What is the Foodscapes Garden Project (FGP)?

Maine Foodscapes has been building backyard vegetable gardens for households experiencing limited resources in Southern Maine since 2018 through the Foodscapes Garden Project (FGP). Since its inception, Maine Foodscapes has installed over 600 raised garden beds across 51 towns and 4 counties in Maine, serving over 500 individuals, and utilizing over 800 hours of volunteer support. As a nonprofit organization, Maine Foodscapes relies on the generous support of individual donors, in-kind material donations, corporate sponsors, and grant-making foundations to make our work possible.

Foodscapes needs your help to continue building gardens through the Foodscapes Garden Project (FGP) in 2024!

Maine Foodscapes is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to improve community food security and well-being throughout Southern Maine. We empower Mainers to grow their own food by providing free gardening resources and ongoing mentorship. Foodscapes also offers ongoing educational opportunities focusing on gardening, cooking, and wellness skills throughout Southern Maine.

2021 Garden Build Season, Androscoggin County

2021 Growing Season, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine (South Portland)

Maine Foodscapes believes that:

Resources and knowledge are power
Rich local food systems improve human and environmental health
Intergenerational and intercultural connections and collaboration create strong, just, self-determined communities.

Please consider donating today to support the continued success and growth of the Foodscapes Garden Project (FGP)! We can't do this without you!

Our Mission & What We Do

The Maine Foodscapes mission is to improve community food security and well-being throughout Southern Maine. Our primary program is the Foodscapes Garden Project (FGP). Through the FGP, we install home and community raised-bed vegetable gardens across Southern Maine each Spring, connecting Mainers experiencing limited/low income with the resources and knowledge needed to start growing their own food. Maine Foodscapes also offers ongoing educational programming in garden-based settings for community youth and seniors and hosts regular cooking, planting, & wellness workshops/events open to the public. Each household garden installation includes up to three 4’ x 8’ raised beds filled with high-quality soil and starting seedlings. Community gardens built in partnership with organizations may include more than 3 raised beds.

Since our founding in 2018, we have proudly served over 500 individuals through our work installing 600 raised vegetable garden beds for a total of 159 households & 26 organizations within 51 towns and 4 counties across Southern Maine. We have received over 1,500 garden applications in the last five years and are working to build our internal capacity and community partnerships to meet this need. We have engaged over 75 volunteers in our work since 2022, including a robust Board of Directors (11 members in 2024).

FAQ: Where in Maine do we serve?

Maine Foodscapes partners with households, individuals, and businesses throughout Southern Maine. We have built gardens in Cumberland, York, Androscoggin, and Oxford counties. Our garden build season is in the Spring every year, and all of our new gardeners receive seeds and seedlings on their garden installation day.

View more photos here!

Support Maine Foodscapes' 2024 Build Season

Help us continue to build gardens for increased food security in Southern Maine!