Somerset Public Health

10/16/2026

10/15/2026

Veterans of Somerset County, winter is coming. Reach out if you are at risk.

10/15/2026

Great resource for our veterans wanting services through VA

10/15/2026

Have you ever trained in Gagetown, Canada? "VA Toxic Exposure Warning"

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.maine.gov%2Fveterans%2Fgagetown%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAcGRvZgFzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe6bGA2oukW0uTPYtgrBnwMT6KfR0D4ta_PnoOvvGuRsUeWfGbBz2dB44ZWzA_aem_8wl_ZS8Gq1SMiP5K8UY-sQ&h=AUA6aaeeCFXPBUy7f1JDtzA9FVgpzD8MXAke2O5dCzkaO10pNy6OSCGajJyLCXjJA2LompDmo3Vp8batkiZBchDktgKzwjAGXZ8MCO5BLK6p2VFHR-CpDCMlzEKTO_rGUWKsNViSXniRUy3i&__tn__=%2CmH-R&c[0]=AUDh3P3lND_ExXAcF8ESj0_4vs7-a29FpfCvgP_NdqiZTHIlR6C66zL_BeFoTjXrraJi6E8jCp64ShaD8Z4MXanzsRp3U_tulCAs95yNoEDGbVjNbUoHDcYk5JFWo9qXoGhp6hsNlwkef5qjndibblfD

10/12/2026

🌱 Seeds of Hope Update: Growing Beyond the Garden!

Sometimes, the most meaningful growth happens when we try something new!

Our amazing Somerset County Jail's Garden Coordinator and Root Camp founder, Rebekah, recently revisited a prison garden in Oregon that was part of her early journey into correctional garden programming. Seeing the pride, connection, and enthusiasm surrounding that garden was a powerful reminder of why this work matters and how gardening can create opportunities for learning, purpose, and growth.

Back here in Maine, Rebekah is preparing for our next Seeds of Hope adventure: growing oyster mushrooms! 🍄 Did you know you can actually grow new oyster mushrooms using pieces of store-bought mushrooms and cardboard? Rebekah's home experiment already showed mycelium (the network that mushrooms grow from) forming in just three days!

🍄 Want to try it at home? Here's how!

You'll need:
A quart-size plastic deli container with 4–8 holes
Corrugated cardboard, cut into squares, soaked and separated into layers
Alcohol wipes
The stem ends of oyster mushrooms

Let's grow!
1. Layer small pieces of oyster mushroom tissue between the damp cardboard pieces.
2. Place everything in the container, then put the container inside a paper bag.
3. Store it in a cool, dark spot.
4. Check daily to make sure the cardboard stays moist—not too dry or too wet.
5. Watch for white mycelium to appear. Rebekah saw growth in just three days!

This is a fun experiment in mushroom propagation and a great way to explore the fascinating world of fungi.

This Friday, Rebekah will bring that same curiosity and hands-on learning to Somerset County Jail for our own mushroom propagation project.

From vegetables and flowers to fungi, Seeds of Hope keeps finding new ways to grow knowledge, build skills, and create meaningful experiences. We can't wait to see what sprouts next! 💚🌱🍄

10/07/2026

🌱 Seeds of Hope continues to grow in ways that go far beyond the garden.

Our 2026 harvest has now reached an incredible 3,231 pounds, thanks to the women and staff who have planted, watered, harvested, learned, and worked together all season.

Our amazing Somerset County Jail Garden Coordinator and Root Camp founder, Rebekah, recently traveled through Oregon, where she visited a beautiful Japanese healing garden at Oregon State Penitentiary. The garden is cared for by people who have found purpose and connection through the simple act of tending something living. The words that guide that garden - harmony, love, humility, and grace - feel so connected to what we hope to cultivate through our Seeds of Hope program.

This week, Rebekah returns to Maine to teach mycology and begin an oyster mushroom project at Somerset County Jail.

We are so grateful to Full Plates Full Potential for believing in this work, and to Somerset County Jail, our school nutrition directors - Jana Matthews Wacome, Tammy Conners, and Doris Lindblom, Cooperative Extension, local growers, and everyone who continues to make Seeds of Hope possible.

I love that this project keeps reminding us that gardens are about so much more than food. They create places to learn, contribute, connect, and grow - and sometimes they help us see possibilities where we didn't see them before. ❤️🌱

10/05/2026

Calling all available Organizations!! Come Help our Athens Outing Club with their 5K Fundraiser!!

10/05/2026

On Friday, our Somerset School-based Outing Clubs teamed up and attended Teens to Trails Outdoor Leadership Conference!! We had representation from 4 different schools and even met with some of our local organizations -- it was a fantastic day of networking and ideas!
If you have a student in a middle or high school, here in Somerset County, ask them about their school's outing club today!!