Together, we are cultivating a thriving and unique regional food system for Lewiston Auburn.
Four key goals form our horizon
Strengthen
Integrate
Build
Increase
Fifteen actions, collectively pursued, help us reach these goals
Build a vibrant sustainable Lewiston Farmers’ Market
Facilitate strong local food and agriculture municipal policy
Increase scratch cooking in the schools
Build a future generation of farmers across cultures and communities
Protect Community Gardens for the future
Secure and develop a site for the LA Community Market, the first cooperatively run market and kitchen in Maine
Increase local, cultural and halal foods in the schools
Foster municipal protection and support of local farms
Identify and advocate municipal climate action priorities
Celebrate agriculture, food cultures, and local food
Foster food stability and access through coordinated emergency food response
Integrate garden and nutrition education in schools
Advocate for comprehensive plans inclusive of food and agriculture
Ensure land security and justice for marginalized groups
Facilitate robust marketing and branding for local food businesses
Are you ready to take action to develop our local food system?
Leaders & Supporters of the Work
Community vision designed by local artist, designer and grower Claudio Jimenez @clauditos.dibujitos
Visions for a Thriving Resilient Food System for Lewiston Auburn as shared by partners, stakeholders and community members like you!
- Lewiston Auburn has a RESILIENT, ROBUST AND ENDURING REGIONAL FARMERS’ MARKET
- There is a COMMUNITY MARKET, SHARED KITCHEN, AND CAFETERIA in the Tree Streets neighborhood of Lewiston that offers culturally preferred food, fresh local produce, and halal meat
- Lewiston Auburn has a large URBAN FARM THAT ENGAGES YOUTH AS LEADERS and provides subsistence growing opportunities to families
- Lewiston Auburn has CRITICAL STORAGE AND FOOD PRESERVATION INFRASTRUCTURE for both for profit and non profit purposes that can be used in times of emergency and stability
- Lewiston Auburn community members can access FREE AND CULTURALLY PREFERRED FOOD ANY DAY OF THE WEEK
- There are widely available, accessible and inclusive food production and preparation educational opportunities for adults
- LA ORDINANCES SUPPORT FOOD PRODUCTION AND SPACE TO GROW FOOD; people raise chickens and goats in their backyards and have food sovereignty
- There are CITYWIDE COMPOST PROGRAMS that REDUCE FOOD WASTE
- Cities have a CLIMATE PLAN AND STRATEGY that includes FOOD SYSTEM RESILIENCE
- SCHOOLS source LOCAL AND CULTURALLY PREFERRED FOODS from area farms
- GARDEN EDUCATION POSITIONS are secured for each PUBLIC SCHOOL
- PLANNING, POLICY, & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES SUPPORT LOCAL FOOD
- There is COMMUNITY & PERSONAL RESILIENCE related to food sovereignty & security
- Lewiston Auburn has a FOOD BRAND THAT FARMERS, FOOD PRODUCERS, EVENTS, MUNICIPALITIES, FOOD BASED BUSINESSES can use and that FOSTERS ACTIVITIES and CELEBRATES LOCAL FOOD
- COMMUNITIES OF PEOPLE that have been historically SHUT OUT FROM LAND OWNERSHIP build resources to ACCESS LAND ON THEIR OWN TERMS
- There are WILD SPACES ACROSS LEWISTON AUBURN that FOSTER BIODIVERSITY, FEED HUMANS AND ANIMALS, AND STRENGTHEN THE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM
- FARMLAND and GARDENS across Auburn and Lewiston are PROTECTED FROM DEVELOPMENT