The average maple tree isn't tapped until it’s nearly forty years old. Tapping younger trees can often harm them. An average forty-year-old tree will yield about 40 quarts of sap per season, just enough to make one quart of pure maple syrup. Sap can only be harvested while it's moving through the tree trunk. The sugar in sap is stored as starch throughout the year. The warm days and cold nights of spring help change these starches to sugars and the flow of sweet sap begins. A gallon of pure maple syrup weighs about 11 pounds. Maine Maple Sunday is always the fourth Sunday in March (3/22/09 this year). For
more information, visit the Maine Dept. of Agriculture website: www.getrealmaine.com/visit/maine_maple_sunday.html

2009 Project Canopy Assistance Grants available

Project Canopy, a cooperative partnership between the Department of Conservation’s Maine Forest Service and the Pine Tree State Arboretum, encourages communities to develop project proposals that support sustainable community forestry management, increase awareness of the benefits of trees and forests, and increase the health and livability of communities through sound tree planting and maintenance. Project Canopy will award $100,000 in grants this spring to local municipal units of government, educational institutions and non-profit organizations that support community efforts to develop and maintain long-term community forestry programs.  All applications must be submitted to the Maine Forest Service by 5 pm April 10, 2009. More information is available on the web at http://projectcanopy.maine.gov, or call the Maine Forest Service at: 1-800-367-0223 or the Project Canopy office at: 207-623-2371.

Congratulations to Maine’s 2008 Tree City USA’s!

Arbor Week is a time to reflect upon the enormous resource we have here in Maine – our trees! They provide us with numerous environmental, economic, aesthetic and social benefits. This year, Arbor Week falls from May 18 – 22 (Since 1978, Maine has celebrated Arbor Week during the 3rd full week in May). Project Canopy will host a statewide Arbor Day ceremony, May 18, 1-3 pm at the Maine State Museum. Awards will be presented to the following 2008 recipients of the National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA designation:  Auburn, Augusta, Bangor, Bath, Camden, Farmington, Hallowell, Hampden, Kennebunkport, Lewiston, Orono, Portland, South Portland, Waterville, Westbrook, and Yarmouth. In addition, the communities of Augusta, Bath and Farmington demonstrated accomplishments exceeding the program’s basic requirements and will receive Tree City USA Growth Awards. Awards also will be presented to the state’s 2009 Arbor Day Poster Contest winner and others. We hope you can join us in the celebration this year!

Managing Your Woodlot – A Beginner’s Course

A 6-week workshop for woodlot owners will be held at the Oxford Hills High School (SAD # 17) in South Paris beginning Tuesday, March 10 at 7 pm. The course will cover:  tree identification, deeds and boundaries, timber harvesting, wildlife management, forestry taxes, forestry regulations and working with a consulting forester. The workshop is sponsored by the Maine Forest Service.  For more information, contact District Forester Merle Ring at 674-3787. To sign up, contact the Adult Education office at: 743-8842, ext. 1.  The registration fee is $20.

Producing Wine and Beer From Your Woodlot

The Upper Kennebec Valley Chapter of the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine will present a workshop that will explore how to produce tasty wine and beer with ingredients common to Maine woodlots.  John Cormier, a long time beer and wine maker of Kennebec Home Brew Supplies (KHBS) in Farmington, will lead you through the process of making wine and beer from birch and maple trees. Kathy Hopkins from UMaine Extension, a leader in the field of tapping maples, will be on hand to talk about how to tap trees correctly. The workshop will be held at KHBS on Route 2 in Farmington from 9 am -12 pm on Saturday, March 21. From Wilton/Jay, KHBS is on Route 2, on the right, just after the graveyard (¼ mile from Route 4).  From New Sharon, once you see the graveyard on the right on Route 2 as you come into Farmington, look for the store on the left. The workshop is free and open to all. For more information, contact Patty Cormier at 474-3499 or patty.cormier@maine.gov.

Maine DEP to host 20th Annual NPS Conference

This year, Maine DEP will host the 20th Annual Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) Conference (May 18 - May 20, 2009) at the Eastland Park Hotel in Portland, ME.
Since 1990, the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission in partnership with member states, has coordinated the Annual NPS Pollution Conference, the premier forum in our region for sharing information and improving communication on NPS pollution issues and projects. The three-day conference brings together all those in New England and New York involved in NPS pollution management, including participants from state, federal, and municipal governments, private sector, academia, and watershed organizations. Register before May 1 to take advantage of early bird rates. Online registration and a draft of the conference agenda are available at: www.neiwpcc.org/npsconference. If you have questions or would like more information please contact Michele Piazza, mpiazza@neiwpcc.org or 978-323-7929 ext. 245.

Scholarships for ISA Certified Arborists

ISA, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service Urban and Community Program and Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA), has made Municipal Specialist scholarships available to eligible candidates. This scholarship is available to all Certified Arborists that meet the Municipal Specialist requirements. The eligible candidates will receive the first exam fee paid, an ISA Municipal Study Guide, and a one year membership to ISA and ISA chapter/ or SMA membership if they do not already have one. Please visit the Certification Homepage and review the ISA Municipal Specialist application and scholarship instructions. Should you have further questions please email cert@isa-arbor.com or call (217) 355-9455. www.isa-arbor.com//CertificationNews.aspx#117

NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAYS PROGRAM

Deadline: March 13, 2009
The National Scenic Byways Program is a grassroots, collaborative effort established to help recognize, preserve, and enhance selected roads throughout the United States. The Secretary of Transportation makes grants to states and Indian tribes to implement projects on highways designated as National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads, or as state or Indian tribe scenic byways- based on one or more archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic intrinsic qualities. For more grant application information please refer to the NSBP website. http://www.bywaysonline.org/grants/

March

7          Maine Arborist Association Annual Meeting
Verillos Restaurant, Portland.  FMI: www.mainearborist.org/

10         Saving Our Trees Conference, UMass, Amherst
Cost is $65. FMI: (413) 545-0895, eweeks@umext.umass.edu.

12-15    Portland Flower Show –  www.portlandcompany.com/flower/

24         New Hampshire Arborist Association Annual Meeting
Grappone Conference Center, Concord. FMI www.nharborists.org

25         Trees: Anchors of the Landscape, McLaughlin Gardens
Rick Churchill, a local arborist and writer for People, Places and Plants will explain why trees are so important to the landscape and will share some of his favorite trees, native and exotic.  FMI  www.mclaughlingarden.org

May
18         Maine Arbor Week Awards Celebration
Maine State Library, Augusta. FMI: http://projectcanopy.maine.gov

If you would like to put your community’s activity on the calendar, please let one of the editors know by the 15th of each month.