University of Maine Cooperative Extension Somerset County

08/27/2026

Gardening in Clay Soil? Choose the Right Shrubs 🌿

UMaine Extension’s Ankit Singh, assistant professor and ornamental horticulture educator, recently spoke with Martha Stewart about low-maintenance shrubs that can thrive in clay soil.

While heavy clay can present challenges for gardeners, choosing plants suited to those conditions can make all the differenceand reduce the amount of maintenance needed to keep your landscape thriving.

🌱 See which shrubs Singh recommends, https://umaine.edu/news/2026/08/martha-interviews-singh-about-low-maintenance-shrubs-for-clay-soil/

08/27/2026

08/27/2026

Sometimes conservation work isn't something you planned for.

Earlier this summer, extreme heat put a local colony of cliff swallows in trouble. Young birds were leaving their nests too early, and what followed was a pretty incredible response from wildlife professionals, volunteers, and local partners working together to help the colony through it.

Somerset SWCD was able to lend a hand as part of that effort, from helping cool the nesting area to connecting resources and supporting the people doing the work.

It's a good example of something we don't talk about enough. Local conservation doesn't always fit neatly into a program or project. Sometimes it's simply having the right people connected when something needs attention.

Photo Credit: Linda Merry.

08/27/2026

New Maine Farmcast Episode: Pile It On with the King of Compost 🎙️

What can kitchen scraps, horse manure and farm waste have in common? They can all become valuable compost!

In Episode 120 of the Maine Farmcast, Dr. C**t Knight sits down with Mark King, organics management specialist with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and one of Maine’s leading composting experts. They talk composting at every scale—from backyard bins to farm operations—and share practical tips for turning waste into a useful resource.

🌱 Whether you have a backyard garden, manage a farm or simply want to keep food scraps out of the landfill, there’s something in this episode for you.

🎧 Listen to Episode 120, https://extension.umaine.edu/podcasts/maine-farmcast/episode-120/

08/27/2026

👋 Meet Melony, she is EFNEP's new Community Education Assistant in Somerset County. She will be teaching youth and adults in the area about nutrition. We are so excited to have her in this community!

➡️ If you are a part of an organization that is interested in partnering with us, please go to our website form here: https://extension.umaine.edu/food-health/efnep/partner/

[Image Description: A photo of a smiling person, Melony, surrounded by small graphics related to healthy food, exercise, and family. Below the photo, graphic text reads "New Position" and "Meet EFNEP's new Community Education Assistant located in Somerset County!" Logos at the bottom show The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and EFNEP.]

08/21/2026

A Garden That’s for the Pollinators! 🌼

Campus and Community Garden has officially been certified as a Pollinator-Friendly Garden through University of Maine Cooperative Extension!

The certification recognizes gardens that provide the food, water, shelter and habitat pollinators need throughout the growing season while incorporating practices such as native plantings and reduced pesticide use. The UMF garden’s certification was spearheaded by student garden worker Emma Towers, with support from fellow students, community volunteers and UMaine Extension horticulture professionals.

It’s a great example of how gardens of all kinds can make a difference for Maine’s pollinators—and individuals, schools and businesses can work toward certification, too!

🐝 Interested in making your own space more pollinator-friendly? Learn about UMaine Extension’s Pollinator-Friendly Garden Certification Program, https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/pollinator/certification/

08/16/2026

08/16/2026

Looking to Make Your Yard Less Inviting to Ticks? 🌿

UMaine Extension’s Griffin Dill, manager of the Tick Lab, was recently featured in The State sharing ways homeowners can reduce tick habitat around their homes and minimize exposure to ticks and tick-borne diseases.

“Reducing ticks’ habitat around your home is important to minimizing exposure to the pests and diseases,” Dill said.

From managing vegetation to creating a less hospitable environment for ticks, a few changes around your property can help reduce your risk while enjoying time outdoors.

👉 Learn more about ticks, prevention and research from the UMaine Extension Tick Lab, https://umaine.edu/news/2026/08/the-state-features-umaine-extension-expert-on-keeping-ticks-out-of-yards/

08/16/2026

New Maine Farmcast Episode: From Certification to Community 🎙️

What role does organic certification play in supporting Maine agriculture and what resources are available to farmers interested in organic production?

In Episode 119 of the Maine Farmcast, host Glenda Pereira sits down with Jacki Martinez Perkins, organic dairy and livestock specialist with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) .

They explore MOFGA’s work supporting organic agriculture through education, advocacy and connection, along with the resources available to farmers across Maine.

🎧 Listen here: https://extension.umaine.edu/podcasts/maine-farmcast/episode-119/