Before the age of emails and texting there was the art of secret messages via floral arrangements. They called them “Tussie Mussies” and it was just as interesting as it’s name sounds. Said to originate in the Victorian era, Tussie Mussies are small, round bouquets made up of herbs and flowers that each hold symbolic […]
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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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By Tayla Mann, UMaine Extension Staff, Administrative Specialist The four-leaf clover has become a well-known symbol of luck, 4-H and St. Patrick’s Day. But not many of us know the folk-lore and facts behind this little green plant. The chances of even finding a four-leaf clover among the rest are 1 in 10,000! This is […]
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Article and Photographs by Amy Witt, UMaine Extension Horticulturist Gardens bring delight to gardeners, visitors, and people passing by. They can also provide important habitat for birds, and in return, more enjoyment for the gardener and visitors. Gardening successfully for birds involves meeting their basic needs of food, water, nesting sites and shelter. Plan & […]
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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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By Tayla Mann, UMaine Extension Staff, Administrative Clerk Valentine’s Day has become a well-known tradition filled with chocolate, greeting cards, and especially flowers. However, with Valentine’s Day come and gone you’re probably beginning to wonder how to make those cherished flowers last a little longer. So we have compiled a few tips as our Valentine’s present […]
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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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By Kyle Fletcher Baker, Cumberland County Master Gardener and MCN Maine Zone 5 Well, here it is, winter in Maine and while all around us outside is usually covered with snow, some of us are tending the sporadic gardens inside. Whether it’s one or two plants or you have a virtual jungle of plants, the care […]
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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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Food waste is a huge issue and fruits and vegetables that are considered ugly are often thrown away while still edible. So with your help we celebrated the under-appreciated beauty of ugly fruits and vegetables that you grew. Thank you to everyone who participated in this photo contest and congratulations to our winner, Sue Hochstein of […]
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