March 26<\/b> – –<\/span>Rabbit Health Care for Producers<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n March 28<\/b> – Apple Bench Grafting Workshop<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n March 29<\/b> – How to Prune Mature Apple Trees<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n March 31<\/b> – <\/span>Intro to Urban Gardening: Start Your Own Seeds<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n April 9<\/b> – Tick & Mosquito Management<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n April 9<\/b> – Gardening Webinar Series: Perennials for the Resilient Maine Garden<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n April 11 <\/b>– <\/span>Native Plants for the Ornamental Garden \u2013 Bangor<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n March 27<\/b> – Growing and Marketing Specialty Potato Varieties<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n April 1<\/b> – 2025 Post Secondary Scholarship Application<\/span> Due<\/span><\/p>\n April 3<\/b> – Soil Health Day –\u00a0 Improving Farm and Garden Productivity through Soil Testing and Nutrient Management<\/span><\/p>\n April 5<\/b> – 30th Annual Rural Living Day<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n April 5<\/b> – 1st Annual Midcoast Agroforestry Conference<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n April 6<\/b> – <\/span>Seed Swap and Scion Exchange<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n In Person and On Demand Events <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n WCEA<\/b><\/p>\n Maine Families<\/b><\/p>\n 4-H Happenings<\/b><\/p>\n Commercial Agriculture<\/b><\/p>\n Home Horticulture<\/b><\/p>\n <\/a>30th Annual Rural Living Day (NEW Location)<\/b><\/p>\n University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Waldo County Extension Association will host the 30th annual Rural Living Day on <\/span>Saturday, April 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at Lincolnville Central School, 523 Hope Road.<\/b><\/p>\n The daylong event will offer educational opportunities about topics related to rural living.\u00a0 Participants can join author Tom Wessels for an interpretive walk in the woods or Chris Knapp of the Maine Local Living School to learn the art of sharpening and maintaining hand tools. Participants interested in indoor pursuits can join Jessica Marshall of Lily Bee Apiary to learn the art of beeswax candle making or James Beard Award-winning Chef Melissa Kelly of Primo to learn the art of handmade pasta. There will be nearly 20 different workshops to choose from on a wide range of topics, offering something for aspiring homesteaders to fully off-grid gurus.<\/span><\/p>\n Registration is required. A $30 donation is requested and includes four workshops, light morning refreshments and lunch. To register and for more information, visit the <\/span>event webpage<\/span><\/a>. To request a reasonable accommodation, call 207.342.5971 or 800.287.1426 (in Maine).<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n <\/a>Waldo County Extension Association (WCEA)<\/b><\/p>\n We are excited for the 30th Annual Rural Living Day at Lincolnville Central School on April 5, 2025. We hope you will come enjoy some of the wonderful workshops we have put together.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Any Waldo County student embarking on a career path that aligns with Cooperative Extension\u2019s mission to \u201cto help Maine people improve their lives through an educational process that uses research-based knowledge\u201d is eligible to apply for the annual award of $1,500. Application materials are available through high school guidance counselors o<\/span>r <\/span>online<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>To donate towards this scholarship,<\/span> click here<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We meet monthly from September-May at the Extension office in Waldo and by Zoom.\u00a0 Please consider joining us. The board welcomes nominations for new members throughout the year.\u00a0 You may also fill out the Volunteer Nomination Form <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Contact the Extension office at <\/span>extension.waldo@maine.edu<\/span> or by phone at 207.342.5971 for more information.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/a>Celebrating Early Childhood Education<\/b> Jumping Around the Rainbow – <\/b>Objective: <\/b>To encourage toddlers to practice jumping and develop motor skills, balance, and coordination.<\/span><\/p>\n Materials<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n Instructions<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n Why It Works<\/b>:<\/span> Tip<\/b>: <\/span>Always make sure the area is safe and free from obstacles, and keep the jumps at a comfortable level for your toddler\u2019s ability.<\/span><\/p>\n If you have questions about Maine Families Home Visiting in Waldo County or want to learn more about our upcoming Group Connections, please call us at 207.322.2879 or email <\/span>melanie.l.bryan@maine.edu<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/a>Youth Community Science Explorers Exploration of Watersheds<\/b> This is a free event for ages 8-12. Space is limited to 30 children. 