Extension Perspectives Newsletter – November 2024

The Waldo County Extension Association has been busy planning for the Annual Rural Living Day fundraiser. Save the date for Saturday April 5, 2025 at a NEW location! Stay tuned for more information as we are busy planning some exciting workshops.

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 Development

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Parent Educators are part of a statewide network of Maine Families Home Visiting Programs. At each “visit” developmental information, anticipatory guidance and an activity to promote growth are provided.

Parent Educators support early identification of developmental delays by offering the evidenced based Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), starting at 2 months of age, to families during home visits and providing additional activities in areas where a child may need extra support for growth. Offering a screening is a way to help parents learn what to expect as their child grows, celebrate their child’s milestones, and identify any concerns or delays during this critical time of development. When results of these screenings indicate a possible delay, our parent educators partner with families to make the appropriate referrals for additional evaluation and services long before a child enters Kindergarten.

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
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.

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.

Commercial Agriculture – Brett’s Bulletin

Timely Information for the Producers of Waldo County
As December approaches it is still not too late to get a jump on addressing soil and nutrient management issues for next year’s growing season. If you have not tested your soil this year you can visit our office (992 Waterville Road, Waldo) to pick up a soil test kit. Bulletin #2286, Know Your Soil: Testing Your Soil provides comprehensive recommendations on how to take a representative sample and the process to submit tests and receive results. This information is critical to manage nutrients on your farm in an environmentally sound and financially efficient manner. For questions or to request assistance in developing a nutrient 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

Soil Health Day
Friday, December 13, 2024 9:00 AM

Healthy soil is critical for healthy, productive crops. This workshop will provide growers with practice guidance to address their soil health concerns, and to build healthier soils for long-term success. Topics will include cover cropping, farming in clay, and accessing state and federal resources to confront soil challenges. This event will also feature a farmer panel discussing soil health strategies for climate resiliency. Join us for an engaging day of learning and networking! To register, go here.

Location: UMaine Cooperative Extension, 45 Kennebunk Road, Alfred, Maine 04002

Cost: $10-$20 Pay what you can.

Coffee and breakfast pastries will be available in the morning. Lunch will be provided.

2025 UMaine Wild Blueberry Spring Conference
Join us for the 7th Annual Wild Blueberry Spring Conference! This year’s topics will cover fresh pack and harvesting innovations, the latest pest management tools, nutrient management knowledge to date, burning farmer panels, and more! Three pesticide credits are available for full-day attendance. We know you come for the FOOD! There will be coffee and breakfast items in the morning followed by soups and sandwiches for lunch made by Angie’s Comfort Kitchen. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available. Registration is found at the event website here.

Date: Saturday, February 15, 2025 Time: 9:00AM – 3:00PM Location: Moore Community Center, 125 Main Street, Ellsworth, Maine 04605

Home Horticulture

Wreath Making Workshop

Monday, December 2, 2024 4:30 PM

Learn how to make Balsam Fir Wreaths with locally harvested greenery and decorations! Participants will assemble and take home their very own holiday wreath using a single-faced 10” easy clamp ring that makes a wreath up to 22″ in size. We encourage you to bring a pair of hand pruners if you have them and decorations (e.g., pine cones, winterberry branches) for your wreath. Please do not bring any invasive plant material with you. This workshop will take place at the Cumberland County Extension Office, 75 Clearwater Dr, Ste 104, Falmouth, ME 04105. Space is limited. Program fee is $30. Register here.

Cockroach Management

Tuesday, December 3, 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 cockroach management on Tuesday, December 3rd. 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.

Speakers: Dini Miller, Ph.D, Entomology Professor, Virginia Tech – German Cockroaches: Assessment-based Pest Management, Maine DHHS Staff, Maine DHHS – Cockroach Case Study, Modern Pest Services, Cockroach Control in Maine, Maine Board of Pesticides Control staff, ME DACF – BPC Update.

To earn recertification credits, attendees must pass a quiz after the program. Register here.

ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Course and Exam

Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Inclement Weather Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Location: UMaine Cooperative Extension, Penobscot, 307 Maine Ave., Bangor, ME

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. Registration fees for this class are non-refundable.

If companies are registering multiple employees, they need to provide employee-specific registration information such as email, address, and phone number. Register 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