UNITY, Maine — Tables of seeds and scions stretch from one end of MOFGA’s Exhibition Hall to the other, and a hum of excitement reflects the great selection of interesting educational workshops at the Seed Swap and Scion Exchange. This event, cosponsored by MOFGA, the Maine Tree Crop Alliance and Fedco, features perennial favorite Mark Fulford – a fixture of the event for decades – teaching his class on grafting techniques. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at MOFGA’s Common Ground Education Center in Unity on Sunday, March 26.
From 10:30 to 2:30 in the Exhibition Hall: on-site grafting! Choose scionwood from the table or bring your own and we’ll graft a tree for you on the spot. We’ll provide the rootstock. All proceeds will go to MOFGA’s Maine Heritage Orchard.
Multiple talks and demonstrations about seed saving will include one on saving seeds in the land of genetically engineered crops (GE crops, also known as GMOs). If you’ve saved seeds and want to know what to do with them next, Daniel MacPhee of Blackbird Rise will offer his expertise and demonstrate equipment for the garden and farm scale.
Will Bonsall will speak about tree crops and how to meet their mineral needs; Abbie Sewall will talk about elderberries; and Aaron Parker will talk about propagating woody plants without grafting.
All workshops and other details will be posted at http://mofga.org/Events/
Please bring any seeds, scionwood or cuttings you have to share freely with others. Last year we gave away scionwood from nearly 300 fruit varieties.
We will also continue to offer a space to exchange fertile eggs for hatching. In past years these have included chicken, duck and goose eggs.
Your contributions make the day a success. We’ll supply labels, tape and markers, but it always helps to bring your own. On sale will be T-shirts, books, posters, grafting supplies and rootstock.
A complete schedule is available at www.mofga.org. Admission is free, although donations are always welcome, and no registration is required.
For information on storing scionwood to bring to the event, see www.mofga.org or contact C. J. Walke, MOFGA’s organic orchardist, at 207-568-4142.
The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA, www.mofga.org), formed in 1971, is the oldest and largest state organic organization in the country. The purpose of the Association is to help farmers and gardeners grow organic food, fiber and other crops; protect the environment; recycle natural resources; increase local food production; support rural communities; and illuminate for consumers the connection between healthful food and environmentally sound farming practices.
—Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
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