BELFAST — This winter, the Belfast Garden Club Evening Lecture Series co-sponsored by the All of Belfast Climate Dialogues, a project of the Belfast Free Library, will focus on the effects of the Climate Crisis on our forests, farms, and gardens.

On Tuesday February 22, at 6:30 p.m., the topic will be “Growing Food and Ornamentals in a Changing Climate” with speakers Haley Jean and Sara Keleman, M.S. students at the University of Maine School of Food and Agriculture.

The talk will be offered on zoom. To register for the zoom link please go to belfastlibrary.org/abcd-events/.

Jean and Keleman will give an overview of global climate change, with special attention to effects in Maine and the Northeast. They will discuss the local effects of global weather patterns and the challenges that they may pose to those who grow vegetables, fruit, and flowers in our region, and will suggest ways to mitigate some of the more confounding challenges. The talk will also showcase tools for learning about, understanding, and addressing climate change impacts. 

Both students are advised in their M.S. programs by Dr. Rachel Schattman, whose research has focused on effects of changing climate on specialty crop production in the Northeast, including agricultural perspectives on climate change and adaptation. Prior to coming to the University of Maine, Dr. Schattman had over a decade of experience owning and managing a diversified vegetable farm in northern Vermont.

The Evening Lecture Series continues March 22 with a talk, “Deep Woods: How Climate Change Impacts Forests & How Forests Slow Climate Change” with speakers Mark Berry and Nicholas Fisichelli. For more information visit belfastlibrary.org/abcd-events/or belfastgardenclub.org.