Home and Garden

encouraging youth to practice citizen science in their own backyard

University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H will offer a citizen science club for grades 4 - 8 meeting weekly, May 5 – June 9, from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

This virtual…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FCC recently adopted a Report and Order that established the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, a $3.2 billion federal initiative to help lower the cost of high-speed…

more than 1,455 trees planted by Camden Garden Club programs

CAMDEN — In partnership with the Town of Camden and the Camden Garden Club, individual property owners are being offered the opportunity to have street trees…

For years, many Midcoast towns have struggled with issues of affordable and attainable housing. Now, thanks to the pandemic and a COVID-19 fueled real estate boom, the situation has become even…

ROCKLAND — In a response to the Rockland residents who’ve repeatedly accused City Council of not hearing them regarding the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance, Councilor Ben Dorr stated in…

seeds donated by the Troy Howard Middle School garden program

SEARSPORT — To celebrate the start of spring, Friends of Sears Island will be offering free grab-and-go activity kits for children themed around seeds, soil, and garden planning.

This…

University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine Sea Grant will offer four free ‘Signs of the Seasons’ training options for volunteer citizen scientists around the state. 

The training…

‘Join others with dirty fingernails and turn gardening dreams into a delicious reality.’

CAMDEN and ROCKPORT — Warming soil is beckoning. Carrots, squash, lettuce, what’s your wish? Penobscot Bay Community Gardens has  plots available for eager gardeners at two sites: 63 Washington…

eight plots available to garden

BELFAST — In 2019, a small group of Belfast citizens started searching for a suitable location for a community garden that would allow the growing of food by individuals who did not have access to…

Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), in cooperation with Maine Resource and Recovery Association, is again offering local residents the opportunity…

Winona Elmore just opened her dream shop in Rockport, a farmhouse decor boutique called Gathering Thyme, opposite of Midcoast Recreation Center on Route 90. Her grand opening was Saturday,…

curbside pick-up May 8

Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District’s 2021 Spring Plant Sale Catalog is now available in print and online. Plants are available for pre-order only, either online or by mail through…

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteers program will begin accepting applications for the virtual 2021 training on Jan. 4. The program spans March 1–May 23, and…

‘a sparkling drive-through experience’

THOMASTON — Atop the hill overlooking Routes 1 and 131 in Thomaston, Montpelier, home to the General Henry Knox Museum, will be decked out in pine, evergreen and lights this holiday season.

ROCKPORT— Members of the Rockport Garden Club have been busy decorating the town for the holidays.  Numerous locations throughout the Rockport have been decked out with greenery. 

“The…

University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering separate online beekeeping classes for beginner and experienced beekeepers starting January 14 and February 25.

The five-…

learn how to contribute data to winter bird survey

University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H is offering a new statewide birding club for youth ages 9–18, with online monthly meetings to be scheduled December through April. 

The “4-H…

ROCKLAND — Lady Knox Chapter, NSDAR dedicated three new grave stones at Tolman Cemetery, in Rockland, in honor of Veterans Day. The new stones were laid in October as part of an ongoing project at…

AUGUSTA — To support Maine families struggling economically because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Governor Janet Mills announced Friday she is dedicating an additional $6.2 million in…

Camden Garden Club has provided winter holiday cheer to the downtown lampposts for the past 70 years. Beginning in 1950, evergreens and red berries filled the baskets. Over time the club…

Homesteading...reluctantly

In an opinion column this past summer, I made an off-hand crack about urban dwellers wanting to come to Maine to escape the pandemic and get all…

Honoring Our Veterans

ROCKPORT — On November 5, the Blue Star Memorial on Route 1, in Rockport, was the focus of Camden Garden Club members Karen Cease, Jennifer Gromada, Cindy Grondahl and Vicki Mast. The group weeded…

CAMDEN — On October 15, Camden Garden Club President Debra Stokes, Tree Program Chair Ruth Ellison, and club members Karen Cease and Priscilla Granston met with Camden’s Assistant Town Manager…

The COVID-19 pandemic has created opportunities for millions of people around the world to work from home on a temporary basis, and perhaps even a more permanent basis as companies are beginning…

The topic of expanding housing opportunities, particularly for low income individuals or families, has been a longstanding topic throughout the years. Before the pandemic, the topic moved towards…

‘drop by to enjoy this oasis before frost brings the display to an end.’

