University of Maine Cooperative Extension Penobscot County

10/19/2026

Want to grow your own garlic next summer? The time to plant is now! 🧄

Want to grow your own garlic next summer? The time to plant is now! 🧄

While most Maine gardens are winding down for the season, there's still one crop that's just getting started: garlic!

Fall is the ideal time to plant hardneck garlic in Maine, giving cloves a chance to establish roots before winter and a head start on next year's growing season.

A few tips to get started:

- Choose the right garlic. Hardneck varieties are well suited to Maine's climate. Look for healthy seed garlic from a reliable source.

- Plant pointed-end up. Space cloves 4–6 inches apart, with the tips 2–4 inches below the soil surface.

- Don't forget the mulch! A layer of straw, dried grass or leaves helps protect cloves from winter freeze-thaw cycles.

In Maine, garlic is generally planted from mid-September through the end of October, depending on your location.

A little work this fall can mean fresh, homegrown garlic to enjoy next summer!

🌱 Find more planting and growing tips in the comments below.

10/16/2026

Not all bottled lemon juice is the same when it comes to home canning! 🍋

If you're preserving tomatoes, salsa or other foods at home, the type of lemon juice you use can make a difference in food safety.

The National Center for Home Food Preservation recently shared an important reminder: when a tested canning recipe calls for bottled lemon or lime juice, choose juice made from concentrate.

**Why does it matter?** Acidity plays an important role in safe home canning, and bottled juice made from concentrate provides a guaranteed acidity level. Fresh juice or juice labeled "not from concentrate" doesn't offer that same guarantee.

A few things to remember:

• Look for "from concentrate" or "reconstituted" on the label.
• Don't substitute fresh-squeezed juice or juice labeled "not from concentrate."
• Always follow the amounts specified in a research-tested canning recipe.

🔎 Learn more from the National Center for Home Food Preservation in the comments below. ⬇️

10/16/2026

10/15/2026

At this family-friendly event, explore technology and engineering through hands-on activities, including car design, aviation, space exploration, and more to discover how the past inspires the future.

10/14/2026

10/13/2026

ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Course and Exam in Baileyville!

UMaine Extension is offering ServSafe® Food Protection Manager training to help you achieve a nationally recognized food safety certification. This course is designed for people working in the food industry, including nonprofit organizations. 🍽️

Tuesday, December 22, 2026 📅

9 a.m.–5 p.m. ⏰

Spednic Club, 6 Third Avenue, Baileyville, ME 📍

$150 for the course and exam 💲

Participants will receive eight hours of training using the latest ServSafe® Manager Book, 9th Edition, followed by exam proctoring. 📚

Registration deadline: December 1, 2026.
https://umaine-extension.formtitan.com/ftproject/events?eventid=a1cUy000007xNcT

Register using the QR code on the flyer or contact Laurie Bowen at 207-942-7396 or [email protected]. 📞

10/13/2026

Curious about Artificial Intelligence? Join UMaine Extension’s free 4-H Machine Learning series! 🤖

Youth ages 9–12 (teens are welcome, too!) can explore the world of AI through hands-on activities in this six-part online series, “Machine Learning: Intro to AI.” 💻

Participants will learn how machine learning models make predictions, practice training AI models, and build beginner computer science skills. No prior experience is needed! 🧠

Mondays, November 9–December 14, 2026 📅

Choose one of two sessions:
• 4–5:15 p.m.
• 6–7:15 p.m. ⏰

Online via Zoom. A computer or tablet is required. 💻

The series is free, and donations are welcome. Registration is required by November 1, and space is limited to eight participants. 📝

Learn more and register: https://extension.umaine.edu/event/machine-learning-intro-to-ai-evening/ 🔗

10/13/2026

Have you noticed a few uninvited guests trying to move in for the winter? 🍂

Have you noticed a few uninvited guests trying to move in for the winter? 🍂

As temperatures cool in the fall, stink bugs may start showing up around windows, doors and other spots around the house as they search for protected places to spend the colder months.

And while their name (and smell!) may be familiar, there’s more to these shield-shaped insects than you might think. Some stink bugs feed on garden plants and fruit, while other species are beneficial predators that feed on other insects.

If you're suddenly seeing more of them around your home, knowing which kind you're looking at can help you decide what, if anything, you need to do.

UMaine Extension Home and Garden IPM has information to help you identify stink bugs, understand their behavior and learn how to manage them.

🔎 Find the resource in the comments below. ⬇️

10/09/2026

Food Safety Training for Volunteer Cooks

A workshop on safe food handling designed specifically for volunteers! Learn up-to-date methods for safely preparing, handling, and serving food for large group functions. This training meets Good Shepard food safety training requirements.

Date and Time: Wednesday, Nov 4, 2026 - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Materials Fee: $15.00 per person

Where: University of Maine Cooperative Extension Penobscot County
307 Maine Ave., Bangor ME 04401

Registration: To learn more and register: extension.umaine.edu/food-health/food-safety/cooking-for-crowds/

If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact Laurie Bowen, 207.942.7396, [email protected] by Oct. 22, 2026.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity institution and provider committed to nondiscrimination. For more information, visit extension.umaine.edu/nondiscrimination.

10/08/2026

A New 4-H Club Is Forming in Penobscot County! 🧵🌱

We’re excited to announce a new 4-H Sewing & Gardening Club! Youth will have the opportunity to learn sewing by hand and machine, choose sewing projects, plan a garden, select what to grow, start plants from seed, and build hands-on skills while having fun with other 4-H members. 🌱🧵😊

When: November 15 at 10 a.m. 📅
Who: Youth ages 9–18 as of December 31 of the current 4-H year 👥

Interested in joining? Contact the UMaine Extension Penobscot County office at 942-7396 or email [email protected] for more information. We’d love to welcome new members to this club! 💚