106 High St., Belfast, ME in the Abbott Room on the Ground Floor. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, please visit the programs website www.extension.umaine.edu\/waldo\/4h\/community-science-explorers\/ or contact the Belfast Free Library at www.belfastlibrary.org. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Karen Giles, karen.giles@maine.edu 207.342.5971.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/a>University of Maine 4-H Page Day While at the State House, the pages got to connect with other groups from around the state that support agriculture, as it was also\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Maine Agriculture Policy Day in the Maine Legislature, a time dedicated to celebrating the hardworking farmers, producers, and agricultural leaders who sustain Maine\u2019s economy and rural heritage.<\/span> (photo credit: Karen Giles)<\/span><\/p>\n <\/a>2025 Post Secondary Scholarship Application Due April 1st Applicants must be pursuing a career in a field that supports the Cooperative Extension\u2019s mission \u201cto help Maine people improve their lives through an educational process that uses research-based knowledge.\u201d\u00a0 Examples of eligible fields of study include, but are not limited to agriculture, horticulture, crop science, animal sciences, natural resource conservation, environmental sciences, home economics, nutrition, food systems, preventative health, youth development, and education.<\/span><\/p>\n Students who apply for this scholarship must complete the application and a 500 to 600 word essay discussing their future career goals and how this scholarship will help them achieve these goals. Applications must be returned to the Waldo County Cooperative Extension office by April 1st. <\/span>Happening in Waldo County<\/b><\/h4>\n
\nIn this issue\u2026<\/b><\/h3>\n
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\nWaldo County Extension Association<\/b><\/h3>\n
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\nMaine Families <\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>
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\n<\/b>As we move through the heart of winter, we also celebrate early childhood education during this important time of year. February is a reminder of the importance of fostering curiosity, creativity, and emotional well-being in the youngest members of our community. Our home visiting program is proud to partner with families to promote early learning activities that support school readiness and emotional growth. Whether it’s reading together, engaging in play, or practicing social skills, these early experiences shape a child’s future.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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\n<\/span>This activity encourages toddlers to practice jumping in a structured way, helping to build muscle strength and balance. The colorful rainbow also keeps it visually engaging and fun! Additionally, making it a game or adding music adds an element of excitement and motivation for your toddler to keep jumping.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n4-H Happenings
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\n<\/span>Please join us on Thursday, March 27th, 2025, from 3:30-5 pm at the Belfast Free Library for our third session in the Youth Community Science Explorers program. Our special guest is from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Hancock County. Tess Hureau will be leading youth in activities to test for ocean acidification, practicing scientific methods of observation and hypotheses, and will discuss how kelp can help prevent unhealthy CO2 levels in ocean waters.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Page](\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/waldo\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2025\/03\/20250318_092035-239x300.jpg\")
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\n<\/b>On Tuesday, March 18th, thirteen 4-H youth from\u00a0 Waldo, Aroostook, Oxford, Cumberland, Androscoggin, Hancock, and Penobscot Counties participated in the University of Maine 4-H Page Day at the State Capitol Building in Augusta. Half of the group served in the Senate, and half served in the House. Legislators are constantly communicating and making decisions while in session and pages make that communication possible. Pages hand out information packets or place the paper information on their desks. Pages also run communication and documents directly from legislator to legislator. Each page received recognition with a certificate and had the opportunity to meet their local representatives.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>The Waldo County Extension Association in cooperation with the Maine 4-H Foundation offers a $1500 scholarship for Waldo County residents entering their first or second year of post-secondary education.<\/span><\/p>\n