A Community Program that Feeds People!

September 2013

Welcome to Northern Maine

A little bit about us!

Maine has 1.3 million people and 71,000 live in Aroostook The County Its the largest county by land area east of the Mississippi River The unemployment rate is around 10% We are 94.8 percent white Only 16 % have college degrees And 20 % of our residents are over 65

CCMs Programs
Our work in The County has many arms and legs, but just one mission:

We feed people!
How do we do it? Three Thrift Stores Recycling Program Two Food Banks 25 Food Pantries A new farm-to-table pilot program

How do we do it!
In a large rural area, community means everything especially collaboration! People donate to our stores and shop there, too! Volunteers help us get the work done Businesses wonderful sponsors who provide money and creative ideas

Our community in action

Our community in action

New Initiative: Farm for ME

It started with a dream:
Providing fresh vegetables to the 23,769 people who depend on our Food Bank / Food Pantries to feed themselves and their families each year

Farm for ME -- Funding

A grant from the Walmart Foundation through CCUSA to run a pilot program

A statewide fundraising effort

Farm for ME -- Funding

CCM Spring Appeal raised $28,000

Farm for ME In-Kind

A strong planning committee A generous landowner who donated 3 acres A handful of local companies ready to donate seed, fertilizer, etc., and A community that rallied behind a one-of-kind project

And a program was born!

Our local partners

John and Mary Pritchard Casella Organics Johnny Selected Seeds Regional Consultant from MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers Grower Association) Career Farmers Local Fire Department !!

Time to plant!

The challenges

Soil that had not been tilled for many years Timing and working with donated items Volunteers Equipment Mother Nature!

Action plan for this fall

Plans for harvesting: Have necessary equipment Utilize volunteers Timeframe Mother Nature!! Plans for distribution: Option to work with local micro processing company to vacuum pack and freeze veggies Our Food Bank distribution system

Accomplishments in Year I
Established strong committee and community support Identified crops - Solid root vegetables and squash Planted our first three acres of organic vegetables Prepared a second field for next years planting by preparing the soil

Lessons learned
People are curious and genuinely interested in our efforts Challenges in producing adequate yields initially when growing organic produce due to battling weeds and native bugs What alternatives can be done when it is too wet for typical methods of planting, tilling and thinning. And a healthy respect for Mother Nature!

Where can it go from here?

Plant more acres in Aroostook County A second site in another part of the state A move to conventionally grown crops (and away from organic)

An idea whose time is now!

With Catholic Charities as the convener of various partners: landowners, farm-related companies, volunteers and community groups, we can: Do more Spend less And feed people with quality, sustainable nutritious foods

Questions??

Thank you!!!