Attending a 2022 Safe Labor-Movement workshop, from left, are Camille Kavanah, Ben Scheetz and Tessa Shanteler of Wise Acre Farm, Kenduskeag. Courtesy of UMaine Cooperative Extension

University of Maine Cooperative Extension is set to offer two free, in-person workshops in October for farmers, farm workers, fishers and foresters with a focus on body mechanics, injury prevention, movement, health and wellness.

The Safe Labor – Movement workshops will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, at Triple Chick Farm, 1142 Maine Route 102 in Bar Harbor; and Sunday, Oct. 16, at Pine Root Farm, 1000 Pequawket Trail in Steep Falls, a census-designated place in Standish, according to a news release from Izzy Ruffin of the Orono-based extension.

Cynthia Flores, Labor-Movement founder, will lead both sessions; they include time for questions and answers. Participants also have access to one month’s coaching via text and email.

Workshops are a project of the Maine Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, funded by the the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, awarded to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, and managed by the UMaine Extension.

The funds are part of a national and regional effort to increase awareness and amplify existing resources around mental health and farm stress, in addition to fostering connections for farmers and land stewards in Maine to access wellness support.

The workshops are free; registration is required. Details and how to register are on the workshop webpage at  extension.umaine.edu.

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Ruffin at 207-570-8308 or mainefrsan@maine.edu.

Check out other upcoming area events!