Community Gardens Reopen!
|
|
All community gardens now have the green light to plant! Last week, after test results and recommendations were reviewed by the CDC, Boyd St, Payson Park, North St, Casco Bay, Common Share, and the newly rebuilt Libbytown Community Garden (pictured) where soil testing paused the growing season this spring were cleared for cultivation.
You can read more and find the full test results, updates, and recommendations from the City’s environmental contractor on the Parks, Recreation, and Facilities website. We will be working closely with the City to ensure that the gardens are safe and accessible, and will share more information and do outreach as plans are made. If you have questions or concerns you can email questions@cultivatingcommunity.org. We are grateful to the Parks, Recreation, & Facilities staff for their hard work, support, and partnership.
Thank you to all of the impacted gardeners for their patience during this difficult season and to Cumberland County Food Security Council’s gleaners, New Spoke Farm, Master Gardeners, and many others for seedling donations! It’s been a challenge, but we are getting through it together. Yes, the impacted gardens are overgrown! Anybody who can pitch in on weeding and mulching can contact gardens@cultivatingcommunity.org, we would love to have your help.
|
|
Volunteers Needed Sunday, July 7th
at Payson Park Community Garden
We need all hands on deck! Payson Park Community Garden in Portland needs love and weeding after the spring pause; please join us for a volunteer day on Sunday, July 7th, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
No RSVP is necessary. Tools, gloves, and snacks will be provided.
Can’t make it Sunday but interested in getting involved? Sign up for our volunteer list and we’ll let you know about upcoming opportunities.
|
|
|
New School Garden Initiative
|
|
|
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.
We will be sending out an appeal soon for the community to get involved. More details and information to come!
|
|
Story Sharing Potluck Supper July 18th
|
|
Fill this table! Community Plate, together with Cultivating Community, invites you to join us at Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment in Freeport for a free Story Sharing Potluck Supper. The theme is “Cultivating Community” and we’ll be celebrating the many different ways we build community through the foods we sow, harvest, prepare, and eat, and share stories about the joy of food and how it crosses cultures and generations.
Reserve your ticket for Thursday, July 18th. Click here to register. Families are welcome! This is a free potluck event and everyone will receive a cookbook of the recipes shared.
These events are possible because of the generosity of sponsors. Learn more about the benefits of sponsorship on Community Plate’s website.
|
|
Summer Youth Growers are in Session
|
|
|
Our 2024 Youth Growers have begun their summer session by preparing the Boyd St. Youth Garden!
Every summer, Cultivating Community welcomes 24 Portland Public High School students to participate in our Youth Leadership Internship program’s two summer sessions. The students are making new friends, gaining new skills, learning to grow, prepare, and share food with East Bayside neighbors, and cultivating a healthier community for themselves and those around them.
|
|
Summer is here and we are thrilled to be partnering with Wayside Food Programs, Locker Project, and The Book Fairy to host four Pop-Up Picnics at our community gardens.
July 8 Payson Park Community Garden
July 22 East End Casco Bay Community Garden
August 5 Libbytown Community Garden
August 19 Boyd Street Community Garden
Mark your calendars, come tour the gardens, enjoy live music, and share a free meal! All Picnics start at 5:30 pm with a rain date the following week.
|
|
Meet Eva Barinas, Community Garden Engagement Coordinator
|
|
Eva (she/they) grew up all over North America and the Caribbean. Over the years, Eva has fallen in love with Portland and in the summer of 2023 made Portland home. Food sovereignty and bringing people together around growing and eating food is one of the great joys in Eva’s life. In this role, she supports community gardeners and coordinates volunteer groups – weaving and building beautiful connections and possibilities in the gardens around Portland. When Eva is not working, they can be found napping on a beach, running around with horses, or going for woods walks with loved ones. Eva’s favorite vegetable is okra.
|
|
It is summer on our Lisbon and Falmouth Community Farms and we are looking forward to the first harvests in the next few weeks!
All of our work is possible thanks to the support of our community and we depend on our donors to help make our food and land access work possible. Please contribute if you are able. Volunteer time and in-kind donations are always welcome. Reach out to info@cultivatingcommunity.org with ideas or to learn more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
