Workshops and Events
...helping people shape the future of western Maine.

Listed here are events, workshops, forums and opportunities that are assisting sustainable development efforts in western Maine.

Mabel's Book 2010: Local Foods Directory Listing – Time is running out! Directory to Farms and Farm Stands in western Maine
Calling all Farms & Farm Markets!!  Over 4,000 copies of this directory are distributed free throughout the region.  Mabel's Book is entering its fourth year of publication and is cited by participating farms as an effective promotional venue.  Don't miss this opportunity to list your farm or farm stand in the 2010 edition!  Early bird business listing fee is $15 (by February 15, 2010).  Download form or call (207) 778-3885 to have a form mailed to you.

Community Energy Challenge – Call for Volunteers
One low-cost solution to keeping homes warm is a removable, simple-to-make, interior storm window that, when combined with other weatherization improvements, can save more than 25 percent on heating bills in older, drafty homes.  Nancy Teel, coordinator for the Community Energy Challenge, says the beauty of this concept is that materials to make a panel costs around $16, and the Community Energy Challenge will be an ongoing effort, potentially lasting for several years. More volunteers are needed to take measurements, build, and install windows in Franklin County homes.  To volunteer contact Nancy Teel at (207) 670-5228 or nteel@localnet.com.

2010 Common Ground Country Fair Posters Available Now!
This year's poster, illustrated by Maine artist Holly Meade, features a vibrant, crowing rooster. Posters are $10 plus shipping. Order a poster

Maine Paper Mill Towns Selected by National Park Service
Jay and Livermore Falls One of Only 260 Communities Chosen Nationwide
The communities of Jay and Livermore Falls have been selected by the National Park Service to receive a grant to advance planning for the Androscoggin Greenway in their region.  Seeking to build on the success of the new Foundry Road Trail in Livermore Falls and the well-known Whistlestop Trail (Jay-Farmington Trail) in Jay, area leaders have partnered with the Androscoggin Land Trust (ALT) to seek ways to connect their neighborhoods and schools via the Androscoggin River.  “During the re-licensing of the hydroelectric dams in Jay and Livermore Falls, ALT successfully conserved nearly 1,200 acres of land and six miles of frontage on the river in this region.  We see this trail planning project, connecting open spaces to the downtown area, as the next phase of our engagement in support of this community’s revitalization along the banks of the Androscoggin,” says ALT Executive Director Jonathan P. LaBonte. Best known for their industrial heritage and role in Maine’s forest products economy, an emerging focus on downtown revitalization and recreational use of the Androscoggin is creating innovative partnerships to attract new investment and visitors to the area.  With the opening of Maine’s Paper and Heritage Museum in the heart of the downtown neighborhood, the opportunities to integrate trails, the river and community history abound.  A steering group, consisting of representatives from the land trust, the downtown development group, industrial heritage museum, town and school officials and interested residents and businesses, will be meeting once per month to move the initiative forward with plans to hold public informational sessions and community outings to connect people to the vision for this section of the river.  Those interested in getting involved directly may contact the Androscoggin Land Trust at info@androscogginlandtrust.org

Organic Initiative Application Deadline - March 12, 2010
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) has more than $480,000 available this year to encourage more organic production in Maine. The funding helps organic farmers as well as farmers transitioning to organic production. Successful applicants will receive funding to implement natural resource conservation practices such as crop rotation, cover crops, nutrient management, pest management and mulching. Interested producers should visit their local USDA Service Center to determine eligibility. Additional information.

Organic Certification Information Meetings
February 3, 2010
1:30 to 5:00 p.m. at Royal River Natural Foods in Freeport
February 10, 2010
1:30 to 5:00 p.m. at MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center in Unity
MOFGA Certification Services will host two meetings for staff to interact with and receive feedback from constituents, and for growers to discuss issues as a group. MOFGA's Organic Marketing Coordinator, Melissa White Pillsbury, will talk about marketing and MOFGA's online directory.

9th Annual Soil Quality Conference ~ "Bringing Life and New Understandings to Agriculture"
February 9 & 10, 2010 (snow dates Feb. 10 & 11)
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Bangor Motor Inn, Bangor
The Heart of Maine RC&D once again 'ups the ante' with three world-class speakers who deliver the most creative cutting edge information for agriculture. These three engaging presenters are here to give us all an edge on how we farm and simultaneously improve soil health while producing the best quality crops for the appreciation of our communities and markets.

