from Abbot - Cheri Wentworth;
from Brownville - Louis Ritter;
from Brownville Junction - Ginger Twitchell
from Corinna - Jeanne Carcieri;
from Dover-Foxcroft - Carol Blanchard, Debra Breckenridge, John Buckley, Nancy Matulis, Paul Matulis, Gale Robinson, and Robyn Simmons.

from Greenville - Deborah Preissler;
from Guilford - Jeanne Kurzius and Richard Kurzius;
from Sebec - Phyllis Fariel;
from Shirley - Margaret Phillips;
from Old Town - David Kirkman;
and from Williamsburg- Joanne Estes.

To finish their Master Gardener Certification these folks will complete 40 hours of volunteer time helping others learn about gardening. A variety of projects have been developed including a landscaping project at the Beaver Cove Town Office Complex, developing a walking trail along the riverbanks in Corinna, a perennial gardening talk and display, assist with the Guilford Library landscape. Some Master Gardeners will also assist the Charlotte White Center with their garden project, do presentations at elementary schools, Plant a Row for the Hungry Project, assist with plantings for the Sebec Village gazebo area and work with the Central High School Vegetable Garden project.

Louie Ritter is heading up a group of nine Master Gardeners to renovate the lawn area next to the Extension building in Dover-Foxcroft to plant a low maintenance landscape to beautify this area. The sod will be remove, soil amendments added as needed, planting with hardy plants and mulch this area. Gale Robinson of Leaves and Blooms Greenhouse in Dover-Foxcroft will be donating perennial plants for the project. When you are in the Dover-Foxcroft area, plan to stop by the office to see the progress on this project.

To learn more about the Master Gardener program contact Donna Lamb, Extension Educator at the Piscataquis County Cooperative Extension Office, 165 East Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 phone 564-3301 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491 or email.

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and in pursuing its own goals of pluralism, the University of Maine shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or citizenship status, age, disability, or veterans status in employment, education, and all other areas of the University. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Questions and complaints about discrimination in any area of the University should be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity, Suzanne Estler, 318 Alumni Hall, 581-1226. Inquiries about discrimination may also be referred to the Maine Human Rights Commission, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education, or other appropriate federal or state agencies. Group Looking for Local Farms

Farmers in Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties, are you looking for opportunities to enhance your ability to market your fresh and value added products, and improve the profitability of your farm? You are invited to join the Maine Highlands Farm Products Promotion Group. As a member you will be able to participate in the group's marketing and promotion efforts that are being funded in part by a Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant.

This summer the group will be printing a place mat size map showing farms that have products or services available for the public. Plans are to offer restaurants, Chambers of Commerce and others a supply of maps so consumers will be able to locate nearby farms and their products.

Also, the group is receiving funding from the Piscataquis Public Health Grant to coordinate local food alternatives with Eastern Area Agency on Aging and the Meals for ME staff at the Civil Defense Center in Milo. The grant will fund supplements to the Meals for ME regular daily menu with additional seasonal fresh vegetables, fruits and meats from Maine Highlands Farm Products Promotion Group members.

Other activities of the group include monthly meetings and a consumer survey that will be mailed to a random list of households in the two county area to survey their purchase patterns of local produce and livestock products. Future meetings will discuss value-added opportunities for local farmers.

The group meets regularly on the forth Wednesday of the month and all interest folks are invited to attend. The June 25th meeting will be held at 7 pm the CD Center on Sargent Hill Road in Milo, just off Route 16 the Dover Road. Dr. Russell Hazen, UM Food Science Dept. will discuss his recent Maine Food Survey findings, ideas for future value added grants and a refresher about good production standards for summer processed foods. At the May meeting Donna Lamb, Extension Educator shared information and application materials from the Woman Infant and Children (WIC) Farmers' Market Nutrition Program and Food Stamps programs. Contact Lamb for copy of information distributed.

During June area farmers will be contacted to invite them to join the Maine Highlands Farm Products Promotion Group for $10. They will also be asked if they want to be included in the regional farm map for an additional $15. Farms who are not reached may contact Wally Sinclair, Secretary of the Maine Highlands Farm Products Promotion Group at 165 East Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 or email. Please include your Farm Name, Address, Phone, Owner's Name(s), Hours of Operation, Products and Description of your farm in 35 words or less). Donna Lamb is a Piscataquis County Extension Educator located in Dover-Foxcroft and can be contacted at the office at 165 East Main Street or by phone at 564-3301 or in Maine at 1-800-287-1491 or email.