THE SOUTH BURLINGTON FOOD SHELF HAS REPORTED THEY HAVE HAD MORE THAN 1,300 NEW FAMILIES & HOUSEHOLDS VISIT THEM IN THE LAST YEAR.

YOUR SUPPORT HELPS US TO MEET OUR GOALS IN BRINGING MORE HEALTHY ORGANIC PRODUCE AND CHEF PREPARED MEALS TO 3 DIFFERENT FOOD SHELVES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

YOUR CONTINUED GENEROSITY HAS MADE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE--BUT WE STILL HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD OF US.

NOT ONLY DO YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY HELPING US GROWN MORE NUTRIENT DENSE FOOD...BUT YOU ALSO ASSIST US IN PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND EDUCATION TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AT THE SB FOOD SHELF AND LESSONS TO CHILDREN IN ALL SOUTH BURLINGTON SCHOOLS.   

GIVING TUESDAY IS COMING UP ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3RD AND WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE GIVE THIS GROWING NEED TO BOLSTER OUR PROGRESS. EVERY GIFT LARGE OR SMALL MAKES A DIFFERENCE!!

NOURISH TO FLOURISH!! OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE ALWAYS.

Greetings to all our Friends, and supporters of Common Roots!

Large swaths of Vermonters suffer from poverty and/or food insecurity at some points in their lives. Life often takes unexpected turns, for the better and the worse. Data shows that – while food insecurity disproportionately harms people from low-income backgrounds, BIPOC people, female single parents, and people with disabilities – food insecurity can strike in any household, at any time, due to a sudden injury, an unexpected lay-off, a divorce, or an economic recession – any of which can put people on the brink of despair.

Common Roots has been addressing food insecurity and food education for 16 years. None of our work is easy, yet we believe that reducing hunger will lift us all economically, spiritually, and ethically. Together with our funders, farmers, educators and volunteers, we make access to sufficient, healthy food a reality for many families and households experiencing food insecurity in South Burlington, the Abenaki Food Shelf in Shelburne, and Feeding Chittenden in Burlington.

In 2023, after many VT farms flooded, we were able to provide > 4,000 lbs. of food to the VT Food Bank and the Intervale Food Hub.

2024 Commitments for Food Security - Activities and Measurements when possible.

Goal #1 Increase the crop plan for our 3 Food Shelf outlets from 7,000 lbs. to 8,000 lbs.  Our farm plan is to grow 26,000 lbs. of food this season to bring an increased volume to the 3 Food Shelves we serve (1/3 for our production).  We set up a Farmstand at the South Burlington Food Shelf 3 times each week from early May through November.  We prepare fresh entrees, soups, and salads from our licensed kitchen year-round.

Activities - Increase food production for 3 Food Shelves from 6,000 lbs. to 8,000 lbs.- Food is invoiced and brought 3 days a week to the South Burlington Food Shelf once a week to Feeding Chittenden and the Abenaki Food Shelf.

Measurements – All food donated is invoiced.  We keep daily and monthly cumulative records.

Goal #2 Cultivate organic veggie and herb plant starts and teach Food Shelf participants in May and June.  We instruct Food Shelf participants how to grow their own food by    providing them with plants, instructions, videos on our website, and organic compost, plus provide follow-up support at the Food Shelf through the season to best support their “growing” success and building independence.

Activities - Cultivate 1,200 plant starts - Food Shelf participants may select organic plant starts with instructions for how to grow your own food (pots, raised beds, simple spaces).

Measurements – Folks who show us photos of their growing success will receive gift cards to our Farmstand, open six days a week.

Goal #3 Provide food education at our Farmstand at the South Burlington Food Shelf three times each week, May 1 – November 30 (lessons with taste tests, prepared portions to take home and recipes).  Weekly we bring foods from winter storage and our licensed kitchen Dec – April.  

Activities - Taste test fresh samples of our farm-fresh food to expand palates and teach nourishing foods. If participants like the taste tests, we have products made for their family, and the recipe to build their repertoire of how to maximize our organic veggies in season.

Measurements – our presence each day the Food Shelf is open, our surveys, and anecdotal records will keep track of this educational opportunity.

Goal #4 Build incentives to bring Food Shelf participants to our farms and receive explicit instruction in our 40 raised beds by offering each adult participant food selections from our raised beds or Farmstand each time they come to the farm and engage in our lesson participants earn $30 in Farmstand dollars to spend that evening.

