Two educational organizations in Piscataquis County, Maine collaborated to offer 15 self-sufficiency skills classes taught by Extension staff and volunteers. Over 100 people from 3 school districts enrolled in classes like beekeeping, maple syrup tapping, and livestock care. Post-class evaluations found that 100% of attendees rated the classes excellent, would recommend them to others, and wanted more classes from the instructors. Both organizations plan to continue partnering to provide valuable educational opportunities.

1. You Can…Accomplish More Together
A series of workshops on self-sufficiency skills
D. R. Coffin, Piscataquis & Penobscot Counties Extension Educator – donna.coffin@maine.edu
T. Regan, Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative Director
W. Boomsma, President, Piscataquis County Extension Association Executive Committee
Abstract: Objective: National Association of County Agriculture Agents
Two informal educational power houses in Piscataquis County collaborated to offer a
series of 15 course offerings to community residents to help them whether tough Provide people with self-sufficiency skills to AM/PIC
times by sustaining their families with traditional skills to get them to greater self-
sufficiency.
sustain their family during tough times Charleston, SC
In the fall of 2011 the staff and Executive Committee of the University of Maine July 15 - 19, 2012
Cooperative Extension (Extension) and staff of the Piscataquis Valley Adult
Education Cooperative (PVAEC) shared their needs assessment that indicated
county residents were interested in learning basic homesteading skills to help their
families cope with tough economic times.
Extension had staff and volunteers that were interested in providing educational
sessions on a variety of topics. The PVAEC had the logistics capabilities of
assembling a course catalog and mailing to all residents in the four school districts
served by them and managing course enrollments.
The result has been a roaring success! PVAEC experienced the best volume of
enrollments for the sessions offered and the evaluations of the sessions showed the
attendees learned a great deal and plan to implement that new knowledge to help
their family survive these rough times.
Both organizations are exploring ways to continue to work together to provide
valuable educational offerings in the county.
Introduction:
•Two educational agencies collaborated
•15 Classes focused on traditional self-
sufficiency skills
•Taught by Extension staff, Master
Gardeners, and other volunteers
Program Evaluation:
•100% rated their course Excellent!
•100% would recommend the class to a friend
•100% would take another class from the instructor
You Can Classes
• Raise Cash as a Crop Comments:
• Slice it, Salt it, Stomp it! •I like … field trip so we could see what we learned
• Can it, Freeze it, or Dry it about in real life (maple syrup)
• Beginning Beekeeping •Great introductory course (poultry)
• Landscapes for People and Pollinators •Most important thing learned was about feeding
• Backyard Maple Syrup and pasturing (livestock)
• Backyard Poultry •I especially appreciated the hand-outs and the
• Small-Scale Livestock Care information regarding additional resources, etc.
• Firewood Processing online.
• Simplify Your Life •Very interesting. Something different and practical.
• Spring Cleaning 101 (fermented foods)
Methods:
• Start You Own Plants from Seed! •I liked the hands-on stuff...making our own pots out
of newspaper & replanting the herbs.
•Spring 2012 Adult Education Catalog carried
class descriptions – circulation 13,000 Program Participation What is next?
•Classes offered once, twice or three times •Fall topics
•Class sites were throughout the county 113 people enrolled – Weed identification and control
•Sign-up was through Adult Education 3 school districts -- Winter Greens in Sub-Irrigated Planters
•Post class written evaluation 12 instructors (paid and volunteer) -- Backyard Beef