Extension Perspectives Newsletter - October 2024 - Cooperative Extension in Waldo County - University of Maine Cooperative Extension

The WCEA provides guidance to the Extension for developing and implementing educational programs that will benefit our county’s residents, such as Rural Living Day and Farmers’ Potluck Dinners. We also officially direct the Cooperative Extension’s work in Waldo County and give a yearly post-secondary scholarship to an area student pursuing a career in a field that supports the Extension’s mission.

We meet monthly from September-May at the Extension office in Waldo and by Zoom. Contact the Extension office at extension.waldo@maine.edu or by phone at 207.342.5971 for more information.

Please consider joining us! You may also fill out the Volunteer Nomination Form at https://extension.umaine.edu/waldo/wcea/volunteer-nomination/.

Maine Families

Child Health and Wellbeing Begins Before Birth
Prenatal care is not just about preparing for birth; it’s a vital opportunity to bond with your baby and support their early development. Here’s how:

Bonding
Connecting with your baby during pregnancy can foster a sense of safety and comfort for them. This early bond contributes to better emotional health and can make you feel more ready for parenthood and childbirth.

Development
Pregnancy and the early years are crucial for brain development. Maternal health factors like nutrition and stress levels significantly influence your baby’s brain growth and future well-being.

Stimulation
From the second trimester, babies can hear sounds from outside the womb. Talking and reading to them supports early language development and cognitive growth.

How Maine Families Can Help
Support during pregnancy leads to fewer complications and healthier outcomes for both mother and baby. Your Maine Families Visitor can provide valuable information on prenatal development and resources. They can also introduce you to prenatal activities from the Parents as Teachers curriculum, like “Tell Me a Story” and “Tiny Taste Buds,” which lay a strong foundation for you and your child.

If you have questions about Maine Families Home Visiting in Waldo County or to learn more about our upcoming Group Connections, please call or email us at 207.322.2879 or melanie.l.bryan@maine.edu.

4-H Happenings

It’s Time to Re-enroll Enrollment reminder

New youth members can enroll at any time throughout the year in one of two ways:

Enrollment can be done by completing the three enrollment documents linked below.

- 4-H Enrollment Form for Participants: Word | PDF
  - Para Español presione aquí: Word | PDF
- 4-H Program Participation Permission, Agreements, and Photo Release Form: Word| PDF
- Maine 4-H Health Form: Word | PDF

Enrollment can be done online via 4h.zsuite.org. Go here for instructions on how to enroll in Zsuite.

Please reach out to Karen Giles, the new Waldo County Extension 4-H Professional, at karen.giles@maine.edu or 207-342-5971, with any questions or concerns, if you have interest in setting up local programs or clubs, or if you would just like more information about the amazing opportunities available for youth and volunteers.

Start Your 4-H Volunteer Journey Training
November 12 & 19, 2024 6:00 PM

Thinking about becoming a 4-H volunteer? We are looking for people to help youth find their spark and thrive! We offer lots of ways to be involved depending on your time and interests. Join us for two one-hour virtual sessions to help you with your decision. By the end of the two-part series, you will have completed four short e-Learning modules to introduce you to the 4-H program, participate in an experiential learning activity, learn about the key aspects of positive youth development, and be introduced to ages and stages of youth. This core training will wrap up with an outline of next steps and an introduction to your county staff contact so you can begin the application process if you choose. No pressure to commit, no cost, and no reason to not attend! Please note: these sessions are for individuals who are not currently enrolled 4-H volunteers. Register here.

4-H Tick Project
The 4-H Tick Project is a community science project engaging K-12 youth and educators, made possible through a partnership between 4-H Youth Development, UMaine Cooperative Extension Tick Lab, Maine Forest Tick Survey, and members of the Learning Ecosystems Northeast partnership. The project provides youth an opportunity to explore ticks and tick-borne diseases, which is a connected story of climate, ecosystem change, and public health.

All educators interested in teaching about ticks in Maine are encouraged to participate in the project at no cost to you. This is a great project for 4-H clubs, SPIN clubs, homeschool groups, and more. For more information and to register, visit the 4-H Tick Project webpage.

Waldo County 4-H Calendar extension.umaine.edu/waldo/4h/4-h-calendar/

State 4-H Calendar extension.umaine.edu/4h/events/category/calendar/month/

For more information on how to get involved in a 4-H animal science project please contact your local UMaine Cooperative Extension office or visit extension.umaine.edu/4h/youth/animal-science.

