Cultivating Community
Mission
Cultivating Community grows sustainable communities by expanding access to healthy, local food; empowering children, youth, and adults to play diverse roles in restoring the local, sustainable food systems; and modeling, teaching, and advocating for ecological food production.
Geographical Reach
Cumberland and Androscoggin Counties, and beyond
Theory of Change
We believe every single member of our community has the right to grow, buy, and eat healthy food. Our youth programs offer internships, and hands-on, garden-based education in schools. Our Urban Agriculture program provides opportunities for people to grow healthy, local food within the Portland city limits. Our Food Hub creates access points to healthy food grown by farmers in our Farmer Training Program. In addition to collecting, selling, and distributing produce grown by our farmers, we offer discounted prices to low-income community members who may need assistance in purchasing healthy food. Lastly, our Farmer Training program teaches refugees and immigrants sustainable farming practices so that they may support the local food system and build independent farming enterprises.
People Served
Each year Cultivating Community grows, harvests, and distributes more than $260,000 in food (free & sold); provides training for hundreds of children and youth; creates multiple points of food access for people with low or no incomes; and collaborates with dozens of new American families in establishing independent farm businesses.
