RUMFORD — The River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition and the Oxford County Cooperative Extension are working together to provide fresh, nutritious local foods to hungry people this year.
When the gardening season begins in a few weeks, nearly an acre of land at the rear of Hosmer Field will be tilled and planted by people from both organizations. And when late July arrives, members hope an abundance of fresh vegetables will begin to be harvested.
The two organizations are part of the Maine Harvest for Hunger program.
“Hunger looks different now,” Sandra Witas of the coalition said.
Witas, the woman responsible for growing vegetables and herbs in two large brick planters that were once filled with flowers on Hartford and Congress streets in the downtown area, said oftentimes “hunger insecurity” affects the newly unemployed, underemployed or low paid workers.
Often, these families aren’t eligible for food stamps or food pantry participation.
The produce from the Hosmer Field garden will be for anyone who has a need, as well as for distribution to food pantries, SeniorsPlus and other organizations.
The Extension is planting a similar garden for the southern part of the county at the office in Paris.
The project is calling on home gardeners who may want to plant an extra row of vegetables for those who would otherwise not have fresh food. Witas has a number of seed packets to give to such people at the coalition office on River Street in Rumford.
Some people buy a Community Supported Agriculture share in a local farm, then donate it to the Extension or coalition for distribution to those who need it, Barbara Murphy, Extension educator in the Paris office, said.
A partial listing of local farms that participate in Community Supported Agriculture projects may be found in Mabel’s Book, which can be downloaded from the Western Mountains Alliance website: www.westernmountainsalliance.org.
Witas, who is organizing the distribution of produce from the Hosmer Field garden and who will help plant and grow the Hosmer Field garden, said information on availability of fresh vegetables will be publicized. Those who wish to donate food from their gardens, may reach her at the coalition office at 364-7408.
“Our goal is to have people have access to food and to take what they want,” she said.
In addition to donating food from an extra row in a home garden, volunteers are also needed to help harvest, coordinate pickups and deliveries from participating farm stands, and a multitude of other tasks.
Those interested in becoming involved call Witas, or Murphy at 743-6329.
Witas is also challenging Rumford businesses who maintain an Adopt-A-Spot to grow vegetables this year, rather than flowers.
This will be the 13th year a community garden has been grown at Hosmer Field, Witas said.
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