Home Horticulture

Entering the Garden of Silence: From Seeing to Writing
Thursday, October 10, 2024 4:30 PM

Georgia O’Keefe once said, “Nobody sees a flower, really—it is so small—we haven’t time, and to see takes time.” Using this quote as a jumping off point, this writing workshop aims to help you appreciate the beauty in the ordinary and the simplicity in the extraordinary. The art of seeing deeply requires attention, curiosity, openness, and connection. Taking the time to “see” will help restore you to wonder.

We welcome all levels of writers. The workshop will be held at the UMaine Gardens at Tidewater Farm in Falmouth and will include a writing prompt, time to experience a moment in the gardens, time to write, and sharing of our experiences. Please bring a notebook or sketchbook and a pen that you really love to write with!

We encourage participants to wear layers as this class will take place outside and in our unheated greenhouse at the UMaine Gardens at Tidewater Farm, 200 Presumpscot Point Rd, Falmouth, ME 04105.

Invasive Plant Educational Workshop – Orono
Monday, October 21, 2024 10:00 AM

Please join the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS) and State partners Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP) and Maine Forest Service (MFS) for an Invasive Plant Educational Workshop. Participants will learn about Invasive plant biology, ecological impacts, identification, fundamental concepts of invasive plant management and related state and federal programs in classroom and field settings. Get ready for an action packed and informative day! (Outdoor Identification sessions will be held rain or shine, so plan accordingly).

Location: University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469 (exact building to be determined). Cost: $10 or $20 pay what you can. (Includes a copy of the Maine Invasive Plants Field Guide & lunch). Register here.

Maine Gardener Training 24-25

This is an 18 week online course providing foundational horticulture education and skills for personal gardening. It’s ideal for those looking for the educational content of the Master Gardener Volunteer training program without the volunteering requirement. This online course provides valuable horticulture education to take your garden to the next level. For more information, click here.

Maine Horticulture Apprentice Training 24-25

This is a three-part curriculum providing foundational horticulture education for entry-level positions. Developed with industry input, it provides practical skills and knowledge that employers value. The course blends flexible online learning with a hands-on apprenticeship experience, making it ideal for those starting a horticulture career, enhancing existing skills, or launching their own business.

For more information, click here.

International Maple Grading School
Friday, October 25, 2024 8:30 AM

International Maple Grading School is for maple producers, bulk syrup buyers, state inspectors, and others needing to accurately grade maple syrup or judge maple product entries at fairs and contests. Quality control issues are also addressed. This school provides a strong scientific base combined with intensive hands-on exercises. This approach enables participants to learn how to grade or judge maple products with confidence.

Click here for more information.

Harvesting and Sowing Native Seeds
Monday, October 28, 2024 4:00 PM

Did you know that fall and early winter is the perfect time to sow native seeds outdoors? Join us for this informal workshop where you’ll learn the basics of how to collect native seeds in your garden and how to start and care for your native plants from seed to transplant.

This workshop will include sowing techniques, protecting your seeds from critters, and when and how to divide your plants in the spring. Each participant will take home two containers with seeds they planted. This workshop will take place at the UMaine Gardens at Tidewater Farm, 200 Presumpscot Point Rd, Falmouth, ME 04105. We encourage participants to wear layers as this class will take place outside and in our unheated greenhouse. Registration is required and the program fee is offered on a sliding scale, $5-$15. Register here.

ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Course and Exam
October 29, 2024 9:00 AM

This 8-hour ServSafe® Course from 9:00am – 5:00pm helps prepare you for the ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Certification exam.

The course covers these topics: The Importance of Food Safety, Good Personal Hygiene, Time and Temperature Control, Preventing Cross-Contamination, Cleaning and Sanitizing, Safe Food Preparation, Receiving and Storing Food, Methods of Thawing, Cooking, Cooling, and Reheating Food, And more…

The exam will immediately follow the course. Students will receive the ServSafe® Manager Book 7th Ed. revised, diagnostic exam, and practice exam approximately 2 weeks prior to the course. For more information or to register, click here.

UMaine Extension Garden and Yard

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Garden and Yard publications are available to download.

You can find these publications at www.extension.umaine.edu/programs/.