Activities - Invite Food Shelf participants to attend our farm instruction – Food Shelf participants are invited to our farm on Thursdays anytime between 4 and 6:30 pm.  Any participant who helps us grow food for the Food Shelf receives a $30 Farmstand Coupon to spend at our Farmstand at the South Village Farm.

Goal #5 Expand from our Abenaki Gateway Educational Gardens to cultivate heritage crops for the Abenaki Food Shelf in Shelburne at our 4-acre site and save heritage seeds for the Abenaki Land Link Project.

Activities - Cultivate Heritage Abenaki Crops (7) – Food for the Abenaki Food Shelf in the next town over; increase an additional 100 ft. in 2024.  We also harvest their heritage seeds to store at NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmers Association) in Richmond, VT.  

Your generosity will help build food security with nourishing foods in South Burlington, Shelburne, and in Burlington.  

Nourish to Flourish and Thank You.

Grateful regards,

Carol McQuillen, Founder, Executive Director (volunteer position) 

P.O. Box 9335 

South Burlington, Vermont 05407 

http://www.commonroots.org/

Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.

…Kindness means being safe in the knowledge that when we carry out random acts of warmheartedness ~with no expectation of reward~ ...one day someone might do the same for you.

We SPREAD the love...

This Valentine's Day Common Roots asks that you spread love everywhere you go!

…Let no one ever come to you without leaving feeling nourished and loved.

YOU can help Common Roots spread the love this Valentine's Day? 

When you make a recurring donation of $10 or more to Our Common Roots Givebutter Campaign…you help us do the following:

1 Increase organic crop yields for 3 Food Shelf from 6,000 lbs. to 8,000 lbs.  

2 Provide house-made foods from our licensed kitchen year-round

3 Cultivate 1,200 organic veggie plant starts and instruct Food Shelf participants 

3 Provide food education at our Farmstand at the South Burlington Food Shelf                                                                           

4 Build incentives to bring Food Shelf participants to our farms to help grow food

5 Expand our commitment to cultivate heritage crops for the Abenaki Food 

Most importantly you make someone feel valued, nourished, and loved.  

…Please won’t you help us help those in our community that are struggling this Valentine's Day?

NOURISH TO FLOURISH!!

AN ANONYMOUS DONOR HAS GENEROUSLY OFFERED TO DOUBLE YOUR GIFTS BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF DECEMBER! PLEASE HELP US REACH OUR GOAL! 

Honor our friends and neighbors on World Food Day October 16th

Common Roots Mission

Common Roots connects farmers, educators, youth, and community members to build a sustainable future through food and land stewardship education. By collectively growing food for our programs and food shelves, we celebrate the soil and soul of community. Our regenerative farming practices provide food and soil security nurturing our common roots.

2024 Food Shelf Goals

Goal #1 – Increase the crop plan for our 3 Food Shelf outlets from 6,000 lbs. to 8,000 lbs.  Our farm plan is to grow 24,000 lbs. of food this season to bring an increased volume to the 3 Food Shelves we serve.  We set up a Farmstand at the South Burlington Food Shelf 3 times each week from early May thru November.  We prepare fresh entrees, soups, and salads from our licensed kitchen year-round.

Goal #2 - Cultivate organic veggie and herb plant starts and teach Food Shelf participants in May and June.  We instruct Food Shelf participants how to grow their own food by providing them with plants, instructions, videos on our website, and organic compost, plus provide follow-up support at the Food Shelf through the season to best support their “growing” success and building independence.

Goal #3 - Provide food education at our Farmstand at the South Burlington Food Shelf three times each week, May 1 – November 30 (24 lessons), with taste tests and recipes to teach how to prepare yummy entrées, salads, and sides on a budget.   

Goal #4 - Build incentives to bring Food Shelf participants to our farms and receive explicit instruction in our 40 raised beds by offering each adult participant food selections from our raised beds or Farmstand each time they come to the farm and engage in our lesson participants earn $30 in Farmstand dollars to spend that evening.

Goal #5 – Expand from our Abenaki Gateway Educational Gardens to cultivate heritage crops for the Abenaki Food Shelf at our 4-acre site and save heritage seeds for the Abenaki Land Link Project. State-wide, farmers are donating their equipment, land, and time to assist the Abenaki people with increasing their food security as articulated by the Abenaki Nation.      

Executive Director Carol talks about the difficulties in running a Farmstand that has to start from scratch every Spring. It takes a lot of time, money, and effort to provide nutrient dense food every single year.

WVMT - It’s The Morning Drive Interview with Carol