Just as the seasons change, sometimes so do our gardening careers. As many of you know, Amy Witt will be leaving Cooperative Extension on 12/1/17 to start a new adventure, doing nature-based programming and events. Amy has been instrumental in developing and supporting so many programs, not just the more “visible” ones like Master Gardeners and Tidewater gardens. She’s been the driving force behind our participation in the flower show, Garden Angels, distribution of seedlings to community gardens, school programs and much, much more.
As a thank her for all she has done, the MG Board is hosting an Open House on Thursday, November 30, 2017 at the Jewish Community Center, 1342 Congress Street, Portland, from 3:30pm to 6:30 pm, Invitations are being emailed to all Master Gardeners. We would love to have you join us in wishing Amy farewell and best of luck in this new phase of her gardening/education life. Because we know that so many Master Gardeners are excellent cooks, we do invite you to bring your favorite finger food/appetizer or a dessert to share. We will provide a variety of soft drinks.
It’s not easy to say good bye to someone who has touched the lives of so many of us. Many people have asked about her replacement and Amy has been assured that the University will be hiring a replacement Home Horticulturist, which is great news for our program! Also, before she “retires”, Amy is working diligently to set up the classes for the next crop of new Master Gardeners. I’m sure that we will continue to see Amy involved in many Maine based gardening events.
November 30, 3:30- 6:30pm – Amy’s Farewell Party. Come say good bye to Amy and wish her luck in her new adventures.
Location: Jewish Community Center, 1342 Congress St – Sam L Cohen Community Room. Please don’t park in the West Gate Shopping Center lot – you will be ticketed – the Community Center has it’s own lot and there is plenty of on street parking. If you would like to help, you may bring finger food/appetizers/desserts to share. RSVPS are a must; Amy’s Farewell RSVP
November 11-12 – Maine Harvest Festival,10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Cross Insurance Center, 515 Main St. Bangor, ME 04401. http://www.maineharvestfestival.com
Wayside Annual Turkey Drive – With Thanksgiving less than a month away, Wayside Food Programs’ annual turkey drive is in full swing. They will be collecting turkey donations from now until Thanksgiving, though donations received before November 18th help to give us more time to distribute the food to our partner food pantries. Turkeys collected will be used at our Thanksgiving meal and distributed to families through our mobile food pantries and partner food pantries across Cumberland County. To donate a turkey, please contact Don Morrison – (207) 712-4929 or dmorrison@waysidemaine.org.
Date: Wednesdays, January 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st
Time: 6-8pm
Location: UMaine Regional Learning Center, Falmouth, ME
Textbook: The Beekeeper’s Handbook, Fourth Edition (included in registration fee)
Fee: TBA
Registration: Opening Soon (November)
This 5 session course is a great opportunity for new beekeepers, prior to their first year of bees, or it can be a great refresher course for beekeepers just now going into their first winter.
Date: Tuesdays, January 16th and 23rd
Time: 6-8:30pm
Location: UMaine Regional Learning Center, Falmouth, ME
Fee: TBA
Registration: Opening Soon (November)
Instructors: Master Beekeeper Erin MacGregor Forbes
Beekeeping: Queens & Nucs (Intermediate Level)
Date: Tuesdays, February 13th and 20th
Time: 6-8:30pm
Location: UMaine Regional Learning Center, Falmouth, ME
Fee: TBA
Registration: Opening Soon (November)
Instructors: Master Beekeeper Erin MacGregor Forbes
Beginner Beekeeping
Date: Wednesdays, February 14th, 21st, 28th, and March 7th & 14th
Time: 6-8pm
Location: UMaine Regional Learning Center, Falmouth, ME
Textbook: The Beekeeper’s Handbook, Fourth Edition (included in registration fee)
Fee: TBA
Registration: Opening Soon (November)
Instructors: TBA
This 5 session course is a great opportunity for new beekeepers, prior to their first year of bees, or it can be a great refresher course for beekeepers just now going into their first winter.
Beekeeping: Swarm Management (Intermediate Level)
Date: Tuesdays, March 6th and 13th
Time: 6-8:30pm
Location: UMaine Regional Learning Center, Falmouth, ME
Fee: TBA
Registration: Opening Soon (November)
Instructors: Master Beekeeper Erin MacGregor Forbes
Now is the time of year to take the appropriate measures to protect your young trees from pests that cause severe damage by girdling the bark. Read this helpful UNH publication with tips and strategies for protection. Voles and Mice in the Orchard
Time for our annual employee/volunteer donation drives to benefit the Preble Street Resource Center in Portland. This year the focus is on toiletries. Please consider donating.
This year we will again collect donations at our office (75 Clearwater Drive in Falmouth) from November 1st-16th (during office hours – M-F from 8-4:30).
Get Your Garlic In – If you haven’t already, plant your garlic now. The cloves need time to send down roots before the soil freezes. And to enjoy the harvest from this past summer, see Roberta Bailey’s recipes in her article “Fall is Garlic Time.”
Master Gardener Special Award Certificates were given to:
Rookie of the Year – Ann Spelman -for volunteering 158 hours in her first year
Outstanding Horticulture Volunteer of the Year – Avril Roux
For her promotion of the Master Gardener Program, hard work on the Tidewater Children’s garden, CCMGA, as Plant Sale Committee chair and overall commitment to all aspects of the Master Gardener Volunteer efforts.
Ambassador -Marianne Tufts
For her work at the Maine Wildlife Park and general promotion of UMaine Extension and the Master Gardener program.
Community Service – Mora Katz
For her hard work at Sedgewood Commons
Demonstration/Educational Garden – Sharon Blakeslee For her tireless efforts on behalf of the Smiling Hill Farm Children’ s and Demonstration garden
Beautification & Enhancement – Robin Babino For her tireless efforts on behalf of the gardens at the Ronald McDonald House
The “Golden Trowel” award for Masters Gardeners that contribute greatly to the program we awarded to, Nancy Sarnacki, Dayna Klein and Violet Eastman.
Seventeen new Master Gardeners from the 2017 class received their certification.
Eight Master Gardeners were recognized for contributing over 100 hours of volunteer service and 552 Master Gardeners logged 6,211 hours of volunteer work during the past year.
Do you need more CLYNK bags? They are available at the office. Our account grows steadily and the money go towards Cumberland County Master Gardener projects ~ a SEED PROJECTS. Collect your returnables in one of our designated CLYNK bags, drop off at your local Hannaford and help us grow our Seed Money.
Annual Staff and Volunteer Donation Drive
