2024 Fall Meeting
Join us for a two day event with two associations!
Maine, VT & NH hosting their annual Fall member meeting together!
Host Farm:
Great Works Christmas Tree Farm
392 Oakwoods Road, North Berwick, ME 03906
Have you ever heard of a 'Members Only Christmas Tree Farm' with membership fees? Great Works Farm may be the only tree Farm with this business model. Come to the meeting and get the details, pros and cons.
View this overview of Great Works Tree Farm....
Meeting Agenda
Saturday, September 21:
8:30-9:00 am: Registration, coffee, tea and donuts
9:00-9:30 am: Business meetings for separate associations
9:45 - 11:45 am: Introduction to Soil Ph, Nutrients and Fertilization.
How to take Soil and Needle test samples and how to read test results.
Presented by: Bill Urbanowicz, Sr. Agronomist, Spectrum Analytic.
12:00-1:00: Lunch: Grilled Chicken Thighs, BBQ Pulled Pork, Rolls, Salads and Cookies.
1:00-3:00: Break into 3 Groups for three 40-minute presentations.
J. Archambault, Farm Field Tour: Small Trees on 42" spacing. Field with Durango White Clover. Concolor's and Corkbark's with needle cast. Cannan firs on both dry and wet areas. Lots of huge trees with 6' x 6' spacing. Ledge, stone piles and stone walls.
Rich Cowles, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station: Latest Research about Needle Retention
Brett Johnson, UMaine Extension's Sustainable Agriculture and Farm Business Management Educator: Integrated Disease and Weed Management. Participants will learn how to apply crop protectants using backpack sprayers safely and efficiently. Participants will also learn about the life cycles of common needle cast pathogens and how to manage these diseases.
4 NH/VT Pesticide Credits available for Saturday Program
Sunday, September 22:
8:30-9:00 am: Registration, coffee, tea and donuts
9:00-9:30 am: Real Christmas Tree Board (RCTB) updates with Marsha Gray
9:30 - 10:00 am: Trees for Troops 2024 Plans Presented by Rick Dungee
10:00-11:00 am: Irrigation and Drainage: John Archambault presents how they irrigated 15 acres with 1 inch of water in 7 days. Field layout for pipe and sprinkler locations. Drainage: Ditches and drain pipe, runoff catch basin.
11:00 - 12:00: Pesticide Safety: Understanding and Implementing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Using Pesticide Labels with Rachel Maccini, UNH Cooperative Extension Field Specialist
12:00-1:00: Lunch: Salad, Grilled Vegetables, 4-cheese lasagna, Tuscan Chicken Pasta, Desserts
1:00-3:00: Break into 2 Groups for 2 one-hour presentations.
Group 1:
Basil Insecticide Application For Systemic Protection, Presented by Rich Cowles, Entomologist, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
Group 2:
L. Archambault & Sarah Perry: Christmas Barn:, Wreath Decorating, Angora goats, weaving & fiber and visit a small Vineyard
James Rosa, Cheryl & Amanda Werner: Meet the Sheep- Shropshire Breed, they graze around fir trees without causing damage.
2 NH/VT Pesticide Credits available for Sunday Program
REGISTER BY SEPTEMBER 10:
Register Online Here.
Sign up for both days by 9/10 and save!
Register By Mail: Download the Registration Form here.
Send registration checks to:
Make payable to NHVTCTA
Mail To: 91 Main Street, Littleton, NH 03561
Make your Plans Soon!
Directions to Great Works Christmas Tree Farm
There is space at Great Works Farm for camping, if you want to camp at the farm, email John Archambault at jarchambault04@yahoo.com for details.
Vendors and Sponsors Welcome!
Vendors bring your product displays and network with members. Sign up as a vendor on the event registration form. Promote your business at this event with a sponsorship plan, contact tree@nhvtcta.org for details.
Questions or more information:
Contact Veronica at NHVTCTA.
Phone: 603-991-1389
tree@nhvtcta.org