Thank you to Camden National Bank for sponsoring this series.
Looking for a way to expand your gardening skills over the winter? Over the past few years, Growing to Give has been collaborating with the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust and Curtis Memorial Library to offer the Winter Garden Workshop Series: Growing Literacy. These educational seminars are designed to build a variety of skills and know-how for gardeners of all abilities.
All talks will be held at the Curtis Memorial Library, Morrell Meeting Room. Advanced registration is required. Check out the fantastic lineup of speakers below!
The American Chestnut in our Food Forests with The American Chestnut Foundation
Sunday, February 8th 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Join us for a Winter Garden Workshop with Eva Butler from The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) focusing on the restoration of a historic tree species and increasing the edible nature of our forests. TACF has been working to bring the American chestnut back to the forests and people of Maine. Eva will share about a new initiative, Chestnuts Across Maine (CAM), that partners with land trusts, state parks, schools and town squares in Maine to establish small plantings of American chestnuts on lands open to the public. During the first two years of the program TACF volunteers and partners established 20 new plantings of American chestnuts. Beyond bringing chestnuts back to Maine’s communities, TACF-ME is building the human infrastructure to restore the American chestnut one community at a time.
Click here to learn more and register for this event.
Growing and Producing Herbal Tea with the Bowdoin Organic Garden
Sunday, February 22nd 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Certified organic by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), organic and no-till principals are central to the operation of the Organic Garden at Bowdoin College. Utilizing these growing methods, herbal tea production is just one of many projects at the Bowdoin Organic Garden. Join Bowdoin College’s Organic Garden Manager Lisa Beneman and student garden leaders to learn more about the college’s Garden and how to produce your own homegrown tea! Lisa and students will share a step-by-step guide to establishing no-till organic garden beds and will share their success growing herbal tea plants. Participants will leave with new ideas and some tea.
Click here to learn more and register for this event.
Soil Health with the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust
Sunday, March 1st 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Join us for a Winter Garden Workshop with Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT) Garden Coordinator, Jaime Rowntree, about her experiences in improving soil health at KELT’s LOCAL Garden. Soil health can be one of the most important aspects when it comes to growing crops but there can be a lot of challenges when it comes to maintaining quality soil. Learn about how Jamie has used invasive species like phragmites to improve soil health and about the ongoing battle with another invasive species, jumping worms, and the role they play in soil health. There will be useful experiences about soil testing and natural resources you can use to alter your soil conditions like kelp, mushrooms, and more. This workshop will be valuable for gardeners of any experience, questions are welcome!
Click here to learn more and register for this event.
Making the Most of Local Foods in Spring with the Merrymeeting Food Council
Sunday, March 8th 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Early spring is one of the tougher times to eat locally in Maine, not because there isn’t local food available, but we are often getting tired of the storage vegetables available. In this workshop, Christine Burns Rudalevige and Harriet Van Vleck, who are both involved with the Merrymeeting Food Council, will share tips and tricks for making the most of local foods in spring including when and how to find local greens, eggs, seafood, and more. This workshop will also include a soup making demo utilizing local ingredients. Come for the cooking demo and to learn about work going on in our community and state that supports local producers and harvesters and ways to get involved.
Click here to learn more and register for this event.