden Veggies into the Winter

By Jason Lilley, Sustainable Agriculture Professional There’s nothing like going into your back yard to harvest the freshest possible vegetables for dinner. Using this home grown produce doesn’t have to come to an end with the first killing frosts. With some planning you can have harvestable crops in the garden well into December, and have […]

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