The Kennebec AgMap has been produced annually since 2001. It lists resources and opportunities for buying local products and supporting local ag producers. In the past couple years, the Kennebec AgMap has been produced in a collaboration between the Time & Tide RC&D Council and the Kennebec District. 7,000 copies are printed and distributed annually. Take a look at  www.KCSWCD.org to see a copy.
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Envirothon, Maine’s largest high school environmental education program, is an international program representing over 500,000 high school students in the United States and Canada. First place Jay High School will represent Maine at the international Canon Envirothon competition to be held Ashville, North Carolina in early August. The international Canon Envirothon, organized by local conservation districts and other conservation agencies, is sponsored by Canon USA, in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Forest Service, National Association of Conservation Districts, Mead Westvaco Corporation, American Electric Power, Inc., and Alcoa Foundation. Other high schools competing in the State Envirothon finals included: Ashland, Boghaunter Home School, Bonny Eagle, Bucksport, Ellsworth, Hampden Academy, Hodgdon, Lee Academy, Livermore Falls, Mt. Ararat, Nokomis, Old Town and Piscataquis Community High School. The team from Greeley High School was also eligible for the State Envirothon but was unable to attend. These teams represented the top three winning teams from six regional competitions held around the state earlier in May.
Major sponsors of the 2009 State Envirothon were: Plum Creek, a "Gold Sponsor"; Poland Spring, a "Silver Sponsor"; the Maine Association of Professional Soil Scientists; Maine Wild Blueberry Commission; Maine Potato Board; Maine Association of Site Evaluators; Maine Association of Wetland Scientists; Maine Department of Environmental Protection; New England Organics; University of Maine School of Natural Resources and Canon North American Envirothon. There were many other contributors and partners that helped to make this event possible for the benefit of the students and Maine’s natural resources. An Envirothon web site for all interested teachers and students is available at http://www.envirothon.org or http://maineenvirothon.org FARMINGTON – Farmers, greenhouse operators, municipal officials and others interested in the best way to handle, bale and store agricultural plastics should attend an Agricultural Plastic Recycling workshop being hosted by Franklin County Soil & Water Conservation District on Tuesday, April 14. The Recycling Ag Plastics Workshop will be held from 9:30 to 2:30 pm at the Granary, 147 Pleasant St., Farmington. Lunch will be provided. Ag Plastic Recycling is an issue that needs to be addressed, says BJ Bangs, FCSWCD Ag Plastic Project Manager. Franklin County SWCD is investigating a coordinated program for baling and recycling agricultural plastics in Western Maine, she said. “We have a diverse group that’s generating the plastic”, Bangs said, citing farmers and nurseries as some examples. “What we want to do is bring them together so they can get a clearer idea of best management practices.” Lois Levitan, coordinator of the Cornell University Recycling Ag Plastics Project, and Adam Wienert, a representative of the Northeast Waste management Officials’ Association, will make presentations at the workshop. To register for the workshop, contact BJ Bangs, FCSWCD at 778-4279. What are Carbon Credits & how does the market work? Come listen & learn at the Wells Reserve on April 8th from 10am-12pm. Sue Gammon from Andy Valley SWCD will lead a discussion on the Carbon Credit program & what is currently available here in Maine. This workshop is geared towards landowners, farmers & anyone interested in learning more about Carbon Credits. Carbon Credits are a commodity developed for the cap & trade carbon market. They are used to offset greenhouse gas emissions & control pollution. Accepted practices include no-till planting, conversion of cropland to grassland, planting trees, managed forestry & wetland reclamation. This is your chance to hear more about this program & get your questions answered. For more information & to register please contact Melissa at York County SWCD 324-0888 ext 214.  Current Outdoor Heritage Fund Lotery Ticket Somerset County SWCD has received a grant from Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund. The project – Unleaded Loons: Preventing Lead Poisoning in Maine’s Water Birds – focuses on educating lake users and the general public about wildlife lead poisoning through the use of lead fishing tackle, as well as increase angler’s demand for non-toxic fishing tackle. The award will fund three tasks outlined in the original proposal:
The MOHF grant is funded by the sale of instant ‘scratch’ lottery tickets. The current ticket available is ‘Catch A Winner’. Grants awarded by MOHF are focused on conserving wildlife and open spaces. Forest landowners/managers interested in the forestry aspects of the 2008 Farm Bill will have the opportunity to attend one of many information meetings being held throughout the state in March, hosted by local Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Maine Forest Service will be providing up-to-date information on the Farm Bill and how owners of forest land can receive assistance in caring for their woods. The sessions will include plenty of time for questions and answers. The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill), which became law on May 22, 2008, expanded accessibility to some conservation programs for forest landowners/managers. These meeting will provide you the opportunity to hear about the changes made from the 2002 Farm Bill – such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, Conservation Stewardship Program, and Forest Stewardship — and how they will benefit Maine’s forest landowners/managers. You will also hear about eligibility requirements and what is needed to make an application. For a complete listing of workshops and locations please click here to visit the Maine NRCS website. If you are interested in protecting all or a portion of your farm / or a local farm through the sale of development rights, please attend one of the following workshops offered by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources. Friday, March 6th from 10AM – 12:30 PM – STANDISH MUNICIPAL BUILDING, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, Friday, March 13th from 10AM – 12:30 PM – AUGUSTA, DEERING BUILDING, Dept. of Agriculture. Driving directions are available on the web http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/co/directions.html Friday, March 20th from 10AM – 12:30 PM – BANGOR, BANGOR PUBLIC LIBRARY. Driving, parking and building entrance directions are on the web http://www.bpl.lib.me.us/map_to_the_library.htm During each workshop the Department will explain how the Land for Maine’s Future Program (LMFP) and the USDA Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP) assist land trusts with purchasing development rights on Maine farms. While these programs are currently without funds, it is likely that additional funds will be authorized in the next 10 to 18 months. Should this happen, the Department will sponsor up to 8 farm projects to these programs. Please attend one of these workshops to review the planning and decision-making steps that farmland owners and land trusts must take to be sponsored by the Department. Each workshop will cover:
We will give a slide presentation, provide handouts and allow ample time for folks to ask questions. There will be a 15-minute break at 11:15 to allow participants to stretch and mingle. To recerve you seat at any workshop plaease call Stephanie Gilbert at (207)-287-7520
The Maine Forest Service, UMaine Cooperative Extension, Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District, and the Upper Kennebec Valley Chapter of the Small Woodland Owners Association are joining together to host a six session “Working with Your Woodlot” class. The sessions will be held at the Somerset County UMaine Cooperative Extension office located at 7 County Drive, Skowhegan. Class time is 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The schedule of topics is below:
To pre-register for the six classes at a reduced cost of $35.00 for the entire series, or $25.00 for SWOAM Members, send check or money order to Somerset County SWCD, 12 High Street, Skowhegan Maine, 04976. Pre-registration deadline is April 13th. The cost for non-registered attendees is $45.00, payable on April 15th at the Cooperative Extension office. Questions can be directed to Somerset County SWCD at 474-8324 x 3, or e-mail, info@somersetswcd.org. Conservation and sustainability have been getting a lot of attention in the news lately. People are being constantly warned of new threats from global climate change and the growing need to live more sustainably. With the heated discussions surrounding hybrids; biofuels; wind power and the like, it can be easy to forget there cheaper and simpler ways to make your life a little greener. This spring Maine’s Soil and Conservation District’s will be offering 3 ways to do just that: Recycled Rain Barrel: The Sky Juice recycled rain barrel is 60 gallons with an easily removable intake cover to keep out debris and mosquitoes. It also has a maneuverable overflow that can be directed to any desired location and the 4 available colors inhibit algae growth. By collecting and using the roof stormwater for your yard and garden you can save up to 1,300 gallons of tap or well water. The rain barrels are available in black or trerra cotta for $95. Compost Bin: Turn your kitchen scraps and yard clippings into rich garden soil. The Earth Machine compost bin is also composed of recycled plastic and has an easy snap-together assembly. At 33″x35″x35″ the bin has an 80 gallon capacity and comes with an instruction manual and a 10 year warranty. We are also offering a Kitchen Scrap Pail. This pail is perfectly sized with a 2 gallon capacity and a sealing hinged lid. The Earth Machine is available for $45 and the Kitchen Scrap Pail is $10. Plant and Seed Sale: Plants act as the all-in-one improvement systems for the environment. They increase air and water quality by capturing and processing pollutants and improve soil by aerating it and adding organic matter. Every year the Districts offer a wide variety of shade trees, evergreen trees, ground covers, hedges and shrubs. We are also offering fruit trees and shrubs including apple, crabapple, cherry, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. New this year, we are also offering seeds for vegetable gardens. A full catalog listing the plants and seeds is available from your local District. Maine’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts are not-for profit organizations. Funds from these sales will be used to promote conservation and wise use of soil, water and other natural resources. Prices and availability varies by District. To determine which items your local District is offering visit our directory at www.maineswcds.org. |
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William Bell (left), Executive Director of the Maine Association of Conservation Districts (MACD), presents Joyce Swartzendruber, State Conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maine, with two photos of Maine. After five years of service to the people of Maine, Swartzendruber is moving to Montana to serve as State Conservationist.