Address:
304 North Street Houlton Maine 04730
Phone:
207-254-4126

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SASWCD BOARD SUPERVISORS - The Soil and Water Conservation District is seeking people to serve on our board who can help guide District priorities and work in establishing natural resource priorities for USDA-NRCS program funding. If you would like to join us and learn more about the District's work, please contact Angie at 254-4126 or attend our next monthly meeting February 12 at 3pm. Thank you!

 

GRANT AWARDS Charlie Cart in the Classroom

MOBILE KITCHEN CART PROJECT - The SASWCD has received a USDA-Farm to School grant to teach Houlton elementary children food and nutrition education through hands-on cooking classes. Mrs. Faulkingham's 4th graders were the first students to use the mobile cart, called "The Charlie Cart" and Alexis Smith tries out the resulting carrot and beet salad with citrus vinaigrette. The Charlie Cart will be housed alternately at Houlton's Elementary and Southside Schools. An official training session with the Charlie Cart's project team will take place in Spring, 2020. Until then, we will have fun teaching kids how to cook simple, healthy foods! For more information about the grant, please contact the SASWCD via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

MEDUXNEKEAG RIVER WATERSHED RESTORATION, PHASE II PROJECT - The SASWCD has also received funding approval for a Dept of Environmental Protection grant to target specific agricultural practices in the Meduxnekeag Watershed, as well as cover cropping and winter cover work. The grant project will begin 2020. Any farmers in the watershed who are interested in participating should contact the District at 254-4126 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss.

OTHER PROJECTS and EDUCATION

HEALTHY SOILS, HEALTHY FARMS: Wednesday, February 19 from 9am to 3pm at UMPI. Join SASWCD, Maine Farmland Trust, UMaine, CASWCD and fellow farmers for a day of learning how healthy soil practices can benefit Aroostook's farm operations. Colorado biotic potato grower Brendon Rockey will be the keynote speaker with workshops following throughout the day. Cost is $15 per person and includes lunch. A full agenda and registration can be found at https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/event/healthy-soils-healthy-farms/  

Healthy Soils Healthy Farms for web

 

WINTER AG SCHOOL 2020 -  The SASWCD has a diverse variety of classes coming up, beginning with the day-long Healthy Soils, Healthy Farms conference February 19 at UMPI, which is funded in part by the SASWCD's 319 Clean Water Act grant. Check out all class listings at WINTER AG SCHOOL and follow us on Facebook for updates.

 

 BASIC AND ADVANCED EROSION CONTROL PRACTICES - The SASWCD and Dept of Environmental Protection will be holding this class Wednesday, April 22 from 7:30am to 3:45pm at the Houlton Town Office. This course is necessary to become a contractor certified in Erosion & Sedimentation Control Practices by DEP. Recertification credits will also be available. Cost is $30 and pre-registration with SASWCD is required. Check out agenda at Erosion Control Workshop 

NORTHERN REGIONAL ENVIROTHON - It's our turn to host this national natural resources competition for high school students and this year it will be held Tuesday, May 19 at Riverfront Park in Houlton. Check back for more information on this important program for our students.

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About Soil and Water Conservation Districts:
Soil and Water Conservation Districts work as the grass roots connection between local, state and federal agencies and producers and have done so since 1935, when Congress agreed to a Soil Conservation Service after spending an afternoon in session with skies darkened by soil particles blown in from the Great Plains. The Southern Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District became recognized under Maine State Law in January of 1942. Since then, the SASWCD has grown from working with farmers as conservation "cooperators" to include all landowners.
 
 
Education for all landowners is an important part of our work. Check out listings under "Education" and "Fundraising" to see what is happening this fall in Southern Aroostook.