Kennebec Local Food Initiative

Kennebec Local Food Initiative:
Growing the edible economy in the greater Gardiner area

Maine is a wonderful place to grow and eat food. The Kennebec Local Food Initiative believes that the people in and around Gardiner should be able to get the bulk of their groceries from local growers and producers at reasonable prices.  We envision a community where people can easily buy, cook, and love the delicious, healthy food that grows so close by, we can taste it—and where small farmers and food producers can make a living, thereby preserving Maine’s agricultural heritage.

Making healthy local food more convenient and affordable is good for communities, local economies, Maine’s small farms, and everyone who eats.

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All of KLFI’s projects and services are geared toward expanding the local market for local food—through education, cooperative bulk buying, and eventually a grocery store, café, and commercial-grade educational kitchen that’s available to people who want to cook local food for sale.

Besides the Online Buying Club, plus our workshops and classes on nutrition, cooking, food preservation, and sustainable agriculture and gardening, KLFI also…

• promotes other groups and events that support local and healthy food
• makes local food more available for WIC and SNAP (food stamp) users

Cross-Pollinations:

• The Gardiner Farmers’ Market. Its products are among the offerings of our Online Buying Club.
• The Farm to School FoodCorps project.
• Community Supporting the Arts (CSA—get it?) at the Harlow Gallery in Hallowell.

Sincere thanks to our donors and sponsors:

Gardiner Board of Trade, J.W. Robinson Welfare Trust, MaineGeneral Health

The Hubbard Family, for establishing the Boo Hubbard Memorial Fund

The greater Gardiner community, for contributing money, time, and space

Gardiner Main Street, for acting as our fiscal sponsor