Growing to Give is a nonprofit foodbank farm that was established in 2017. Our mission is to harness our community to grow organic vegetables and give them to those in need while practicing, teaching, and promoting climate-friendly farm practices. We are largely powered by volunteers, who contributed over 4,000 hours of time to our organization in 2025. In addition to growing food for donation to people who don’t have enough to eat, we offer educational opportunities, including student visits to the farm, internships for college students, and the Farm Skills Training Program (a collaborative effort with the MerryMeeting Food Council, Goodwill, and many others to provide holistic support for people who are facing barriers to employment, while also training the next generation of climate-friendly farmers).
Growing to Give was founded through the vision, passion, and dedication of community members who believed that everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy food. What began as a largely volunteer and board-led effort has grown into a thriving nonprofit supported by a dedicated team of staff, volunteers, and community partners. Today, under the leadership of our first paid Executive Director and an expanding staff team, we continue to harness the power of our community to grow organic vegetables and donate them to those experiencing food insecurity across Maine.
Our board members and staff come from a variety of backgrounds, but what we all share is a belief in the power of community to uplift one another, a commitment to strengthening local food systems, and a dedication to caring for both people and the planet.
Growing to Give was founded in 2017 by longtime Brunswick residents Patty Carton and John Newlin and their friend Theda Lyden. What started as a small hobby farm where neighbors and friends would help out and share in the bounty of the farm gradually turned into an opportunity to help people in the community who were struggling to get enough to eat. Maine has the highest rates of food insecurity in New England, and midcoast Maine towns like Brunswick are no exception. Even though the farm started off small, we’ve made a huge impact since our founding. We’ve grown and donated nearly 125,000 pounds of organic vegetables since 2017, and we now service over 30 food access sites in six Maine counties.
This year we are bringing back our beloved Farmyard Jam community music festival, which will be hosted at the farm on July 25th. There will be live music featuring local bands, food trucks, a bar, and tons of fun games for families to enjoy, such as sack races, ring toss, and a cake walk. We love the Jam because it brings people together through a shared appreciation for our mission as well as a love of food, farming, and the natural world. The farm is gorgeous in the summer, and it’s wonderful to see people experience its beauty at this event! We often have several farm “mascots” for people to pet and interact with, including goats, mini horses, and chickens. In addition to fun activities, we will be giving farm tours so the public can learn more about our organization. All of the proceeds from the Jam will go towards supporting our mission. If you’re looking for fun outdoor activities in Brunswick this summer, the Farmyard Jam truly has something for everyone to enjoy. We hope to see you there!
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