2012 Maine School Garden Day April 28, 2012 at the Buckfield Jr./ Sr. High School Annette Caldwell & Gretchen Kimball will showcase their National Award winning garden program. Students, professionals, local farmers, Food Corp volunteers and others will lead workshops and have exhibits designed to aid school gardens all across the state. For all teachers K – 12th grade Agenda and Registration Flyer The Maine School Orchard Intensive, May 5, 2012 On May Fifth MAITC will sponsor the first of a highly requested series of workshops that explore deeper into specific Agriculture topics for Maine Educators. The Maine School Orchard Intensive, led by John Pincince at Islesboro Central School, will give educators interested in one tree or a larger orchard the basics they need to succeed. The group will meet at the ferry port in Lincolnville and travel to the island where a bus will await to transport them to the school. Topics covered will include selection, planting, pruning, grafting and tree maintenance. Kathy Murray from the Maine Department of Agriculture will present concepts of pest management. Neil Lash from Medomak Valley High School will share their Living History Arboretum. The sustainable agriculture program at the school will be your host and you will tour the garden, greenhouse, root cellar and more that John has developed through his expertise and dedication. Please put this date on your calendar and be sure not to miss this extraordinary opportunity! Click here for Agenda and registration forms. 2012 Grant Request for Applications Available As a direct Result of the Agriculture Specialty License plate $60,000 was awarded in 2011 for Agricultural Education Projects. $60,000 will also be available in 2012. The plate has provided over $140,000 in Grants since it was released in 2007 to schools, FFA chapters and mainstream education. THANK YOU to plate owners! The 2012 Application forms are due on June 15th by 4 o’clock. Please see the General Overview for all grants and specific pages for each grant category for eligibility details. Summer Teachers Institute July 23–27 at the University of Southern Maine, Gorham Campus This year the institute is going to explore Dairy Farming, Growing Kelp and Mussels, Fiber, Composting and much more! We will start on Monday afternoon with check-in and a dinner at Turkey Hill Farm in Cape Elizabeth. Teachers will receive curriculum and connections to lessons connecting students with the food and fiber system. Tours will include a boat ride to a Maine Mussel Farm, Kelp Farming at Ocean Approved, Oakhurst Dairy, and visits to Mineral Springs Dairy Farm and Marston Homestead Oxen, plus much more! Earn 36 Contact hours or 3.6 CEU's toward recertification awarded by the University of Maine. We will be finished before lunch on Friday, July 27th. Download Registration Flyer 2012 Teacher of the Year   Erik Wade, the science and mathematics teacher for grades 6, 7 & 8 at Hope Elementary School has been named the 2012 MAITC Teacher of the Year. His work to develop a school-wide composting program as well as the integration of a garden and greenhouse has earned this recognition. Mr. Wade has adapted lessons that include concepts from the garden project into all 3 grade levels and align to the state and national standards.