Volunteer at Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program Soup Kitchen
Many slots available– especially on Thursdays

Help fight food insecurity here in ME with MCHPP. Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks including sorting donated food, serving meals, chef’s helper, prep/server, dishwashers, and more. New volunteers can fill out the volunteer form and returners can sign up for shifts using VicNet. Volunteers are needed at the MCHPPs Soup Kitchen for a variety of tasks including chef’s helper, prep/server, and dishwashers. Contact Zoe Aarons or Kathleen Johnson.

 -Apple Gleaning at Rocky Ridge Orchard, Nov 5th (9-11am)

This event will be another large event where many of our gleaning volunteers will come together to glean all of the remaining apples that we can harvest from Rocky Ridge Orchard at the end of their season. This will take place from 9am-11am and would be great event for Bowdoin students. I’m hoping since this is on a Sunday, is relatively short, and since apple picking is a fun “sexy” gleaning activity, we can get a large Bowdoin contingent to go out with me this day. We are hoping to donate a bunch of fresh apples to many of our normal recipient organizations but are also considering strongly the possibility of turning many of the apples we collect into apple sauce at MidCoast Hunger Prevention Program, which students could also assist with if they were interested.

Contact Zach Hebert for more information: [email protected]

The Merrymeeting Gleaning programs works on a weekly collection and distribution cycle at local farms. Right now we are gleaning 5 days a week from 4 different places. . The sign-up links along with the times in the day for each of those are attached here:

• Six River Farm Wednesdays 9am-12pm (half hour commute): http://signup.com/go/XwjCzWA
• Goranson Farm Thursdays 9am-12pm (40 minute commute): http://signup.com/go/xUmTfzv
• Bath Farmer’s Market Saturdays 11:45am-1:00pm (15 minute commute): http://signup.com/go/WixCXAB

The Futue of Fossil Fuels- Heating and Transportation Policy & Strategies
Thursday, October 19 7L15 AM-12:00 PM
Maple Hill Farm, 11 Inn Road, Hallowell, ME

Home heating and transportation fuel consumption make Maine one of the most petroleum-dependent states in the nation, with the highest per capita petroleum consumption in New England. Maine has the highest CO2 emissions per capita in New England, with these emissions coming mainly from the heating and transportation sectors. What is the future for fossil fuels in the transportation and heating sectors, and how can policy and other strategies positively shape the future for Maine?

Agenda: 
7:30 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. Networking Breakfast
8:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Transportation Panel
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Heating Panel

Heating Policy & Strategies

Two-thirds of Maine households use fuel oil to heat their homes, a higher proportion than any other state in the nation. However, they are increasingly using alternatives such as wood pellets, natural gas, or heat pumps run by electricity to reduce costs when oil prices are high. The 2015 Comprehensive Energy Plan identified “Heating” as a major area of focus and the Governor’s Energy Office is looking at heating policy as a major issue in its work to develop a Maine Energy Roadmap. While oil prices have improved, a new heat pump program has exceeded expectations, and Efficiency Maine programs are tightening up Maine’s housing and building stock, it is still an issue in need of a comprehensive, long-term policy strategy.

What are the biggest challenges facing Maine’s heating industry in terms of policy, technology, infrastructure, etc.? What should Maine’s primary strategy be in reducing oil consumption in this sector and what is the role of the State?

Transportation Policy & Strategies

Maine’s largest end-use for energy is transportation, with the transportation sector consuming around 32% of Maine’s energy. Maine has fewer alternative fuel vehicles per capita than other New England states, and very little infrastructure for alternative fuel vehicles including electric, natural gas, and biofuels. The State is nearly 100% dependent on petroleum to fuel rail, truck, bus, aerospace, marine, and automobile transportation vehicles. This is often a disadvantage as gasoline and diesel fuel prices are extremely volatile due to global, national, and regional constraints. To add to the challenge, Maine is a rural state over a large area, necessitating widespread travel within a limited transportation infrastructure base.

What are the biggest challenges facing Maine’s transportation sector in terms of policy, technology, and infrastructure? What should Maine’s primary strategy be in reducing oil consumption in this sector and what is the role of the State?

Contact Jeff Marks for reduced rate to attend this program: [email protected]

A Day in the Woods: Forestry Event
Saturday, October 14 (All Ages) 8 AM-4PM
Hidden Valley Nature Center, Jefferson Maine

Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 14 (rain date Oct. 15). Midcoast Conservancy is hosting a full day of information and fun in the woods at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson. A few of the highlights include:

• Learn by listening and talking to state experts on low-impact forestry, improving the ability of forest practices to sequester carbon and enhance wildlife habitat, the benefits of conservation easements, land trust experience with forestry, and more.
• Learn by seeing, doing and walking with pros. There will be guided walks and talks; demonstrations of logging with horses, small scale equipment, and a small European cut to length processor; workshops on trail making and tree pruning, dealing with invasive plants and bugs; exhibits and more.
• Learn by having fun. There will be several guided walks for kids with readings in the woods by Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Project Learning Tree activities for kids and teachers and much more.
• Exercise with a “Tour De Woods” fat bike ride.
• Stomp your feet, dance, or just listen to The Gawler Family band performing new and old logging songs.

Click here to download a schedule for the day.

Breakfast from Alna General Store, lunch from Harvest Moon and Oxbow beer for purchase during the day.

REGISTER HERE!

Thanks to our wonderful co-sponsors: American Forest Foundation, Baskahegan Company, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Forest Society of Maine, Knox-Lincoln and Kennebec Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Maine Audubon, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Maine Farmland Trust, Maine Forest Service, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Maine Project Learning Tree, Maine Tree Farm, Maine Woodland Owners, Natural Resources Conservation Service, The Nature Conservancy and New England Forestry Foundation.

“Wasted! The Story of Food Waste” 
Monday, Oct 16 4-7:30 PM
Rines Auditorium, Portland Public Library,

Come celebrate the First Annual Maine Gleaning Week and World Food Day with us! NRCM and our partners in the Maine Gleaning Network and Food Recovery Coalition and others are collaborating on a FREE EVENT at the Portland Public Library on Monday, October 16^th from 4:00-7:30 p.m. Come for all or part to be inspired by Maine’s food recovery leaders and be among the first to see celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain’s new film, “Wasted: The Story of Food Waste.” SPACE IS LIMITED, SO RSVP today!

The event begins at 4:00 p.m. with keynotes by Kristen Miale, President of Good Shepherd Food Bank and Steven M. Finn of University of Pennsylvania, LeanPath. You’ll learn about World Food Day and Maine Gleaning Week, and have time to mingle with other guests to enjoy light refreshment, including food gleaned from local Maine farms, until the film begins at 5:30. After the film, you are invited to stay for a discussion.

Learn more about the film and reserve your seat.

This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited so please click the button below to reserve your spot today! 

Rines Auditorium is located in the Portland Public Library at 5 Monument Way, Portland, ME 04101.

Register here