MaineCF - Spotlight Grant
Lots to Gardens, a nutrition education program
A weekly Veggie Stand brings affordable, fresh organic produce to families in Hillview, a public housing complex in Lewiston. The veggies are grown in a garden just yards away from the stand by youth and children living at Hillview.
Urban gardens are a wonderful way to build a sense of place and form a close connection to one’s landscape. This boy has spent many seasons in the Hillview Children’s Garden, but continues to find surprises.
A grant from the
Androscoggin County Committee to Sisters of Charity Health System assisted in establishing the partnership with Lots to Gardens.
Through
Lots to Gardens' gardening and nutrition programs, hundreds of families and elders have grown their own food, learned to value fresh and local produce, and learned to prepare nutritious meals.
Through the youth training programs, sixty youth have given a summer of service to others received job training and participated in empowering themselves and their community.
Hundreds of other youth and adults participate in the gardens as volunteers, learners and leaders.