Monday, April 22nd, 2024 (Earth Day!) Time: 5PM - 7PM Location: Auburn Public Library Cost: Free Reservations are requested, but not required.
Learn how to make your backyard more resilient to a changing climate! There's been a lot of scary conversations as we recognize stronger storms, warmer winters, and changing ecosystems; but we want to equip you with solutions you can implement TODAY! We'll talk about ways to reduce your lawn (and associated maintenance) by swapping it for pollinator gardens, edible landscapes, rain gardens, vegetative buffers, groundcovers, wildflower meadows, and more. We'll also highlight specific species to plant to support pollinators and other wildlife, prepare for a warming climate, and help with soil erosion. Create wildlife habitat, grow food for your family, and protect your local waterways while improving the appearance and functionality of your yard!
We'll highlight our new program – the Conservation Landscape Certification program-- a free checklist available to help landowners improve their properties for wildlife habitat, water and soil quality, and overall ecosystem support. If you’d like to learn more about the program click here.
After the workshop, stick around to ask questions, talk with staff, peruse helpful resources, and grab some free garden goodies! We’ll have seeds, gardening books, seed kits, garden tools, and an opportunity to win a free rain barrel! Snacks and refreshments provided. We look forward to seeing you there!
This event is funded by the Androscoggin Valley Stormwater Working Group and the Davis Foundation.
Registration is requested. To register, click here.
Building Thriving Gardens from the Ground Up!
Friday, May 3rd, 2024 Time: 4PM - 6PM Location: St Mary's Nutrition Center, 208 Bates St, Lewiston Cost: Free Reservations are requested, but not required.
You wouldn’t build a house on unstable ground, and the same is true in your garden—healthy soil creates a foundation of nutrients, support, and biodiversity that will help your gardens thrive. Join soil and compost educator Scott Guzman, owner of Diggers Cooperative, a local Maine compost business, to learn how to create abundant soil ecosystems right in your backyard with commonly accessible and affordable materials.
First we’ll go underground and discover the web of life that supports plants. Scott will highlight the importance of plant roots, fungi, and microbes in your soil. Then we’ll look aboveground to learn how to create your own healthy soil by creating layers of deep mulch. Scott will also demystify home composting so you can start making your own compost right in your backyard!
This program is promotion for AVSWCD’s Conservation Landscape Certification program – a free checklist designed to help landowners improve their properties for wildlife, soil + water conservation, and overall ecosystem support. To learn more about the program, click here.
After the workshop, stick around to ask questions, talk with Scott, peruse resources that will help you improve wildlife habitat in your yards, and grab some free garden goodies! We’ll have seeds, bird feeders, seed kits, garden tools, and an opportunity to win a free rain barrel! Snacks and refreshments provided. We look forward to seeing you there! This event is funded by a grant from the Davis Foundation.
Registration is requested. To register, click here.
Basic + Advanced Erosion Control Training
Thursday, May 9th, 2024 Time: 8AM - 4PM Location: AVSWCD, 254 Goddard Rd, Lewiston Cost: $75 Reservations are required
The course is of primary interest to contractors but could also be helpful to municipal code enforcement officers, consultants, engineers, public works employees and anyone interested in implementing appropriate erosion control measures during a construction project. Participants will learn principles of erosion and sedimentation, why erosion control practices are important, how to properly install and maintain Erosion & Sedimentation Control ('ESC') Best Management Practices (BMPs) and more.
Thursday, June 13th, 2024 Time: 8AM - 12PM Location: AVSWCD, 254 Goddard Rd, Lewiston Cost: $50 Reservations are required
The proper maintenance of gravel roads in Maine is important for providing residents safe access to their properties and minimizing costly capital repairs to these roads over time, but it is also an important part of protecting our natural resources from degradation. In this training, participants will learn how proper maintenance protects water quality, about gravel road materials, how to evaluate a gravel road for maintenance needs, creating a road maintenance plan, and how to implement gravel road Best Management Practices. The class includes a site-walk of a local gravel road to provide a real-life scenario for discussion of potential improvements and practices upon request.
This training is intended to be provide a resource for road associations, town officials, contractors, gravel road owners, watershed organizations, and any individual interested in better understanding methods and practices for evaluating and maintaining gravel roads referencing the Maine DEP Camp Road Maintenance Manual.
This class qualifies for 4 Continuing Education Hours (CEH) for individuals Certified in Erosion Control Practices by Maine DEP. Each CEH afford Certified individuals one year of recertification.
Registration is required. To register click here.
No Till Farming
Saturday, July 13th, 2024 Time: 10AM - 12PM Location: Stonecipher Farm, Bowdoinham Cost: $20 Reservations are requested
Learn all about no till farming - a gardening and agricultural practice that eliminates the use of heavy machinery and pesticides. Join local farmer Ian Jerolmack of Stonecipher Farm and come see how he has changed his commercial operation from the agricultural standard to organic no till. He has discovered many benefits of these practices including no weeds, excellent soil health, low irrigation needs as well as a tranquil and aesthetically pleasing environment for all! Learn how you can apply these practices in your home garden or large scale farm!
Registration is requested, but not required. To register click here.
...More 2024 Events coming soon!
For more information on any event please contact:
Emma Lorusso
(207) 241-5374
projectdirector@androscogginswcd.org.
To join our email newsletter click the link below.
Past Events
Landscaping for Biodiversity and Water Quality St Mary's Nutrition Center, Lewiston
Native Perennials: Seed Saving and Sowing St. Mary's Nutrition Center, Lewiston
Mushroom Walk Butler Hill Farms Preserve, Minot
Identifying Maine's Mushrooms: A Workshop for Foragers Schott Family Preserve, Greene
Grass Fed and Pasture Raised Farm Tour Old Crow Ranch, Durham
No Till Farming Stonecipher Farm, Bowdoinham
Organic Market Gardening Whatley Farm, Topsham
Spring Migration Guided Walk Schott Preserve, Greene
Seeds of Spring: L/A First Day of Spring Celebration Lewiston Public Library
Medicinal Mushrooms of Maine AVSWCD, Lewiston
Identifying Trees of Maine AVSWCD, Lewiston
Pruning Forgotten Old Apple Trees Valley View Farm, Auburn