BELFAST — A group recently gathered in the heart of Belfast to mark the successful completion of the Wales Park Community Garden’s pilot phase, according to Wales Park organizers, in a news…

Hatched egg masses of the invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) were found on trees imported from Pennsylvania and planted in some Maine communities, according to the Maine Department…

sea change column: Small wood homes yield big climate benefits

A single small home, lifted onto a foundation in Milbridge last month, could signal big housing changes ahead. Confronted with scant affordable housing and mandates to reduce carbon pollution,…

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  The State of Maine has received a total of $6,678,216 in the third installment of funding to support affordable housing, assistance to businesses and bolster COVID-19…

Camden Garden Club has submitted the following:

Thanks to Camden Garden Club members and friends, the Camden Village Green gardens have recently been fortified with a luscious…

sea change: The habitat of home

If you seek joy, invite a pair of hummingbirds into your life. 

Ruby-throated hummingbirds share our home ground, making surprise appearances throughout the summer. Turn on the garden hose…

Now through September 30, 2020

CAMDEN — Merryspring’s first Flower Bulb Sale for fall planting has begun. Choose from a variety of daffodils, allium, muscari, camassia, paperwhites, crocus, cilla, and iris, all shown on the…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded a total of $2,228,481 to public housing agencies across Maine to support affordable housing and bolster COVID-19…

celebrating Bicentennial with Victoria Blue, Silver Dust and Easy Wave Blue

CAMDEN — Camden Garden club has covered the cost of planting and maintaining the traffic islands on High Street since 1984. Every year since then a colorful array of annuals has greeted residents…

AUGUSTA — Governor Janet Mills announced Thursday MaineHousing will double its rental assistance from $500 to $1,000 through the COVID-19 Rental Relief Program beginning Monday, August 3.

7/30 1:45 p.m. Update: Today, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's (DACF) Bureau of Agriculture issued an update for people receiving unsolicited packages containing…

prizes for children ages of 5-12

SEARS ISLAND — Friends of Sears Island is offering a self-guided nature bingo scavenger hunt for families, running now through the end of August.

To participate, you can download a…

ROCKLAND — West Bay Rotarians spent a Saturday morning in mid-June working at Midcoast Habitat for Humanity’s Philbrick Commons, in Rockland.

West Bay Rotary typically volunteers quarterly…

a full week of community free picks

Coastal Mountains Land Trust has submitted the following:

Coastal Mountains Land Trust invites the public to participate in the 18th annual free blueberry pick. This year, instead…

Georges River Land Trust has submitted the following:

As with all the Georges River Land Trust preserves, the outdoor Langlais Sculpture Preserve in Cushing at 576 River Road is…

Maine's adult loon population has increased by 70% since the Loon Count began nearly four decades ago

“Nothing says summer in Maine more than the evocative tremolo call of a loon,” said Maine Audobon, in a news release. “And now that summer is officially here, it’s time to take stock of our loon…

THOMASTON — Every year, on June 14, Flag Day is commemorated throughout the United States and its territories. This year the Thomaston American Legion Williams-Brazier Post 37 co-hosted a Flag…

10 gardens to be open for self-guided tours

ROCKLAND — Take part in the Friends of Rockland Public Library Open Gardens Tour. Select gardens in the Rockland area will be open…

AUGUSTA — Governor Janet Mills and MaineHousing announced Thursday an extension of the COVID-19 Rent Relief Program.

The rental assistance program, established in April, allows households…

a round of applause to outgoing board members

Due to prevailing restrictions, Camden Garden Club’s May 28 meeting was held via Zoom. Top of the agenda was the presentation of a new slate of officers who will serve from June 1, 2020 until May…

‘Secret Gardens in the Watershed’

Georges River Land Trust has submitted the following statement:

In an effort to keep everyone safe and healthy, Georges River Land Trust will be postponing our 29th Annual Gardens…

ROCKPORT — The Rockport Garden Club has cancelled its 2020 spring plant sale due to COVID-19. The sale was originally scheduled for June 6 at Aldermere Farm.  

The plant sale serves as a…

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is pleased to announce that it will open to the public Monday, June 1. Gardens have long been places of healing, tranquility, and beauty — especially during times…

As Knox County begins to reopen, Merryspring Nature Center will resume its nature education programs outdoors starting in June.

“Merryspring recognizes the seriousness of the pandemic…

largest annual fundraiser for Merryspring

Merryspring Nature Center is canceling this year's Kitchen Tour, slated for August 7, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We cannot…