PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Central Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District will host its first Organic Farming/Gardening Summit and Trade Show from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 11 and 12, at the University of Maine at Presque Isle Campus Center.
The two-day event will include a range of presentations by area agricultural experts on topics ranging from soil and forestry to cattle, beekeeping and growing cannabis for CBD at home.
Among topics on Feb. 11 will be: “Back to the Basics: Understanding Soil Health” with Kelsey Ramerth, soil conservationist, NRCS Fort Kent Office; “Considerations for Winter Feeding of Beef Cattle,” Gary Anderson, animal and bioscience specialist, UMaine, Orono; “Organic Gardening Experiences,” Laura Audibert; and “Organic Beekeeping, Is It Possible?” with Randy Martin, CASWCD executive director. Other presenters will be Mark Hedrick, nutrient program manager with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, and Natalia Bragg of Knot II Bragg Farm.
The next day will feature these presentations: “Organic Pasture Management: Small Ruminants and Poultry,” with C.J. Walke, College of the Atlantic; “Taste of Wind: On a Mission to Zero Food Waste and Delicious,” with Barbra Jean Bender, Taste of the Wind, Laramie, Wyoming, via Skype; “Growing CBD Cannabis at Home” and “Soil Management in an Organic Production Garden,” with John Jemison, extension professor, University of Maine, Orono, Soil and Water Quality.
Additionally, Caleb Goossen, MOFGA Crop Specialist, will address “New Pests on the Block,” and Randel Agrella of Abundant Acres in Fort Fairfield will discuss “Seed Saving on the Small Farm.”
Registration is $25 for both days. Trade booth registration is $100, which includes summit admission.
For more information, contact Martin at 760-4602 or centralaroostookswcd@gmail.com.
