1st Annual Midcoast Agroforestry Conference
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: Lincolnville Central School
523 Hope Rd. Lincolnville, ME
Registration: $30
Join the University of Maine Cooperative Extension for the 1st Annual Midcoast Agroforestry Conference at the 30th Annual Rural Living Day.
Agroforestry is the intentional integration of trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems to create environmental, economic, and social benefits. It has been practiced in the United States and around the world for centuries. In Maine, the most forested state in the country, we rank second nationally in utilization of agroforestry practices on commercial farms with Waldo County leading the state at 12.6 % of farms already utilizing agroforestry practices. Come join the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and practitioners of agroforestry to learn about the benefits of integrating agroforestry practices into your farm or homestead operations or identify new agroforestry based enterprises that just might be suitable for your land or business.
During the 1st Annual Midcoast Agroforestry Conference topics covered will include: silvopasture, balsam tipping and commercial wreath production, and much more.
Registration for the conference also includes the opportunity to attend our co-sponsored event Rural Living Day, where you can attend workshops in vegetable, seed saving, culinary, and other kitchen garden topics.
8:30 a.m. – Welcome, coffee & refreshments
9:00 a.m. – Keynote Address / Morning Workshop 1
Bridging the Gap between Agriculture and Forestry in Maine Dr. Nicole Rogers, Landowner Outreach Forester, Maine Forest Service Allyssa Gregory, Midcoast District Forester, Maine Forest Service.
Agroforestry is the intentional combination of agriculture and forestry to create productive and sustainable land use practices (US Forest Service). We will define common agroforestry techniques and how these align with the goals of Maine’s farming and forestry communities. Additionally, we’ll review statewide resources available for landowners looking to implement sustainable management practices.
10:30 a.m. – Morning Workshop 2.
Balsam Tipping and Commercial Wreath Production Bo Dennis, Head Farmer and Floral Designer at Dandy Ram Farm in Monroe, ME.
Bo Dennis has been commercially harvesting balsam and making wreaths since 2009. Each November Bo and his team design 200 wreaths which are sold locally as well as shipped nationally. This talk will cover the “how to’s” for sustainably harvesting balsam for wreaths as well as the ins and outs of designing, selling, and shipping evergreen wreaths. We will cover material sourcing, a wreath enterprise budget, considerations for scaling, and provide a wreath making demonstration.
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Catered lunch and social hour
1 p.m. Afternoon Workshop 1
Silvopasture 101 Dr. Colt Knight, Livestock Specialist, UMaine Cooperative Extension
Dr. Colt W. Knight’s upcoming silvopasture talk will cover a range of essential topics, including the principles of integrating trees, livestock, and forage into a cohesive system. He will discuss the environmental benefits, such as improved soil health, water retention, and increased biodiversity. Additionally, Dr. Knight will highlight the economic advantages, such as diversified income streams and enhanced farm resilience. The talk will also touch on the challenges of managing silvopasture systems, including tree selection, grazing strategies, and maintaining balance between the components for optimal productivity and sustainability.
2:30 p.m. – Afternoon Workshop 2.
Agroforestry Budgeting 101 Brett Johnson, Sustainable Agriculture and Farm Business Management Educator, UMaine Cooperative Extension.
Brett will present a short overview of enterprise budgeting practices including how to set up a budget. This presentation will be followed by an interactive workshop where participants will break-out into groups based on their enterprise of interest and brainstorm expenses and revenue sources associated with that enterprise.
4:00 p.m. – Closing / Farewell
Thank you!