{"id":7875,"date":"2022-03-28T18:42:11","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T18:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/piscataquis\/?page_id=7875"},"modified":"2022-07-08T20:15:49","modified_gmt":"2022-07-08T20:15:49","slug":"2020-2021-umaine-cooperation-extension-county-highlights","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/piscataquis\/2020-2021-umaine-extension-piscataquis-annual-report\/2020-2021-umaine-cooperation-extension-county-highlights\/","title":{"rendered":"2020-2021 Piscataquis Cooperation Extension County Highlights"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maine Food System<\/h3>\n

Home Gardening\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The 2020 – 2021 pandemic brought out the home gardener in more people in Piscataquis County. Learning to garden for the first time, renewed garden interest, and willingness to share garden expertise with others all have helped increase the number of food people have been able to raise for themselves. Piscataquis County staff assisted with the development of numerous home gardening videos, factsheets, school garden, and Zoom programs. Individuals were assisted with insect, disease, weed, and vertebrate pest identification and management information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"OneOne Tomato: <\/b>This is the 8th year that the Piscataquis County Extension Association has purchased cherry tomato seedlings to distribute in the county to encourage people to grow their own food. 414 seedlings (a total of 3,085 in eight years) were distributed in 2021 in Piscataquis County at grocery stores and other venues. Through a harvest survey, we estimate each seedling produced over $8 worth of cherry tomatoes. Over <\/span>80% <\/strong>of folks were new to this project in 2021. \"Cherry<\/span><\/p>\n

This year we again purchased the seedlings from Ellis Greenhouse in Hudson and <\/span>partnered with the Dover-Foxcroft Food Cupboard and their Garden in a Box program as well as the following stores: Indian Hill in Greenville, KC Store in Parkman, Whitney\u2019s Family Supermarket in Guilford, Tradewinds in Milo, and Robinsons Convenience Store in Brownville. One Tomato seedlings were also available at the Dover Cove Farmers\u2019 Market, school gardens, and at the Extension Office in Dover-Foxcroft.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This year, we had a limited number of direct sow vegetable seed grab bags with 10 to 15 different types of vegetables that we offered to folks that got the One Tomato seedlings. Our thanks go to the following businesses that donated the seeds: Bangor Walmart, Erickson\u2019s Hardware (Hampden), Hampden Hardware, Hutchen\u2019s Greenhouse (Eddington), and Blue Seal Grow Center (Bangor). Also, our thanks to Master Gardener Volunteers Karen Marysdaugher and Jude Thompson who collected, organized, and packaged the grab bags.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

UMaine Extension colleagues in Aroostook County expanded the One Tomato program by distributing 250 seedlings in Presque Isle and Fort Kent. This fall we will again be surveying those who received the seedlings to see how well they grew and produced during the summer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Extension on the Road<\/b><\/h4>\n

\"PanoramicUMaine Extension provides free research-based information to farmers, gardeners, natural resource-based businesses, value-added businesses, and 4-H Youth through our Piscataquis County Office in Dover-Foxcroft. This year, staff traveled to Greenville, Milo, and Guilford to bring <\/span>\u201cExtension on the Road\u201d<\/b> on the first Fridays of the month, April-October. We have soil testing kits, gardening fact sheets, starting a farm, and 4-H Youth information available.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cExtension on the Road\u201d<\/b> is a great opportunity for you to share your gardening questions and successes, pick up some\"Extension factsheets on raising livestock, find 4-H Youth program information, and get to know the Piscataquis Extension staff. You could bring a diseased plant or tree branch for diagnosis, a bug or weed for identification, or a soil test to transport to the lab. We have fact sheets and program information to help you make decisions about managing and marketing crops, livestock, and value-added food products. If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of local young people or your kids or grandkids are looking for ways to channel their creativity, 4-H has opportunities for youth and adults to get involved.<\/span><\/p>\n

UMaine Extension staff have expertise in different areas, and we do our best to answer your question immediately. We sometimes need time to research your issue, to consult with UMaine Extension Insect and Disease Diagnosticians, or other UMaine Extension experts to determine options and solutions available. We may even recommend you contact another agency or organization. Our goal is for you to have the best information possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Check out our website for the next time <\/span>\u201cExtension on the Road\u201d <\/b>is coming to a town near you.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4-H POSITIVE Youth Development<\/h3>\n

Rural Youth Futures Survey\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n

\"GraphicAs rural communities face changes in local economies, populations, and workforce needs, what does the next generation of residents and workers value and want? That question was the motivation for the Rural Youth Futures project. Researchers and extension agents from several universities including Dr. Jessica Leahy, UMaine School of Forest Resources, joined forces with local non-profits to find out what middle and high schoolers think in two forest-dependent regions: Piscataquis and north Somerset Counties in Maine and Coos County in Oregon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Increasing the number of young people and working families is a critical issue in many rural towns. Natural amenities and attachment to community can retain young people or attract in-migration. We asked students to tell us about their community to better understand what the community has to offer. We also asked them where they want to live in the future to see if there\u2019s an interest in living in these places among young people.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Two<\/a>
Click on image of pie charts for descriptive text on an attachment page.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Piscataquis County Extension staff are involved in the Boston Fed Maine Highlands Working Community Challenge Grant project to empower and enable low-income individuals of Piscataquis County to become healthy, independent, and engaged members of the community by reducing youth\/young adult disengagement and disaffection, focusing attention on training and mentoring skills needed to successfully obtain and maintain local quality employment, and working with local employers to develop local professional and technical training programs to meet their employment needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Piscataquis County 4-H Clubs, Spin Groups, and School Programs<\/b><\/h3>\n