Notes From the Field
Read on to discover what we’ve been up to at Growing to Give.
Theda’s Farm Report – 9/12/20
We are now in transition here at the farm. Going from harvesting the end of our warm season crops to planting and harvesting cool weather crops. Our 2# plus Oxheart tomatoes are still producing, our fall lettuces are ready to eat, and the newest plot of Nappa cabbage is being harvested. In addition, we still have 10 other vegetables on our harvest schedule. ... Click to read more.
Theda’s Farm Report – August 22, 2020
We have donated 7,000 pounds of food so far this season. This is more than double of where we were this time last year. Every season is different and we learn to adjust and adapt to the experiences. Squash vine borer made an appearance this year causing much damage and an early end to much of our summer squash production. This may impact our end of ... Click to read more.
Theda’s Farm Report – 8/8/20
Lots of news to report. We have been able to harvest 1,000 pounds of organic produce each week. The delivery to local neighbors in need was through the Merrymeeting Gleaners, the Cumberland County Gleaning Initiative, the Androscoggin Gleaners, and our friend/teacher Abby, who prepares weekly food boxes for her students. We are actually harvesting 6 days a week now. This year the farm team is also ... Click to read more.
Theda’s Farm Report – 7/26/20
Last week was onions and this week it was garlic. With the help of several volunteers we harvested 400 pounds of Music garlic. Music came out on top in a taste test we did several years ago, so we have been growing it ever since. This year we will put aside some for our 2021 crop, some for our recipients, and some for sale. We ... Click to read more.
In the News
Local organizations step up to help feed people in need during pandemic
“Growing to Give, a farm-based nonprofit in Brunswick, is ramping up production to help feed more people, while local farms and the Brunswick Topsham Land Trust are distributing seedlings to help people grow their own food.” (read more)
Maine Voices: Hungry Mainers need help from Washington to feed their families by John Newlin
“We need Sen. Collins to push the Republican majority to increase SNAP benefits in the next COVID bill. This is not a time to let perfect be the enemy of the legislative good. This is a time to feed Americans in need.” (read more)
Children, Bowdoin students and community members joined in solidarity protest for climate
“John Newlin, co-founder of Growing to Give, a local farm-based program dedicated to reducing food insecurity through climate-friendly farming, said that with the right practices, agriculture would not simply become a smaller part of the problem, but a part of the solution. He encouraged those gathered to shop and eat locally, but more importantly, to “use your voice and vote.”” (read more)
Students ‘growing, giving and learning’ in new farm-based program
“Organizers say the program will teach students about local solutions to hunger, healthy food, and climate-friendly agriculture.” (read more)
Brunswick farm looks to expand, marks 30k in vegetable donations
“In gifting half a ton of organic vegetables to 15 area food access organizations earlier this month, Growing to Give surpassed the 30,000-pound mark in total donations since 2017.” (read more)
Spotlight: Theda Lyden (Merrymeeting Food Council Summer 2019 Newsletter)
A fun interview with Theda Leyden, Growing to Give’s Farm Manager, that features her work, her thoughts on the local and regional food system, and what one of her favorite summer meals is. (read more)
Brunswick group grows fresh produce for food banks by Steve Minich (WMTW, 7/26/19)
Steve Minich of Channel 8 in Portland (WMTW) honored Growing to Give as a “group” Community Champion on Friday, July 26, 2019! Watch the video. (Note: The lead-in is missing from the video: “It’s an organization out of Brunswick – called Growing to Give…”)
Brunswick farm fights food insecurity with Growing to Give by Elizabeth Clemente (The Forecaster, 6/8/18)
“It’s easy to miss Scatter Good Farm while driving along the winding East Coxon Road. But a food bank at the farm is attracting attention for helping several organizations fight food insecurity in Maine.” (read more)
Update: 17,000 lbs. were grown and donated in 2018, but the goal for 2019 has been revised to 18,000 lbs. The tentative goal for 2020 is 25,000 lbs.
“Growing to Give” by David Treadwell (The Times Record, 6/8/18)
“Great things can happen when good friends with big hearts and fine minds have a good idea. Growing to Give stands as a shining example.” (read more)
Article featuring Growing to Give volunteer Robin Knight (L.L.Bean intranet, October 2018)
Newsletters
Newsletter – Summer/Fall 2019
Check out our most recent newsletter to take a journey through the growing season this year. The newsletter is rich with photos, Farm Reports, gratitude, and updates. To read it, click here.
Newsletter – Spring 2019
Growing to Give's spring newsletter includes: an Update from Patty a Farm Report a Funder Highlight a Call for Volunteers and more! To read the newsletter, click here.
Newsletter – Fall 2018
With fall vegetables still being harvested, and preparations well underway for early spring harvest, things are still busy at Growing to Give. But as Thanksgiving Day approaches, we hope you’ll join us in taking a few moments today to reflect on the true spirit of thanksgiving days - a spirit that countless humans have celebrated on special days over the millennia. It’s an overused phrase, ... Click to read more.