Waldo County and Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation Districts invite the public to help us identify natural resource priorities for USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS).  The upcoming Local Working Group (LWG) meeting provides an opportunity for local landowners and producers to prioritize recommendations on how to spend USDA Farm Bill funding to improve and protect natural resources on private agricultural and forest lands by implementing NRCS conservation practices.  The meeting will be held Tuesday December 10th, 9am-12pm at the Searsmont Town Hall, 37 Main St N South.  If you plan to attend any portion of the meeting, please contact your local SWCD office to be placed on a contact list and receive important information in advance of the meeting.

Knox County: Cindy Wright, 207.596.2040, cindy@knox-lincoln.org or register directly on the events and workshops page at www.knox-lincoln.org

Waldo County: Cassidy Gerrish, 207.218.5311, cgerrish@waldoswcd.org or register directly on the LWG page at https://waldocountysoilandwater.org/local-working-group

The Waldo County Soil and Water Conservation District is hosting its 80th Annual Meeting Friday, October 25th, at Fair Haven Camps, 81 W. Fairhaven Lane, Brooks, ME.  Join us for a spaghetti dinner, for $15, at 6pm or come just for the presentations for free at 7pm. The program includes speakers Peter Abello, NRCS District Conservationist, on a project at Fair Haven Camps and Chuck Hulsey, Wildlife Resource Supervisor, on grassland birds.  Please RSVP by 10/21 to cgerrish@waldoswcd.org or call 218-5311. Or you can RSVP here https://forms.gle/QSE7A2itpJPaWZ5f6

Download the free presentation only ticket here.

Or buy the dinner ticket here.

The monthly board meetings are all open to the public and happen the third Thursday of every month (unless multiple people have to reschedule). Get in touch today!  Email or call: waldocountysoilandwater@gmail.com, 207.218.5311.

Join professional sawyer Nick Zandstra for a hands-on opportunity to learn about portable bandsaw mills. The course will cover basic mill operation, mill yard layout and techniques to maximize lumber quality while milling logs harvested from the MOFGA woodlot. Please note: Though the course will be taught using a fully-hydraulic Woodmizer mill, the techniques discussed are also helpful for those who plan to use other sawmill brands and more entry-level models.

Questions? Contact forestry@mofga.org

Learn more about MOFGA's chainsaw courses on their website!

The monthly board meetings are all open to the public and happen the third Thursday of every month (unless multiple people have to reschedule). Get in touch today!  Email or call: waldocountysoilandwater@gmail.com, 207.218.5311.

Join MOFGA as we are guided by Elizabeth Grey and Alice Hotopp through a morning exploration of the Ecology of Grief.

Ecological grief is the sense of loss that accompanies bearing witness to the changing landscape as a result of climate change and environmental destruction. As a landowner, the forest is not an abstract idea, but a friend, family. The loss is not only global but deeply personal.

In this workshop, we’ll explore the reality of ecological grief and create space for collective mourning, practice a simple grief ritual, and consider how we might transform our grief to power, agency, and even joy.

Coffee, tea, water, and snacks will be provided.

Presenters:

• Elizabeth Grey is a professional facilitator and writer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English, a Master’s degree in Education, and is a certified yoga teacher and mindful educator. Always seeking to reconcile the ways of being human that have been lost in the name of progress, her work explores the connection between natural and human landscapes, grief and love, attention and healing. She finds particular kinship with birds.

• Alice Hotopp is a Maine-based ecologist and writer. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Ecology and Environmental Sciences at the University of Maine where she studies imperiled tidal marsh sparrows. Her work grapples with finding purpose and hope while facing environmental and personal loss

Please feel free to pay what you can afford on this scale, keeping in mind our goals are to cover our costs, pay instructors, and extend this learning opportunity to many in our community. Recommended price for MOFGA members is $75; recommended general admission price is $100. Participants in MOFGA's Journeyperson program and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) are welcome to register at no cost.

Questions? Contact forestry@mofga.org

Learn more about MOFGA's chainsaw courses on their website!

Join MOFGA as we are guided by Elizabeth Grey and Alice Hotopp through a morning exploration of the Ecology of Grief.

