Unfortunately, I do not have an article published for this bi-weekly evidence of my internship due to my editor being at a conference all last week, having to catch up with other events. She only recently got to look over the article I had sent in to her and replied to my email with a few suggestions. Here is my draft of the article on the Biddeford Community Gardens and the impact they have had on the surrounding community!
Biddeford Community Gardens is Expanding Quickly and Significantly
Photographed by Christian Mortan
At Biddeford Community Gardens (BCG), people work together to grow food and later share the harvest by donating to food pantries and community programs. This simple act of growing and giving is the seed from which a vast network of community partnerships and environmental sustainability has blossomed.
What began with just six raised beds has now flourished into 123, an exemplification to what Director Holly Culloton calls “the growth that’s been embraced by the city.” But the expansion doesn’t stop there. Culloton emphasizes their future plans, “To have a communal garden space in all seven wards is ultimately our goal.”
A determinant factor of this growth is the new greenhouse, made possible by funding from The Gibney Family Foundation, Youthful Maine, The Quinby Family Foundation, The Woodard and Curran Foundation, and Seedmoney.org. With help from the city, volunteers installed the structure quickly and efficiently. This greenhouse will advance BCG’s mission, with the hope of eventually growing year-round.
Photographed by Christian Mortan
The garden’s impact is amplified through powerful collaborations. BCG works with the Biddeford Food Pantry and the Bon Appetit Meal Program to get fresh food directly to the community.
A particularly meaningful partnership is with Biddeford High School. Through the “service works” program, students contribute through grounds maintenance and seasonal cleanups, offering a constructive way to give back. Additionally, students enrolled in greenhouse science classes will get hands-on experience in the new BCG greenhouse at Rotary Park.
BCG’s role in the community extends beyond the harvest. For nearly 12 years, their educational program at Pierson’s Lane Children’s Garden has taught kids the foundations of gardening, giving them a chance to enjoy fresh air and get their hands dirty.
Environmentally, BCG is committed to organic, pesticide-free growing. Around five years ago, they partnered with the National Wildlife Federation through the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge, helping to create and maintain monarch habitats that benefit all pollinators.
Photographed by Christian Mortan
The primary goal of these efforts is to sustain the health of the community. As local residents often don’t get enough fresh produce, BCG’s harvests provide a critical source. “Holly and the community garden volunteers deliver harvests every week to our walk-in refrigerator,” says Katie Brown, Executive Director of Youthful Maine. “The produce we receive is always clean, fresh, and attractive—a beautiful sight when displayed at our distributions.”
Brown highlights the profound effect of this collaboration, “When individuals and organizations connect with each other to help members in the community, it creates a web-like encompassing impact and effectiveness that one stand-alone entity doesn’t have on its own. The impact is far greater together.”
For many, the garden itself has become a healthy outlet that Culloton notes, “boosts one’s spirit.” The gardens are open to anyone, regardless of experience. “Our vision really is to be able to provide healthy, welcoming green spaces to everybody in Biddeford so they can grow their own food.”
An ongoing challenge for BCG is the need for consistent volunteer help, as their strong base tends to shrink throughout the year. “We’d like to see more consistency with our volunteers,” said Culloton.
To learn more and get involved, visit biddefordcommunitygardens.org.For more photography by Christian Mortan, check out his Instagram @ctm.photography.
