The Tom Settlemire Community Garden on Maurice Drive in Brunswick, is a gathering place for many people: Over 80 families that grow their own food, dozens of volunteers that grow food for food-insecure community members, and visitors who wander through for the beauty and growth speaking to them. So much good happens in this place.
This year, while we are growing in so many ways, there are needs we are struggling to meet, and we hope that you can help:
We have been receiving requests from older adults and differently-abled members of our community for tall, adaptive raised beds that enable gardening without bending over or kneeling. Our hope was to build these beds this spring, but some unexpected costs are getting in our way so we’re looking to the community to help.
In addition, we have had several families of “New Mainers” – refugee families – gardening with us at TSCG, but transportation to the garden is difficult. So we would like to build several small raised beds at Brunswick Landing for them to use.
Several years ago, we expanded our growing area for the Common Good Garden where volunteers grow food for Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program. In 2020 alone they grew over 4,000lbs of fresh produce, but a huge part of that needed to be hand watered by volunteers. We are working to expand our water system, but the cost of that effort (more than $10,000) is more than double what we initially anticipated. At the same time, the pandemic has pushed up the cost of lumber, so the expense for the raised beds is also high. We have been seeking many funding sources, but we don’t want to leave those in need of adaptive raised beds unserved for another year, and we want to support our new Mainer neighbors in effectively growing their own food, so we are calling on our community to help us.
Ever watchful of where they can do good, the folks over at Flight Deck Brewing heard about our conundrum and offered to get our fundraising started with $500 toward the needed $3,000 for building the raised beds – but only if we involve the greater-Brunswick community in the fundraising the rest! So that’s our ask – if you, your business, or your family can donate, please consider contributing toward making these raised beds a reality this spring.
Click HERE to make a secure donation.