Topics include

Beekeeping

Gardening

Garden Angels

Home and Garden Pest Identification and Management

Kids Can Grow

Maine Harvest for Hunger

Maine Home Garden News

Maine Invasive Species Network

Master Gardener Volunteers

Tree Fruit

Commercial Agriculture – Brett’s Bulletin

Timely Information for the Producers of Waldo County
As we bring in the last of the fruits and vegetables from our warm-season crops, October provides a great opportunity to get a jump on managing perennial weeds and preparing beds for next spring’s plantings. Integrated weed management plans should begin with a thorough surveying and identification of the weeds which are present. Perennial grasses can be some of the most intractable weed issues in seasonal vegetable production as they can proliferate through modified stems called rhizomes or stolons, that help the plant reproduce vegetatively. While many cool-season annual weeds can be easily dispatched by surface tillage using tine harrows while seedlings are at the ‘thread-stage’, perennial grasses, such as quackgrass, require deeper and more frequent tillage operations to exhaust the energy reserves stored in the roots and rhizomes. By using S-shaped spring harrows and timing tillage operations to occur before stretches of dry warm weather populations can be reduced by bringing the rhizomes to the soil surface where they dry and desiccate. For questions or to request assistance in developing an integrated weed management plan for your farm please contact Brett Johnson at brett.w.johnson@maine.edu or 207.342.5971.

Best wishes,

Brett Johnson, Sustainable Agriculture & Farm Business Management Educator
University of Maine Cooperative Extension in Waldo County

Forest Pest & Vegetation Management
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 1:00 PM

University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Board of Pesticides Control are pleased to offer a free, virtual recertification training covering forest pests and vegetation management on Tuesday, October 15th. Attending earns three recertification credits.

This webinar will be hosted via Zoom. Registration is required. Participants will receive a Zoom link and passcode after registering. To earn recertification credits, attendees must pass a quiz after the program. Register here.

Tunnel Talk: Low Tunnels in Organic Production
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 4:00 PM

Growers are increasingly interested in cultural practices that improve plant health, extend the growing season, and increase the resilience of their farm’s operation. High tunnels are now widely used on mixed vegetable farms in Maine, and their popularity is only growing. However, a high tunnel is a major investment, and may not be the appropriate choice for every situation. Low tunnels can be an affordable and nimble option for season extension and can protect vulnerable crops from pest damage. Come learn from farmers experienced in the many applications of low tunnels on a mixed vegetable farm and learn about mentorship opportunities for producers transitioning to organic offered through the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP).

Location: Goranson Farm, 250 River Road, Dresden, Maine 04342 and the cost is Free.

This event is hosted in collaboration with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, MOFGA, and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). Register here.

Winter Care of Backyard Poultry
Tuesday, October 22, 2024 6:00 PM

You have chickens. Winter is coming. How are you going to keep your hens comfortable and productive all winter Long?

Prospective and beginning small-scale meat and egg producers will learn of what it takes to have poultry including laying hens at this in-person program. Poultry breeds, housing, health, and nutrition for small-scale meat and egg producers will be explored with Colt W. Knight, Ph.D. Associate Extension Professor – State Livestock Specialist.

Location: Greenville Town Office, 7 Minden Street, Greenville, Maine 04441. Cost: Free. To register, click here.

Agricultural Pest Management
October 29, 2024 1:00 PM

University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Board of Pesticides Control are pleased to offer a free, virtual recertification training covering agricultural pest management on Tuesday, October 29th. Attending earns three pesticide applicator recertification credits.

This webinar will be hosted via Zoom. Registration is required. Participants will receive a Zoom link and passcode after registering. To learn more, click here. To earn pesticide recertification credits, attendees must pass a quiz after the program.

Business Planning for Producers Level 1

Welcome to Business Planning For Producers Level 1! Intended for aspiring producers who are considering starting a natural resource-based business in Maine, this course will help you create a strong business plan to ensure your success. This multi-session course is designed to help you evaluate potential land or sea-based businesses and understand the core concepts of business planning. In this course, you’ll explore important topics such as market research, marketing strategies, funding options, financial record-keeping, and sustainability. Our goal is to give you practical tools and insights you can use for your own business and to help you handle the unique challenges and opportunities you might face. To learn more or to register, click here.

Business Planning for Producers Level 2

This multi-session course is designed to help you evaluate potential land or sea-based businesses and understand the core concepts of business planning including: market research, marketing, funding, financial record keeping, and sustainability. Successful completion of this course qualifies students for USDA Farm Service Agency Borrower Training Credit. To learn more or to register, click here.

Are You Producing the Best Quality Hay?

Maine has more than 150 hay producers, on which the livestock, horse, and dairy industries within the state highly depend. All producers strive year after year to produce excellent quality hay, and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension firmly believes these efforts should be rewarded and recognized. The Maine Hay Contest will recognize and reward the operations that produce the highest quality hay in Maine.

Prizes

1st Place: $500
2nd Place: $250
3rd Place: $100

Winners will be awarded and recognized at the Maine Forage Conference in Waterville, Maine in November 2024. To enter the contest and schedule a visit from Extension Forage Specialist Jaime Garzon, complete the digital form on our website.

For more information visit our website or contact Jamie Garzon by email, jaime.garzon@maine.edu.

Cooperative Extension in Waldo County