Urban Growers Summer Series

Join UMaine Extension and our community partners for a series of three workshops for urban gardeners and farmers. Held at different sites in Portland, these sessions will focus on practices that help growers increase their resilience in an urban setting. Participants may join us for as many sessions as they are able; please note that each workshop REQUIRES a separate registration.

Fruit in the City: Growing an Urban OrchardA view of the Mt. Joy Orchard overlooking Portland, Maine.

Date: June 25, 2025
Time: 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Location: Mt. Joy Orchard, Portland, Maine
Cost: Free
To Register: Fruit in the City

Come tour the beautiful Mt Joy Community Orchard, and learn about growing fruit trees in urban areas. This tour and workshop will be led by Aaron Parker, owner of Edgewood Nursery and a community leader at Mt Joy. We will discover the many resilient and prolific fruit tree species and varieties that live at Mt Joy, and consider the unique practices essential for growing a healthy orchard in an urban setting. The views of Portland will be splendid, and the learning will be sweet! This event is brought to you by UMaine Extension and Cultivating Community.

Who’s Eating My Kale? A Summer Pest and Disease TourTwo Japanese beetles on a green leafy plant that shows significant signs of being eaten by pests.

Date: July 23, 2025
Time: 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Location: Valley Street Community Garden, Portland, Maine
Cost: Free
To Register: Who’s Eating My Kale?

Are critters nibbling on your veggies? Are plants developing strange colors, or wilting unexpectedly? Join Cooperative Extension, Cultivating Community, and MOFGA for an interactive tour of the common pests and diseases that appear at the height of summer. We’ll search over fruits and under leaves to help growers increase their comfort with diagnosing what ails their plants, and learn strategies for improving the health of their gardens.

Extending the Growing SeasonA field with several rows of crops covered by rows of hoops.

Date: August 27, 2025
Time: 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Location: Valley Street Community Garden, Portland, Maine
Cost: Free
To Register:  Extending the Growing Season

Summer won’t last forever, but our gardens can continue feeding us deep into the fall. Join Cooperative Extension and Cultivating Community for this final session of the Urban Growers Summer Series, and learn strategies for successfully extending the growing season. Participants will learn about the species that thrive in the cooler days of fall, how to plan and time your fall plantings, and techniques for protecting plants from the cold and wind. This workshop will prepare you to harvest well after the first frost!