Understanding and Complying With The Federal Worker Protection Standard and Pesticide Record Keeping On Your Farm
February 10, 2010
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center
Join Gary Fish, Maine Board of Pesticides Control, for an in-depth training to help farmers comply with the Worker Protection Standard as well as how to implement pesticide record keeping. If you have farm employees or interns and use any products (e.g. copper, Bacillus thuringiensis, soaps, essential oils, etc.) approved for controlling insects, plant diseases or weeds on your organic farm, this program is for you. Attendees will receive a certificate of completion for the Train the Trainer portion of the program.

Annie, Jr. - Theatre for the Performing Arts
February 12 – 13, 2010
7:00 p.m.
Center Theatre, Dover-Foxcroft
A youth cast, all under the age of 18, present the classic musical, Annie Jr., full of unforgettable songs. Tickets available by calling the Center Theatre at 564-8943 or visiting www.centertheatre.org.

Bright Ideas Sought For Innovation Workshop
February 18th, 2010
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
UMF, North Dining Hall
Wouldn’t it be nice if all we needed was just a great idea? Perhaps a better mousetrap? Then the world would beat a path to our door! The problem is that this is rarely how things work.  University of Maine and Eaton Peabody Patent Group will jointly present a workshop intended for anyone who has an idea and is looking for answers. This is a free workshop for the general public as well as UMF students and faculty. After attending the workshop, you will be better equipped to turn your innovation concepts into easy to understand business plans and will have a better understanding about the resources available to protect your innovation.

For more information, you may contact Dennis Haszko directly at 207.778.4870. If you are interested in attending the Innovation Workshop, contact Kathryn Wroten via email at kwroten@eatonpeabody.com  or by phone at 207.622.3747. You are asked to RSVP by February 11th.

Mobilize Maine Work Sessions
February 23, 2010
7:30 a.m.  – 9:30 a.m.
UMF –North Dining Hall
The Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments will be hosting two Western Maine Discovery Work Sessionsas. The goal of this asset based mapping exercise will be to uncover unique assets and knowledge that currently exists in the Western Maine region, and to develop a larger base of economic development leadership through the action teams that will pursue identified opportunities.

Through this interactive format you as business and community leaders will take charge of improving our economy. You will identify the region’s most promising and marketable assets and begin to develop an action plan to capitalize on them! Please RSVP to AVCOG at 783‐9186 or to alandry@avcog.org For more detail on the Mobilize Maine process and for any weather cancellation information, see What’s New at http://www.avcog.org/.

Free Workshops – Grant & Loan Opportunities for Farmers
Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) and Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
February 25, 2010 (2 locations)
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Coastal Enterprises, Inc., Sanford
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Coastal Enterprises, Inc., Wiscasset
Join USDA’s John Sheehan for invaluable information about these exciting grant opportunities for farmers. To register for the workshops, or for more information and locations, please contact Gray Harris at Coastal Enterprises, Inc. at (207) 882-7552 ext. 135 or email ghs@ceimaine.org.  Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities will be provided with two weeks notice.

Producing Quality Organic Grains For Maine
February 26, 2010
9:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center, Unity
Key topics: Disease Management and Grain Cleaning, Drying & Storage; Weed Management and Grain Seeding. Registration deadlines: February 17th. For more information, contact Ellen Mallory at ellen.mallory@maine.edu or 800-870-7270. Download workshop brochure and registration form.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Fair
February 28, 2010
1:00 p.m.  - 4:00 p.m.
12 Locations Statewide
Attend a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Fair in your community and learn about CSAs, become acquainted with local seasonal foods, buy a share in a farm's weekly harvest, and discover how you can grow a relationship with a Maine farm. Free admission. To check the nearest location visit: CSA Fair

Free Workshops – Grant & Loan Opportunities for Farmers
Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) and Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
March 4, 2010 (2 locations)
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Kennebec Valley Council of Governments, Fairfield
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Unity
Join USDA’s John Sheehan for invaluable information about these exciting grant opportunities for farmers.  To register for the workshops, or for more information and locations, please contact Gray Harris at Coastal Enterprises, Inc. at (207) 882-7552 ext. 135 or email ghs@ceimaine.org.  Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities will be provided with two weeks notice.

Four Friday Forums for Maine's Retail and Service Industry
Forum 2 Rich Brooks - "The "E" Factor”
March 5, 2010
7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn, Freeport
Rich will discuss new marketing tools including e-newsletters, blogs, Twitter and Facebook. Learn how these tools can enable businesses to connect with customers and create a profitable online presence. There is a $25 fee. To register or for more information visit: https://www.mainesbdc.org/events/retailport/index.cfm

Gaining Ground Workshops
March 6, 2010
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center, Unity
These workshops, sponsored by Equity Trust, will show farmers how to form partnerships with conservation organizations to gain affordable and permanent access to farmland. The workshop will be approximately 5 hours and include lunch. Cost: $15. For more information and a registration form, contact Maine coordinator Erin Quigley: erinquigley@gmail.com, 207-272-8696, www.equitytrust.org.

