Turkey Hill Farm is the only certified organic farm in Cape and is home to Cultivating Community’s largest garden plot in the Greater Portland area. This nonprofit works to feed the hungry, provide gardening skills to kids and show everyone that chem-free farming is the way to go. Each year, 400-600 volunteers lend a hand planting, cultivating and harvesting Cultivating Community’s crops.
All the resulting fruits and vegetables — about 10,000 lbs. a year — are distributed to low income folks in the local community.
The party day starts out right with a locally-grown pancake breakfast, cooked with Aroostook County wheat, Cumberland County sausage, local milk and Maine maple syrup. This is followed by the planting, then a potluck lunch and finally a series of workshops and events. Everything is free, but there is a $5 charge for breakfast.
To help out, all you need to do is bring yourself and wear clothes that you don’t mind getting a little muddy. If you have a pair of gloves, bring ‘em. But if you don’t, they’ll have some for you. Tools will be provided, however, if you have clippers or garden shears, those could come in handy.
When asked about the organization’s mission, Executive Director Craig Lapine explains, “Good things happen when people know where their food comes from and bad things happen when they don’t. We firmly believe that a locally grown and sustainably grown diet is what’s best for people and the planet. And everyone should have access to it. We’re trying to make food available to others who might not have access to it.”
— Avery Yale Kamila