In the heart of Maine, a small-scale farm is making a significant impact. Veggies to Table, a non-profit organization, is on a mission to combat local hunger with the power of organic farming. But the story behind this noble endeavor is as intriguing as the mission, involving a journey from the luxury of Paris to the fertile soils of Maine.
Erica Berman, the founder of Veggies to Table, once lived a life steeped in Parisian luxury. She was involved in the business of vacation rentals, providing travelers with a taste of opulence in the City of Lights. But a shift in perspective led her to trade the Parisian streets for the verdant fields of Maine. Now, instead of offering luxury accommodations, she’s providing something far more essential: fresh, organic produce for those in need.
Veggies to Table operates on a simple yet powerful principle: everyone deserves access to high-quality, nutritious food. The farm grows over 85 kinds of fruits, herbs, vegetables, and flowers with more than 200 specific varieties. Everything goes directly from harvest to local pantries, schools, housing organizations, and organizations serving lower-income community members. But it’s not just about filling bellies; it’s about restoring dignity and choice to individuals and families who often have to make do with less.
The farm employs a no-till method, a sustainable farming practice that helps preserve the health of the soil and the planet. This approach aligns with the organization’s commitment to environmental stewardship, demonstrating that it’s possible to feed communities while also caring for the Earth.
Veggies to Table partners with many organizations, such as schools, the YMCA, summer lunch and after-school programs, pantries, hospitals, low-income housing, and the Boothbay Rotary. They pick up the produce on the farm and distribute it to community members in need. Thanks to these collaborations, they reach thousands of people living with hunger each season at over 35 sites across Lincoln County and beyond, increasing access to nutritious food and education. They reduce the prevalent transportation dilemma in rural Maine by creating a wraparound service. Their strong partnerships are fundamental in reducing community hunger and creating joy.
Aside from pantries, schools, summer lunch programs, and the two local YMCAs, they partner with the Lincoln County Gleaners to place produce on sharing tables in thrift shops, libraries, schools, and low-income housing — a one-stop shop and supply the Take-What-You-Need free farm stand at Morris Farm and the new Community Fridge in Boothbay.
In addition to growing top-quality organic produce to donate to their neighbors in need, Veggies to Table aims to bring together community members, students, WWOOFers, and interns to educate them about local hunger, healthy eating, cooking, and sustainable living. With their diverse volunteer community, everyone is welcome. People of every age, belief, and background connect and create lasting relationships on the farm and beyond while working together toward food justice and equity for all.
By engaging folks of all ages, backgrounds, and socio-economic status to volunteer with them, they encourage broader conversations about food insecurity, the role agriculture plays in our lives, and how one tiny community can make a big difference in the well-being of their neighbors in need.
At Veggies to Table, they believe everyone needs access not only to fresh organic produce but also flowers — ‘food for the soul.’ With their Flower Joy Program, they brighten the day of those in need of a pick-me-up by donating bouquets made with love from the diverse selection of flowers grown on the farm. They grow everything from dahlias, sunflowers, and zinnias to amaranth, bells of Ireland, ammi, gomphrena, strawflowers, ageratum, calendula, marigolds, tulips, peonies, daffodils, lupin, snapdragons, asters, bee balm, bachelor’s buttons, borage, rudbeckia, cerinthe, celosia and more— over 40 types of flowers and a hundred different varieties.
This year, Veggies to Table is taking their mission a step further with a sweepstakes. The initiative, which is currently in its soft launch phase, will be officially promoted soon. Participants have a chance to support the organization’s cause and potentially win exciting prizes.
The sweepstakes is more than just a fundraising event; it’s a testament to the power of community and the shared commitment to ending hunger. It’s an opportunity for individuals to contribute to a cause that’s making a tangible difference in the lives of Maine residents.
Veggies to Table is a testament to the transformative power of food. From the fields of their no-till farm to the tables of those in need, every vegetable grown and every flower bloomed carries with it a message of hope and resilience. It’s a story of abundance amidst scarcity, of community strength in the face of adversity, and of one woman’s journey from Parisian luxury to Maine’s bounty.
