ROCKPORT - Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District continues the beginning farmer workshop series with two programs on March 30 and April 7 that will help you conserve the natural resources on your farm and improve productivity.

On Wednesday, March 30 from 6-8:30 p.m. at Union Town Office, 567 Common Rd, join Abby Sadauckas & Jake Galle of Apple Creek Farm in Bowdoinham for "Implementing Conservation Programs on Your Farm." Abby and Jake will share how they have benefitted from NRCS Farm Bill Conservation Programs. From writing a forestry management plan to implementing prescribed grazing, these programs help build soil health, improve infrastructure and make farm dreams come true. Following their presentation, Abby and Jake will join a panel of local providers from Natural Resources Conservation Services (District Conservationists Peter Abello and Autumn Birt) and Farm Service Agency (County Executive Director Maria Granger and Farm Loan Manager Brenda Wells) to answer questions about taking part in conservation cost-share programs.

This program will be followed by a session on "Improving Productivity by Managing Invasive Species and Enhancing Pollinator Habitat," which will be held on Thursday, April 7 from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Knox-Lincoln Extension Office, 377 Manktown Rd in Waldoboro. Nancy Olmstead, Invasive Plant Biologist with Maine Natural Areas Program, will demonstrate how to identify common invasive plants of Maine that may have crept – or leaped – into old fields, forest, edges, or wetlands where they are degrading woodlands and wildlife habitat, and out-competing native species and crops for pollinator services. She will also discuss management strategies with a focus on how to prioritize. To restore biodiversity and reclaim degraded areas, landscape designer Rebecca Jacobs of Gabriella's Gardens will present an approach to planting for pollinators and highlight a number of native plant choices that will support many native pollinator species. To further increase productivity with pollinators, Joe DeStefano, a beekeeper with Posto Bello Apiary, will explain the advantages of having a honey beehive on your property, hive positioning, and the forage needs of honeybees. Following the presentation, Tony and Marianne Marple of Bluefield Farm in Whitefield, where they raise 30 acres of wild blueberries, will join the presenters for a Q&A panel. Tony and Marianne have taken advantage of NRCS cost-share programs to manage invasive plants and enhance pollinator habitat.

These workshops are offered free of charge and require pre-registration; refreshments will be provided. Each workshop includes information on NRCS 2014 Farm Bill cost-share programs associated with the practice being discussed. For more information, a complete list of workshops, or to register, contact Hildy at Knox-Lincoln SWCD: 207-596-2040, hildy@knox-lincoln.org, or knox-lincoln.org/beginning-farmer-2016/.