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SUPPORTING THE GRAIN COMMUNITY SINCE 2007

Upcoming Events

Crafting Holiday Cookie Boxes

with Regional Grains

Date: November 16th
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: Zoom (link provided upon registration)
Cost: $50

The holidays are upon us, and what better way to spread joy and foster community than with a box of beautifully crafted cookies? After all, who doesn’t love cookies?

Creating holiday cookie boxes has become one of my most cherished traditions—it’s more than just an opportunity to explore new recipes; it’s about sharing the warmth and joy of the season. There’s something magical about seeing the delight on someone’s face when they receive a thoughtful, homemade gift.

In this workshop, we’ll dive into the art of building an irresistible holiday cookie box from start to finish! Here’s what to expect:

Baking: We’ll explore how to infuse holiday cookies with the flavors of regional Maine grains, crafting three different festive varieties. You’ll learn helpful tips for pairing specific grains with complementary flavors.

Decorating: I’ll guide you through decorating techniques that elevate cutout cookies into mini works of art, using royal icing to add a touch of festive flair.

The Anatomy of a Box: We’ll discuss how to select recipes that balance colors, flavors, and textures—ensuring your cookie box is not only a treat for the taste buds but also a feast for the eyes.

Let’s create something delicious, beautiful, and meaningful together!

Mastering Cracked Rye Bread: A Whole Grain, Nutritious, and Delicious Experience

December 7th, 2024 

4:00-6:00PM EST

Virtual – Zoom

Join Judith Lehnhardt, a self-taught sourdough baker from Germany, for an immersive workshop on crafting traditional German rye bread. Learn about rye flour’s unique characteristics, its health benefits, and the critical fermentation and timing processes essential for enhancing the flavor. This hands-on class is perfect for bakers of all levels, offering insights into kneading, shaping, and scoring rye dough. By the end, you’ll have a deeper appreciation of this ancient grain and the skills to bake nutritious, flavorful rye bread at home.

Integrating Organic Grains on Diversified Farms with Alister Holmes  

September 28, 2024

11:00-1:00pm – Educational workshop

1:00-3pm – Field Day Visit

156 Bog Road, Albion, ME, 04910

This free, two-part event led by Alister Holmes will showcase the organic grain operation of Misty Brook Farm. Starting off with a workshop presentation, Alister will discuss how the farm’s grain crops are woven into the broader system, such as grazing winter grains without sacrificing a harvest, employing pigs to fertilize their own feed crops, and utilizing the leftover straw for cattle bedding.

In the subsequent farm tour, attendees will be offered a first-hand look at the various grains being grown on the property and explore topics such as cover-cropping, no-till cultivation, and winter grain succession crops, followed by a pig feed milling demonstration.

Inspiring & Empowering Grain Community

 

Our Mission

To inspire & empower people who are building local grain economies. We create connections & share grain traditions & innovations from earth to table.

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Our Vision

We envision a world where local grain economies that are good for people and good for the planet can thrive.

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Our Current Programs

RARE & HERITAGE SEED RESTORATION

Our seed restoration project aims to restore rare and heritage variety grains by turning handfuls of carefully kept seed into commercially viable quantities for farms.

Grain & Baking Education

Our grain and baking education program provides live and online workshops, baking tips, free learning resources, videos, handbooks and more provided by experts in the field.

Supporting Grain Farms

The ability to handle and finish grain to meet top quality standards is critical on farms. This project will purchase equipment and demonstrate its best uses on seven farms throughout Maine.

Kneading Conference & Maine Artisan Bread Fair

The annual conference and fair held in Skowhegan, ME features two full days of intensive workshops on grain topics and hands-on baking experiences where participants rub elbows with the some of the world’s most acclaimed bakers & chefs. 

Grants

The MGA provides funds need-based technical assistance and equipment helping grain-based business owners secure economic opportunities. Most revently, the MGA has offered two rounds of Emergency Relief Funding in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Celebrate Our Incredible Grain Community and Remember All the Fun from Kneading Conferences of the Past

Explore Dozens of Educational & Instructional Videos from MGA

Baking Tips and Recipes from Kneading Conference Presenters

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Explore the Kneading Conference via #KneadingConference

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