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.

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.

Winter may be a time for slowing down, but at Cultivating Community we are just getting warmed up as staff and new leadership reflect on lessons learned from the growing season.

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 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!

As we welcome Summer, we are reflecting on a Spring that marked new threats to the safety of the communities we support, funding losses, and a cold, wet start to the growing season. It has also given us hope in the power of community and what is possible when we stand together.