Events Calendar
From workshops and field days to plant sales and forums, there’s something for everyone!
View our Calendar of Events Below
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Building a Resilient Flower Farming Business
Nov 10, 2026 | 6-7:15pm - VIRTUAL - Fee: $0 to $15 Sliding Scale
UMaine Cooperative Extension presents this workshop featuring 3 flower farmers and Dr. Ping Yu, Ornamental Specialist. Building a flower farm that lasts takes more than beautiful blooms. Experienced growers share practical strategies for finding your customers and niche, staying profitable, and avoiding burnout.
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Stream Smart Workshop - Maine Audubon
Nov 12, 2026 | 8:30am - 12:30pm
Maine Audubon is hosting an introductory Stream Smart workshop for professionals responsible for road-stream crossings, including contractors, conservation agencies, land trust, etc. Venue is Ellsworth VFW and Cost is $35.00.
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Downeast Audobon Moss Walk
Nov 15, 2026 | 9-11am
Join Native Gardens of Blue Hill Director and botanist Cathy Rees on a 0.5-mile easy walk as we search for mosses, learn their names, and create a reference sheet to take home. Meet at Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust South Gate on Route 1 in Orland.
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Landowner 101 - Sustainable Forest Management
Nov 16 through Nov 20 (5 day class) | 5:30-7:30
Hosted by the Maine Forest Service and held at Bucksport High School, Landowner 101 is a workshop for woodland owners in Maine who steward their forests for a variety of reasons, among them aesthetics, firewood, recreation, wildlife, maintaining health, diversity, and forest products. In partnership with RSU 25 Adult Ed, Maine Woodland Owners, and Maine Tree Farm.
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Native Seed Saver Swap & Workshop
Nov 14, 2026 2-4pm
Join us for our 2nd annual Seed Saver Swap & Workshop at the Moore Community Center. Bring native shares to swap, make a bee hotel, and pot some native seeds for overwintering. Snacks and drinks provided. No fee, but donations appreciated. Bring native plant seeds to share if you have any, don't worry if you don't!
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Edible Natives in Your Backyard - Online Webinar
Nov 19, 2026 | 6-7:30pm
Co-hosted by Wild Seed Project and MOFGA. Join Russ Cohen, expert forager and author of Wild Plants I Have Known…and Eaten, for a presentation featuring at least two dozen species of native edible wild plants suitable for adding to your own landscape, or nibbling on as you encounter them in other locales.
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Wild Blueberry Workshop with Dr. Lily Calderwood, etc.
Dec 2 2026 | 3-6pm | Ellsworth Extension Office
UMaine is bringing hands-on, high-value workshops directly to your community this winter. Topics include Irrigation costs and benefits, enterprise budgeting, and interactive pesticide label education (1 pesticide credit).
2026 HCSWCD Event Calendar - Spring and Beyond
Below is a comprehensive list of events we are hosting or co-hosting in for 2026.
● May 1: No Mow May (All Month) — County-wide
● May 1: Plant Sale (8–4) — USDA Office
● May 2: Plant Sale (8–2) — USDA Office
● May 9: Card Brook Clean up (9–12) — 55 Foster St, Ellsworth
● May 13: Trout Sale Pickup — USDA Office (Time TBD)
● May 15–16: Union River Forum — Moore Center, Ellsworth
● May 20: Envirothon — Leonard Mills (School kids)
● May 23: Migratory Fish Day (10–2) — Orland
● May 26: Castine Invasives Workshop — Castine Town Hall 10-3:30 Register
● Jun 4: Back to the Forest Day (9–2) — Woodlawn, Ellsworth (5th Graders)
● Jun 28: Green Ellsworth - Union River Group Paddle
● Jul 8: Backyard Rewilding Workshop (10-12) — Franklin Community Center
● Jul 18: Trenton Butterfly Festival (3–5) — Trenton Fire Pond
● Jul 22: Plant Paddle Workshop — TBD
● Jul 25: Green Ellsworth - Union River Group Paddle
● Aug 7: Annual Meeting (12–3) — Ellsworth Gazebo
● Aug 29: Green Ellsworth - Union River Group Paddle
● Sept 18: Wild Blueberry Resilience Summit - Field Day (9–4) — Blue Ridge Farms, Waltham
● Sept 19: Invasive Plant Workshop - Trenton Butterfly Gardens - 1pm
● Sept 21: Local Working Group - Ellsworth Cooperative Extension
● Oct TBD: Envirothon
● Nov 14: Seed Saver Swap & Workshop - TBD
● Dec 7: Plant Sale Kick Off & Election
Questions? Call 207-667-8663
Get Involved
Our conservation work in Hancock County depends on community residents and organizations to support and contribute to it. We maintain a list of conservation-related opportunities that are organized by our partners, and, when possible, we organize events and volunteer opportunities that are specific to our soil and water projects. We invite you to join one or all of these opportunities to stay connected with conservation work in our community.
Complete our Volunteer Sign-Up Form to get started!
We also invite you to consider giving to our District. We accept donations of all sizes, and encourage you to reach out to us if you’re interested in partnering to accomplish and expand conservation goals. Please call us at 207.667.8663 or email hcswcdinfo@hancockcountyswcd.org for more information.
By providing Envirothon and other quality education programs to students today, we hope to ensure the continued value of Maine’s natural resources. Envirothon is aligned with Common Core Standards, the guiding principles for Maine’s education system.
Youth Engagement
Envirothon
What is Envirothon? A natural resource problem-solving competition for grades 9-12. In an outdoor setting, students are tested in five natural resource areas: aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and a current national environmental issue. Envirothon is a team effort that includes site-specific, hands-on tasks. A team includes three to five students, an alternate, and an adult advisor. Regional and state competitions are held each spring. The top Maine team qualifies for the North American Envirothon finals, an opportunity to compete against teams from across the United States and Canada.
Why Envirothon? The State of Maine has a long history of natural resource use and management. Maine is 90% forested, has 6,000 lakes and ponds, 4,500 miles of mainland shoreline, and 32,000 miles of rivers and streams. We have an abundance of wildlife and fish, and agriculture continues to be an important resource. The Maine Association of Conservation Districts has a strong, shared commitment to preserving these natural landscapes.