Ecological grief is the sense of loss that accompanies bearing witness to the changing landscape as a result of climate change and environmental destruction. As a landowner, the forest is not an abstract idea, but a friend, family. The loss is not only global but deeply personal.

In this workshop, we’ll explore the reality of ecological grief and create space for collective mourning, practice a simple grief ritual, and consider how we might transform our grief to power, agency, and even joy.

Coffee, tea, water, and snacks will be provided.

Presenters:

• Elizabeth Grey is a professional facilitator and writer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English, a Master’s degree in Education, and is a certified yoga teacher and mindful educator. Always seeking to reconcile the ways of being human that have been lost in the name of progress, her work explores the connection between natural and human landscapes, grief and love, attention and healing. She finds particular kinship with birds.

• Alice Hotopp is a Maine-based ecologist and writer. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Ecology and Environmental Sciences at the University of Maine where she studies imperiled tidal marsh sparrows. Her work grapples with finding purpose and hope while facing environmental and personal loss

Please feel free to pay what you can afford on this scale, keeping in mind our goals are to cover our costs, pay instructors, and extend this learning opportunity to many in our community. Recommended price for MOFGA members is $75; recommended general admission price is $100. Participants in MOFGA's Journeyperson program and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) are welcome to register at no cost.

Questions? Contact forestry@mofga.org

Learn more about MOFGA's chainsaw courses on their website!

*This event is free for participants in MOFGA's Journeyperson program, as well as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) community members.

Learn to dye fabrics with  locally foraged plant materials in this introductory natural dyeing workshop, open to new and experienced dyers alike. Participants will tie-dye cotton bandanas with goldenrod and experiment with wool yarn using bark, leaves, seeds, and roots from native and invasive species that can provide lasting color. Additional samples dyed with native and non-native plants will be displayed along with dye records and finished items. Participants will receive a handout listing sources for materials and trustworthy resources for further learning.

Instructor Jude Hsiang lives in South China after retiring as a botany instructor for the University of Connecticut Extension Master Gardener Program. She has been exploring the ancient traditions of natural dyeing for almost 50 years and teaching for a dozen. A lifelong knitter and gardener, Jude is especially interested in dyeing Maine-raised and Maine-spun yarns with local plants. She also uses dyestuffs from abroad.

All supplies will be provided, including nitrile gloves for those who wish to use them. Wear an old shirt or apron if desired. Stains are unlikely. Note-taking is encouraged! 

This workshop will be held primarily outdoors, but there are indoor facilities including bathrooms nearby. The event will move fully indoors if needed due to weather. If you have any questions about site or workshop accessibility, please feel welcome to reach out.

Space is limited to 15 participants. While this workshop is geared toward adult learners, children of an appropriate age may also attend. 

Learn more about MOFGA's chainsaw courses on their website!

Questions? Email events@mofga.org.

The monthly board meetings are all open to the public and happen the third Thursday of every month (unless multiple people have to reschedule). Get in touch today!  Email or call: waldocountysoilandwater@gmail.com, 207.218.5311.

Learn the basic skills needed to safely use a winch-equipped farm tractor in the woods. This beginner-level course will cover basic tractor and winch operation, building hitches, skid trail layout, landing management and techniques to limit residual stand damage. The course will not include hands-on tree felling instruction.

*This sliding scale registration is designed to make our workshops as accessible as possible by providing a range of pricing options, with a goal of ticket sales averaging in the middle. The recommended price for participation in this event is $75 for MOFGA members and $100 for non-members. Please pay what feels reasonable for you.

Learn more about MOFGA's chainsaw courses on their website!

Please reach out to forestry@mofga.org with any questions.

The monthly board meetings are all open to the public and happen the third Thursday of every month (unless multiple people have to reschedule). Get in touch today!  Email or call: waldocountysoilandwater@gmail.com, 207.218.5311.

The monthly board meetings are all open to the public and happen the third Thursday of every month (unless multiple people have to reschedule). Get in touch today!  Email or call: waldocountysoilandwater@gmail.com, 207.218.5311.