There's always something growing at Salt River Farm in Boothbay, home of the community garden and annual midsummer music festival. And in winter, what's growing are ideas, some of which Scott Rittall and nephew Brian Papineau have developed into fully germinated plans.

Let's start with the community garden. First off, a fundraiser for the garden will be held at Red Cup Coffeehouse on Friday, April 1 from 5-9 p.m. The $20 ticket price includes a buffet-style meal and live music by Rick and the Rickoshays, Paul Johnson and jazz by Amber Jones & Friends. Reservations are strongly recommended. Call Red Cup at 207-350-4228 or stop by to make a reservation.

Last year, the garden produced 1,000 pounds of vegetables donated to local food pantries. In 2016, Rittall and Papineau are planning to grow more.

This year, the area designated for the community garden is being expanded. Tilled starter plots, 10' x 10' can be rented for $25 per month, but larger garden plots will be available at specific locations on the 40-acre farm. Call Papineau at 350-8050 for details, and to reserve a garden plot sized for your needs.

Keep in mind that all gardens at the farm must be organic, from the seeds or plants to the fertilizer to methods used for pest control.

“Most people just want an excuse to get out and get their hands dirty and do something productive, but don't have the land to do it … and here we are,” added Papineau.

Also new this year: The Great Apple Tree Restoration Project.

“There are so many apple trees around here that are not being tended,” Rittall said. “So many apples are going to waste that could be used for cider and sauce and given to people who need it.”

To that end, community members with apple trees on their properties are invited to register their trees in the restoration project. By registering their apple trees, folks are giving Rittall, Papineau, and their group of skilled and unskilled volunteers permission to prune and tend the trees and harvest the apples.

“Everyone I talk to about this project gets excited about it,” Rittall said. “Think about how important fruit trees were to the region 100 or more years ago — they weren't getting it shipped in from California. Growing apple trees, harvesting apples … this type of stuff, is in our DNA.”

The Great Apple Tree Restoration Project will also identify all of the different apple varieties there are and where they are in the Boothbay region.

Local or regional arborists interested in donating either their time or skills performing pruning, or teaching others about the art of pruning, should contact Papineau.

Volunteers will be needed to help with the harvest — picking apples, trucking the apples to the farm and turning a goodly portion into sauce, cider, and maybe even jelly.

The restoration project then culminates in Salt River Farm's first-ever apple festival, in the fall, naturally. Stay tuned for more details on the Great Apple Tree Restoration Project and dates for the subsequent apple festival.

The annual Salt River Music Fest is Saturday, July 30. Local and regional bands and other performers will take center stage. Musicians interested in participating should contact Rittall at 350-1059.

There's always something going on at Salt River Farm in Boothbay and a part for everyone to play. Are you moved to volunteer?