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Exciting news for school gardens! We’re happy to announce that, in collaboration with the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, Cultivating Community is launching a new initiative to support Portland Public Schools students and gardens. After a challenging school budget process, we’re stepping up to fill a gap so that all 3,000 elementary school students continue to have vibrant outdoor learning spaces. We’re excited to work with the 9 PPS elementary schools to uplift Wabanaki and STEAM curriculum and hands-on outdoor experiences.
Earlier this month the City of Portland conducted soil testing at the Libbytown Community Garden and found elevated levels of arsenic and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). Each garden has a unique history, and while testing had been done previously, this testing – which measured the levels of more than 90 potential contaminants – was more comprehensive.
As Cultivating Community welcomes autumn and celebrates the harvest, we are reflecting on what has been a challenging growing season and a summer of renewal.
This winter, we’re celebrating updates to our mission, a succesful raised bed building workshop at Boyd St., the launch of our greenhouse fundraising campaign, and more!
Temperatures are rising, the sap is flowing, seeds have arrived for ~40,000 culturally important starts, and community garden registration begins next week. This all means one thing: The growing season is right around the corner!
This project is an exciting next phase of our partnership with the City’s Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department to ensure that Portland’s 11 community gardens are safe and accessible. We are happy to announce that we have secured funding through the Maine Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for the next 3 garden rebuilds!
In these moments of uncertainty and change, let’s get back to the basics – food, connection, and community.
With the loss of federal funding, we’re turning to you, our community. Help us raise $40,000 to continue connecting people with land, fresh local food, and each other!