Veggies4All Garden Project Aims to Overgrow Hunger in Waldo County.
Rising fuel Prices, health concerns, and reduced overstock lead food pantries to make local food as more secure option.

Thorndike, Maine. A group of area farmers have decided to grow for Maine’s hungry rather for profit. As new farmers in the area, Tim Libby and Rob Fish decided that they wanted to make a difference in their community while improving their farming skills. This summer, the young farmers started the Veggies4All Garden Project. The project is currently cultivating nearly an acre in Thorndike to provide area food pantries with fresh, local and organically grown produce.

“This project is a unique experiment designed not only to make fresh local produce available to the neediest, but more importantly to empower the community with the knowledge and skills to grow, cook and preserve healthy food, thereby seeding local food independence for future generations here in Waldo County and hopefully elsewhere in the state.” said project co-founder Tim Libby, 25, of Thorndike.

According to the Good Shepherd Food bank, which has been distributing to food pantries in Maine for more than 25 years, 19,375 Maine children are hungry, 10 percent of Maine households experience food insecurity, and one in three jobs in Maine does not pay enough to cover the basic needs of a family of three. This quiet crisis is expected to worsen as rising fuel oil prices drive up the cost of food and the cost of living, leaving little if any money left over for wholesome and nutritious food. Moreover, as the cost of food is becoming costlier than ever, overall public health and well-being is subsequently declining, especially among children.

Rising Fuel Prices and Less Overstock

The need for local food production to feed area residents is increasing every year for a variety of reasons. As large food producers switch to more sophisticated computer monitored inventory systems, and as a result being able to better estimate orders, less and less overstock and expired items are available to area food pantries. At the same time, rising fuel costs are increasing the number of individuals seeking food aid.   This increasing lack of availability is placing area hunger relief organizations in a precarious situation.

“With fuel and heating costs going higher and higher the need for food is also growing. Food availability is becoming harder and harder for local pantries. My hope is that the Veggie4all project will get off the ground and fly. The more food that can be obtained locally to distribute locally will help in a great way to feed those in need,” said Bob Van Deventer, Chairperson State of Maine VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster) and a volunteer with the local food pantry.

Reducing Food Miles

In addition to promoting food independence and emergency preparedness, this project offers health and environmental benefits to the community and the planet. Several studies have shown that the average distance food travels from farm to plate is 1,500 miles. A reduction in food miles reduces greenhouse gas emissions related to transportation, By reducing food miles, we can reduce fossil fuel emissions  and be better prepared to provide for our own if the cost of transporting food from out of state becomes too great.

A Model Project

The group hopes that this model project is an inspiration for other individuals around the state to start growing for the food pantry, as well as new non profit farming model to incubate new farmers and build food security.

“In the long run, we see connecting aspiring farmers with access to land, seed and equipment donations, and mentoring in exchange for growing food for the area food pantry as a means to incubate new farmers by providing them with a low capital, lower risk endeavor to hone their skills, keep additional farmland productive, and build the capacity to assure the long-term food security of the state.” said Rob Fish, co-coordinator of the project and an organizer with the statewide farmer advocacy group Food for Maine’s Future, “We are working with other groups to make this happen. It’s a win-win situation.”

Work Parties
The group is currently hosting work parties every Sunday and looking volunteers The group is also looking for additional land to put into production next year, as well as donations of compost, soil amendments and equipment.  For more information or to donate, please contact Tim Libby or Rob Fish at 207-568-3019 or info@veggies4all.org.

The project has funding and/or inspirational support from area groups including Food for Maine’s Future, the Unity Barn Raisers, the local Rotary Club, The Quimby Family Foundation, Johnny’s Select Seeds, FedCo Seeds, the New England Grassroots Environmental Fund, a donor advised fund of the Maine Community Foundation, Top Notch Nursery, the Brower New Leaders Fund, Half Moon Gardens,the Unity Area Food Pantry, and the National Emergency Response Team.  The project was initially inspired by successful food bank farm efforts in Vermont (http://www.tworiverscenter.org/foodbank.shtml) and Massachussetts.

For more information or to donate, please contact info@veggies4all.org.