New Farmers Project Farm Visit Series
Calling all New Farmers — and Anyone with Fewer Than 10 Years of Experience in Farming! Join the Maine New Farmers Project for our Farm Visit Series.
Free for all! Registration is required to receive updates and resources discussed at the farm visit.
Farm Visits for 2024:
- March 26: Seed Starting at the Commercial Scale
- May 7: Tractor Safety
- May 21: Harvest and Storage of Vegetables, Hay Production
- June 19: No-Till Farming
- July 9: Small Tools for Small-Scale Farming
- July 23: Agritourism and Lavender Production
- August 20: Cut Flower Production
- August 28: Small-Scale Dairy and Poultry Production
Seed Starting at the Commercial Scale
Seed Starting at the Commercial Scale
March 26, 2024
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Morning Dew Farm Seedling & Supply
49 Center Street, Damariscotta, Maine
Presenter: Brady Hatch, co-owner of Morning Dew Farm
Come join UMaine Extension and the Maine New Farmer Project at Morning Dew Farm in Damariscotta, Maine for a farm visit about Seedling Production Techniques with Morning Dew Farm’s Brady Hatch. Morning Dew Farm is owned and operated by husband and wife team Brendan McQuillen and Brady Hatch. This is a good chance for new farmers to learn about seedling production techniques and to network with other new farmers and service providers.
Tractor Safety
Tractor Safety
May 7, 2024
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC)
Harold Alfond Campus, Hinckley, Maine
Presenter: Jason Lilley, UMaine Cooperative Extension
Come join UMaine Extension and the Maine New Farmers Project at KVCC in Hinckley, Maine for a farm visit about Tractor Safety and Equipment Maintenance with UMaine Extension’s Jason Lilley. This is a good chance for new farmers to learn about tractor safety and maintenance and to network with other new farmers and service providers.
Harvest and Storage of Vegetables, Hay Production
Harvest and Storage of Vegetables, Hay Production
May 21, 2024
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
King Hill Farm
29 Faerie Kingdom Road, Penobscot, Maine
Presenter: Paul Schultz, co-owner of King Hill Farm
Come join UMaine Extension and the Maine New Farmers Project at King Hill Farm in Penobscot, Maine for a farm visit about Vegetable Harvest and Storage techniques and Hay Production with Paul Schultz of King Hill Farm. This is a good chance for new farmers to learn about Harvest and Storage techniques and hay Production techniques, and to network with other new farmers and service providers.
No-Till Farming
June 19, 2024
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Stonecipher Farm
1186 River Road, Bowdoinham, Maine
Presenter: Ian Jerolmack, co-owner of Stonecipher Farm
Come join UMaine Extension and the Maine New Farmers Project at Stonecipher Farm in Bowdoinham, Maine for a farm visit about No-Till Farming Techniques with Stonecipher’s Ian Jerolmack. Ian Jerolmack and Emily Goodchild own and operate Stonecipher Farm, a certified organic 5-acre “no-till” vegetable, fruit, and egg farm. This farm visit is a good chance for new farmers to learn about no-till farming techniques and to network with other new farmers and service providers.
Small Tools for Small-Scale Farming
Small Tools for Small-Scale Farming
July 9, 2024
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Rustic Roots Farm
120 Vipah Lane, Farmington, Maine
Presenter: Erica Emery, Rustic Roots Farm
Come join UMaine Extension and the Maine New Farmers Project at Rustic Roots Farm in Farmington, Maine for a farm visit about using small tools for small-scale farming with Rustic Roots Farm’s Erica Emery. Erica owns and operates Rustic Roots Farm, a small-scale farm in Farmington, Maine producing mixed vegetables. This farm visit is a good chance for new farmers to learn about using small tools for small-scale farming and to network with other new farmers and service providers.
Agritourism and Lavender Production
Agritourism and Lavender Production
July 23, 2024
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
SeaLyon Farm
1788 Alna Rd, Alna, Maine
Presenter: Don and Marcia Lyons, owners of SeaLyon Farm.
Join UMaine Extension and the Maine New Farmers Project for a Farm Visit to Sealyon Farm. We will tour the farm with SeaLyon Farm’s farmer-owners Don and Marcia Lyons with a specific focus on agritourism and growing lavender as a commercial crop. Enjoy lavendar ice cream and a train ride during the tour. Come with your questions about starting agritourism on commercial farms in Maine and about growing Lavender. This is a great opportunity for new farmers to learn about agritourism in Maine, growing Lavender as a commercial crop, and to meet each other and experienced farmers and ag service providers.
Cut Flower Production
August 20, 2024
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Veggies To Table
27 Bailey Lane, Newcastle, Maine
Presenter: Erica Berman, Executive Director of Veggies To Table
We will join Veggies to Table’s Farmer-Executive Director Erica Berman for a tour of the farm with a specific focus on cut flower tips and tricks including dahlia production. Come with your questions about growing flowers in Maine, CSAs, and pop-ups. This is a great opportunity for new farmers to learn about the types of flowers you can grow in Maine, to meet each other, and to meet other farmers and ag service providers.
Veggies to Table is a grow-to-donate farm. They grow and donate top-quality organic produce and flowers for those in need of food and joy. Most of their flowers are donated around the community, but some are sold at pop-ups and in local shops. They ran a successful CSA in the past and would be happy to discuss that as well as marketing and social media.
Small-Scale Dairy and Poultry Production
Small-Scale Dairy and Poultry Production
August 28, 2024
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Grace Pond Farm
530 Main Street, Thomaston, Maine
Presenter: Rhiannon Hampson, co-owner of Grace Pond Farm
Come join UMaine Extension and the Maine New Farmers Project at Grace Pond Farm in Thomaston, Maine for a farm visit about raising poultry and dairy cows with Grace Pond Farm’s Rhiannon Hampson. Rhiannon and her husband, Gregg, own and operate Grace Pond Farm, a small, diversified, organically certified livestock and dairy farm in Thomaston, Maine. This farm visit is a good chance for new farmers to learn about raising poultry and dairy cows and to network with other new farmers and service providers.
UMaine Cooperative Extension is hosting this webinar with funding from USDA NIFA Grant #2021-70033-35716.
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