The Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District (CCSWCD) worked from February, 2020 through June, 2021 to develop a “Community Agriculture Planning Toolkit”. The project was funded by the National Association of Conservation District’s Urban Agriculture Conservation grant program. The project built on CCSWCD’s previous community agriculture work which began in 2016 with a grant from NACD.

The Environmental Protection Agency awarded the District a Healthy Communities Grant in 2019. We have been busy developing outreach materials, collecting soil and plant tissue samples, and sharing information on how to garden safely in contaminated soils.

Join us on September 21 at 3pm to learn more about the findings of over 120 soil tests from Portland’s West End, Parkside, Bayside, and East Bayside neighborhoods.

Maine Audubon and the Department of Environmental Protection are recruiting Stream Explorers who can help survey large aquatic insects (macroinvertebrates) in streams in southern Maine. Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District has a survey kit available for Stream Explorers to borrow. 

Jun 22nd | 3:30pm | FREE
This webinar for municipal officials, community leaders, and community development groups will showcase work completed through a grant from the NACD to create a tool kit for  Community Agriculture Planning and case studies from 4 communities.

Free soil lead screening is available to Cumberland County residents. Bring your samples (up to 3) to one of five drop-off points. Samples collected will be mailed to the EPA lab for a free lead screening. All results will be analyzed anonymously and individual information will not be visible to the public. Results will be returned with recommendations based on individual results.

Composting at home is easy, reduces the amount of trash you have to throw away, and can be used around your yard for lawn and garden care once it’s done! Purchase an Earth Machine Composter to start composting in your backyard and then use your new compost to brew compost tea to feed your lawn and gardens and build healthy soils.

Over the month of April we had stormwater heroes protecting water quality all over the state by removing litter, learning about stormwater best management practices, and supporting clean water education in local schools.

Come out to the Permablitz on Saturday, May 8th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM! We’re going to transform an abandoned public lot at Gray Village Center (5 Yarmouth Road) into a beautiful, vibrant commons with a food forest for the people of Gray and visitors alike using permaculture.

Be a stormwater hero and sign up for the Urban Runoff! Consider using the Royal River course for your run or walk to support stormwater education.

Be a stormwater hero and sign up for the Urban Runoff! Consider using the Presumpscot River course for your run or walk to support stormwater education.

Sign up for the Urban Runoff today and consider using the Sebago Lake course for your run or walk to support stormwater education.