Farming Smarter, Not Harder: Tune-up Your Business and Increase Your Net Profit
March 8 and 9, 2010
9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center in Unity
Workshop led by Richard Wiswall, owner/operator of Cate Farm in East Montpelier, VT, and author of The Organic Farmer's Business Handbook - A Complete guide to Managing Finances, Crops, and Staff - and Making a Profit. Participants will focus on the farm's profit centers - which parts of the farm make the most money and which may actually lose money, while learning efficient planning, office management, and financial tips for success. Fee, which includes Wiswall's book: $150 for an individual, $225 for two people from the same farm. FMI or to Register

Pond Construction and Maintenance Workshop
March 10, 2010 
9:00 a.m.
USDA Service Center conference room; Park Street, Farmington
The Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District in partnership with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is sponsoring the annual workshop and will cover pond planning, design, construction, maintenance and management of existing ponds.  Pre-registration is required with a fee of $15.00 to cover the cost of materials and light refreshments. To obtain a registration form, contact Rosetta Thompson at 778-4279 download from our website at www.franklincswcd.org

Free Workshops – Grant & Loan Opportunities for Farmers
Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) and Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
March 18, 2010
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Machias Career Center, Machias
Join USDA’s John Sheehan for invaluable information about these exciting grant opportunities for farmers. To register for the workshops, or for more information and locations, please contact Gray Harris at Coastal Enterprises, Inc. at (207) 882-7552 ext. 135 or email ghs@ceimaine.org. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities will be provided with two weeks notice.

Commercial Kitchen Licensing Workshop
April 8, 2010
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Royal River Natural Foods, Freeport
Designed for farmers and others interested in home-food processing for resale. The morning panel presentation will be moderated by Cheryl Wixson, MOFGA's resident chef. Licensing requirements, food safety, and liability insurance will be covered by panel members.  The afternoon program will be dedicated to a discussion of labeling requirements and organic certification requirements with Kate Newkirk, Associate Director MOFGA Certification Services LLC; and a round table sharing of experiences. Registration fee: $25 for MOFGA members and $35 for non-members. Please note: Lunch is not included in this workshop, but is available for purchase at the venue. FMI or to Register.

Producing Quality Organic Grains For Maine
April 14, 2010
9:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center in Unity
Key topics: Disease Management and Grain Cleaning, Drying & Storage; Weed Management and Grain Seeding. Registration deadlines: April 5th.. For more information, contact Ellen Mallory at ellen.mallory@maine.edu or 800-870-7270. Download workshop brochure and registration form

Four Friday Forums for Maine's Retail and Service Industry
Forum 3: Donna Fichtne Selecting & Sustaining Frontline Superstars
April 30, 2010
7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Harraseeket Inn, Freeport
Hospitality workforce trainer and past chair of the Maine Tourism Commission, Donna Fichtner, will discuss developing customized strategies for building outstanding sales and service teams.  There is a $25 fee. To register or for more information visit: https://www.mainesbdc.org/events/retailport/index.cfm

Four Friday Forums for Maine's Retail and Service Industry
Forum4: Rick Segel ProActive Retailing: Bringing Your Business to the Next Level
May 21, 2010
7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn, Freeport
Nationally acclaimed retail expert, Rick Segel brings new insights to the art of making more money from your business, and how to navigate the "new customer" that has emerged from the slowing economy.  There is a $25 fee. To register or for more information visit: https://www.mainesbdc.org/events/retailport/index.cfm

The KNEADING Conference  
July 29 - 30, 2010
Skowhegan State Fairgrounds, Skowhegan
The annual KNEADING Conference brings together farmers, novice and professional bakers, and earth oven enthusiasts to explore the art and science of growing and milling grains and baking artisan breads. The purpose is to revive the practice of locally cultivated whole grain bread, from seed to loaf. For fees and registration info visit: http://www.kneadingconference.com/

Artisan Bread Fair
July 31, 2010
Skowhegan State Fairgrounds, Skowhegan
Free and open to the public. Wood-fired oven demonstrations, artisan bread samplings, and opportunities to talk with professional bakers and explore the best books, tools, and delicious accoutrements to whole grain bread baking. Free and open to the public.  FMI visit: http://www.kneadingconference.com/

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