[1] “Who knew pests could be so riveting?”

Last week’s class with Eric Sideman from MOFGA was a terrific opportunity to hear him engage a wide-ranging audience of people growing food on the Seacoast — home and community gardeners, master gardeners and program students, and apprentice and working farmers were all included. For those who missed it, Eric has generously agreed to do a second class on June 10th. It’s free and open to the public, RSVP requested by emailing debra@seacoasteatlocal.org. More details available below:

Your Organic Vegetable Garden: Managing Pests & Diseases

Speaker: Eric Sideman, Organic Crop Specialist, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)

Place: Portsmouth Public Library – Levenson Room, 175 Parrott Ave, Portsmouth, NH

Date: Thursday, June 10, 2010, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Many home and community gardeners have taken up growing vegetables in recent years as another way of eating locally. This rewarding pursuit comes with its own set of challenges — those vegetables we find so delicious can be equally attractive to a range of insects and host disease. This presentation will cover the identification of pests and diseases common to growing vegetables. Organic methods of prevention and management will be also discussed, with a special focus on identifying and preventing Late Blight.

Some of you may already know Eric Sideman through his informative Pest Reports for MOFGA. Eric earned a BS in agriculture from Cornell University, an MS in biology from Northeastern University and a PhD in Botany from the University of New Hampshire. He moved to Maine in 1982 to teach biology and ecology at Bates College. In 1986 he moved on to MOFGA to become what some call “the nation’s first Organic Extension Agent.” He provides technical support for farmers and gardeners, serves as staff scientist for MOFGA, plans and produces educational events for MOFGA and Cooperative Extension, and serves on various agricultural committees for the Maine Department of Agriculture and the University of Maine. From 1997 to 2002 Eric served a term on the National Organic Standards Board, an advisory board to the USDA National Organic Program. Eric has recently moved to New Hampshire, just over the border from Maine, and now MOFGA has a great opportunity to give support to farmers and gardeners a long way from Unity.

This event is free and open to the public. It is being offered as a collaboration between [2] MOFGA, [3] Seacoast Eat Local, and [4] Seacoast Community Garden Network.

To RSVP or for more information, please email debra@seacoasteatlocal.org.