January 2025 Master Gardener Volunteer Newsletter

In this issue…

From the President…

“I like to think of seeds as tiny archives of the past, storing information about who and where we’ve been, our decisions, challenges, and innovations, generation after generation.  We are all standing on the shoulders of the people who have come before us, and seeds are woven through that story.” – Andrea Tursini introductory letter to the High Mowing 2025 seed catalog

January is here and signs of the New Year are everywhere. It is the month of resolutions and new beginnings.

As I walk in my yard and on walking paths, it is challenging to notice much happening other than my stacked wood pile going down. Yet I have witnessed seasonal decorations coming down (Rudolph and Frosty resting up for next year), Christmas trees by the side of the road to be recycled, the days becoming slightly longer (notice more light late afternoon?) and bigger-than-ever store discounts. Doubtless, the warmth of my wood stove is fostering my desire to hibernate. While we are well aware of the activity taking place below the surface of our observations, we know that winter’s magic is at work.

“January is the quietest month in the garden. But because it is quiet doesn’t mean that nothing is happening.” – Rosalie Muller Wright

The CCMGA Board did not meet in December so I have no breaking news to share. Our next meeting in January will give a final review of all the new restructuring for the Association. We will also consider a proposed budget for the Association’s various needs in January.

As we approach a New Year, we typically think of New Year’s Resolutions like exercising more, eating healthier, getting rid of clutter, and volunteering more. Typically, I have NOT been very successful with New Year’s Resolutions! Just recently, I resolved to be in the gym three days a week. You can imagine how well I held to that resolution!

I think this year I’ll try to create a theme for the year…to be less selfish, more open-minded and more appreciative. In essence, I hope to approach life simply each day.

We spend January walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives… not looking for flaws, but for potential.” – Ellen Goodman 

Wishing you a Happy New Gardening Year!

Gary Hoyt
CCMGA President

Take Our Survey 

Please help the newsletter grow and flourish in this new year by taking a few minutes to share your feedback on the newsletter. Survey results will be shared in next month’s newsletter. Thank you!

Roots – Meet a Master Gardener Volunteer 

We’re in hibernation this month but will be back in February. Is there a Master Gardener Volunteer you’d like to see featured in 2025? Please nominate them by emailing Heather Wiggins Berger.

Volunteer Opportunity Spotlight

Tim Anderson shares that “early on in the MGV program in 2021 someone in our Zoom session mentioned gleaning. I didn’t know the meaning of gleaning in the agricultural  sense and Googled it. I found a fit for my volunteer work, but no one in the Oxford extension or in my area (Naples) was gleaning. I started gleaning with the Androscoggin and York gleaners to get a handle on how this was done and began delivering food to pantries in the more rural areas of western Cumberland, Oxford, and Androscoggin Counties. I was and am still stunned by the high level of food insecurity in those areas, specifically for farm-to-pantry fresh produce.  My focus is on getting into the farmer’s fields, harvesting, and delivering to the food pantries. 

Sadly, food insecurity is on the rise in Maine. According to Good Shepherd Food Bank, approximately 1 in 8 – around 180,000 Mainers – faced food insecurity in 2022 and the number is expected to rise once 2023 data is available. Tim has tirelessly advocated to help address food insecurity, especially in rural Maine.  Last year a collaboration was formed between the University of Maine Cooperative Extensions, the Cumberland County Food Security Consul (CCFSC), and the Opportunity Alliance.  This partnership would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of Lynne Holland, Adele Wise and Sarah Somes whose time, energy and persistence have been crucial in helping reduce food insecurity and improving access to fresh produce.  

Despite progress, there are still many significant challenges facing this gleaning initiative: 

  • The ongoing need to establish relationships with local farmers
  • Finding enough gleaners for local farms
  • Building a network of people who can deliver produce to food pantries. 

Tim shares that a typical gleaning session involves three or more people, depending on the task, and usually lasts two hours in the morning. Travel time in addition to time spent gleaning is included in volunteer hours.  Gleaning sessions are typically scheduled in advance via an app called SignUp.com. By clicking on the Signup.com link, it does not automatically commit an individual to the gleaning opportunity but provides additional information about the glean.  Most importantly though, no experience is required-everyone is welcome!  

Adele Wise, the coordinator of the Western Maine Gleaning Initiative, manages the database of available gleaners and participating farms. If you have questions or would like to get involved, contact Adele Wise.  Click here if you would like to learn more about Cumberland County Gleaning Association.

Tim adds that “this volunteer work has given me a way to lend a helping hand to folks experiencing food insecurity and, in the process, I’ve met a lot of great folks in the fields and at the pantries. Most definitely …… a win-win!”

We’re looking for volunteer projects to feature in our Master Gardener Volunteer Newsletter. If you are interested in having your project featured – or if there is a project you would like to learn more about – please reach out to Kerri Frazier.

MGV Events

Cumberland County MGV Speaker Series 

The Education Committee has an exciting schedule planned for the months ahead. All events are offered on a sliding fee. If you have any ideas on topics or presenters please let Barbara or Jim know. All events are offered on a sliding fee.  

    • Thursday, January 9: Growing Figs in Maine with Bob McArdle | 5:00 – 6:30 PM | Zoom 
    • Thursday, February 13: Drought Resistant Gardens with Amy Witt | 5:00 – 6:30 PM | Zoom 
    • Thursday, March 13: Therapeutic Horticulture | 5:00 – 6:30 PM | Zoom 
    • Thursday, April 10: Biochar and Soils with Andrew Carpenter of Northern Tilth | 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM | Zoom
      Thursday, May 8: Insects: Maine’s Oddballs, Tricksters & Lookalikes | 5:00 – 6:30 PM | Zoom
      Thursday, June 12: TBD

Community Events

MGV Updates

Congrats to Pamela and family on the December 12 birth of baby Hazel! Pamela is out of the office until March 6. Here’s a quick reminder of the coverage plan while she’s on leave: 

Garden-related questions:

MGV portal questions (e.g., hours reporting, project enrollment):

  • Please contact Becky Gray, our Statewide Home Horticulture Administrative Specialist, via email or phone at 207-356-1348 (work cell).

To request supplies for educational workshops/events (e.g., publications, brochures):

  • Please contact Jenni Cappello-Ruggiero, our Agriculture and Horticulture Administrative Specialist for Cumberland County, via email or phone at 207-581-8362.

General Cumberland MGV or seed grant questions:

  • Please contact Jenni and Abi. Abi will be sending out the new MG Seed Grant Request Form to project leaders on Tuesday, January 21. Please note that approved MGV projects must be enrolled for the 2025 season in order to receive this form. Seed grant requests will be due back by EOD February 14. The requests will be reviewed and leaders will be notified by the end of February, with orders placed in early March. 
  • Don’t forget to report your hours and impact in the MGV Dashboard!

Past Editions: Missed a previous newsletter? View them all HERE  (password: ladybug)

About this Newsletter: The Cumberland County Master Gardener Volunteer Newsletter is edited by Clarissa Brown, Kerri Frazier, and Heather Wiggins Berger. If you would like to submit an event, article,or help with any aspect of the Newsletter, please contact Heather Wiggins Berger, the newsletter coordinator.