Adult Education

Programs

Knox-Lincoln SWCD offers a wide range of programs for adults. Some programs are offered annually; others may be offered every other year.

Please visit Events and Workshops for current events, or click on images below for more information.

Pond Construction & Maintenance Workshop

Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District, in partnership with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offer a Pond Construction and Maintenance Workshop every other year.

Constructed ponds can add value to a property – if properly built and maintained! We will review the basics of designing, planning, constructing and maintaining a private pond as well as information on water testing. We will focus on pond biology and the wildlife associated with ponds in Maine. We will discuss pond habitat features for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, fish considerations, and nuisance wildlife.

Stay tuned for ithe workshop in 2025.

If you already have a pond and would like to stock it with rainbow or brook trout this spring, visit our Trout Stocking Sale page for ordering and pick-up details.

Conservation Landscape Certification Program Speaker Series

We will offer a series of programs highlighting aspects of our Conservation Landscape Certification Program.

Knox-Lincoln SWCD and Waldo County SWCD are excited to share the newly developed Certification Program for Conservation Landscapes. This program will help you implement practices we recommend in a systematic way, with guidance and ideas from our staff and one-on-one help on your property. It is also a chance to measure your progress and share ideas and practices with your neighbors, friends and family.

This program is offered in collaboration with Waldo SWCD.

Stay tuned for 2025 programming.

DEP Trainings for Certified Contractors

All courses for new contractor certification and continuing education credits for certified contractors are currently being offered online only by the Maine DEP Non-Point Source Training Center.

FMI & to register for the:

Basic Training for Sediment and Erosion Control Practices Certification Course -TBD

ME DEP Gravel Road Maintenance Workshop Practices Certification Course -TBD

Advanced Training for Sediment and Erosion Control Practices Certification Course -TBD

For a list of ME DEP Trainings, click on the link below.

Pruning Apple Trees in Spring

Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District offers a hands-on workshop to teach pruning apple trees every other year. We offered pruning workshops in previous years.

Cheryl Denz, owner and operator of Terra Optima Farm and Landscaping in Appleton, teaches pruning techniques needed to keep your trees productive. Whether you have a small home orchard or one old tree that feeds the deer, this workshop will teach you the basic pruning techniques needed to keep your trees alive - and bearing fruit.

Stay tuned for pruning classes in 202.

Conservation Landscaping Program Topics:

Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District offers several programs on how to protect water quality and the natural environment through conscientious landscaping practices. All of these programs can be tailored to landowner, municipal, or professional audiences.

Beef Up Your Buffer: When More IS Better...and Why

Whether you are building a “living fence” along your property or your aim is to improve water quality by reducing erosion and run-off along your waterfront, a buffer is what you need!

Runoff from gravel roads and shoreland home-sites is the Number 1 cause of lake, pond and stream pollution in the state of Maine. Water traveling over the surface of roads and yards carries nutrients and other pollutants into waterbodies; soil from erosion is carried in runoff and results in sedimentation, as well as carrying phosphorous, a limiting nutrient for algal blooms. Vegetated buffers absorb water and nutrients, trap excess soil, provide wildlife habitat, and mimic natural systems to create a dynamic landscape to enjoy in all seasons.

This slide presentation will demonstrate how landowners can improve their home-sites with a vegetated buffer of native plants.

Native Plants for Water Quality and WOW!

When choosing plants for your home landscape, why not choose a native or native cultivar that will be well-adapted to the environment, provide habitat for wildlife, and add a certain something special to your landscape? Join us to meet native perennials and shrubs that can be found locally and learn which non-natives to avoid. Learn tips and techniques on how to improve your landscape with all of these elements in mind. 

Rain Garden Installation and Best Practices

Do you have excess water on your property following a rain event? A rain garden could be an effective and attractive solution for helping to direct and infiltrate the runoff or pooling on your property. Learn the ins and outs of properly installing a rain garden as well as other water management techniques that could benefit your property.

Building Climate Resilience with Native Plant Species

Learn what you can do on your property to build resiliency as the climate changes. This workshop will discuss planting native plant species.

Lush Lawns without Chemicals 

Do you want a healthy and safe lawn? Just because weed and insect controls can be bought at a store doesn't mean they are safe - they are designed to be toxic. Fertilizers are often used unnecessarily, wasting money and polluting our waters. We can help you reduce the use of fertilizers, insecticides, and herbicides and still have a lush, green lawn!

Beyond the Birdfeeder: Creating Resilient Habitats

Both native and non-native plants have leaves and their flowers have seeds and nectar - so why is it that native plants are better for wildlife? Learn about the elements of a home landscape that encourage swildlife - the kind you want - and which native plants provide the most bang for your buck! 

Invasive Plants of Midcoast Maine

Ever wondered why folks are worried about invasive plants, how they got here in the first place and are they really harmful to the ecosystem. Learn about the plants "from away" that are disturbing natural ecosystems and replacing the native vegetation that defines our region and on which wildlife depends. Learn to recognize key invasives in our area and explore control & prevention strategies.

Native Groundcovers

Discover how to boost the biodiversity of your landscape from the ground up by using native groundcovers. Groundcovers are spreading plants that form dense stands, crowd out weeds and hold soil to prevent erosion. Unlike lawn grasses, native groundcovers offer color and texture throughout the year and provide food and habitat for native fauna. Planting of native groundcovers won’t take the place of lawn used for recreation, but will create a fairly low-maintenance alternative to areas of un-used lawn in a landscape. 

Community Detectors: Invasive Tree Pests to Know

Invasive forest pests are a serious threat to our woodlands and landscapes - and most infestations are first detected by local residents.  Funded by a grant from Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry.

To schedule a program for your group, please call (207) 596-2040 or email info@knox-lincoln.org.