Maine

Maine AgrAbility's Boots-2-Bushels (B2B) finished the growing season with its last on-farm tour. B2B participants and Maine AgrAbility staff visited Grace Pond Farm in Thomaston, Maine, on September 15th for an in-depth tour of their organic poultry, livestock, and dairy farm. The field day focused on the history and lessons learned by Grace Pond Farm, and how they are adapting procedures, techniques, and infrastructure to adapt to their own abilities as they age and leave a legacy to transition to their family.

Maine AgrAbility's most recent newsletter features the work of occupational therapists (OTs) and Mainers working in production agriculture. Maine AgrAbility is able to provide on-site visits by staff who are occupational therapists (OTs) to discuss specific situations and make general recommendations for adaptive equipment or techniques. OTs are professional health care providers trained in analyzing work tasks and work patterns and can suggest modifications to work tasks, tools, and equipment to suit the specific needs of individual workers.

In late September, after representing AgrAbility at the Farm Aid Concert in Hartford, CT, WSU Extension Educator Don McMoran came to Maine for a visit with Maine AgrAbility's PD Richard Brzozowski. They unexpectedly met a 68-year-old fisherman using some interesting technology. He uses a drone with a camera to spot pogies (Menhaden - a marine fish of the herring family) which he sells to lobstermen as baitfish. Pogies swim close to the surface. By spotting them from a distance, the fisherman is able to save time and energy in making a netted catch.

Submitted by Lani Carlson