Growing hops in your backyard 

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — You will learn how to grow hops in your home garden from Donna Coffin in the next workshop of the You Can series

to be repeated at three locations: Oct. 21 at the Penquis Valley High School in Milo, Oct. 22 at the Piscataquis Community High School in Guilford and Oct. 23 at the Piscataquis County Extension Office in Dover-Foxcroft. Each session will be from 6 to 8 p.m.
    Even though times are tough, You Can sustain your family. The Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension have put together a series of workshops that will give you the skills to get started in self-sufficiency. 
    You can register through PVAEC, 48 Morton Avenue, Suite M, Dover-Foxcroft 04426 or call 564-6525 or online at http://pvaec.maineadulted.org/courses/course/you_can.
    Hops can be grown successfully in Piscataquis County. Many home brewers are interested in taking their hobby to the next level by growing their own hops to produce their own beer.
    Hops can also be used for other purposes too. At this program you will learn about the history of hops production in New England, what hops needs to thrive in our area, basics of planting and care, pests that can affect hops and harvest. 
    Coffin is the University of Maine Cooperative extension educator in Piscataquis County for over 30 years.
    Her area of expertise includes sustainable agriculture and home horticulture.
    She received her Master of Science degree from the University of Maine in Animal Science in the area of animal nutrition.
    For more information or to request a disability accommodation, call 564-3301 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491.