In its fifth growing season, Twin Villages Foodbank Farm (TVFF) grew, collected, and distributed over 75,000 pounds of fresh food to Lincoln County food pantries and youth programs. Strong support from the community has made it possible for the farm to more than double its annual production since its first season in 2016.

TVFF’s mission is to grow and distribute healthy food for those who need it most in Lincoln County. The farm serves food pantries in Boothbay, Damariscotta/Newcastle, Jefferson, New Harbor, Waldoboro, Whitefield, and Wiscasset, and youth food programs like FARMS at the YMCA.

The farm grew nearly 50,000 pounds of food this year on three acres at Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust’s Salt Bay Farm in Damariscotta, while collecting and redistributing over 25,000 pounds of food from other sources like Good Shepherd Foodbank, Maine’s largest food access organization.

TVFF also collected several thousand pounds of fresh organic food from Wanderwood Farm in Nobleboro and Spear Spring Farm in Warren. Wanderwood and Spear Spring donated hundreds of pounds of zucchini, summer and winter squash, beets, and carrots. The additional food made a difference this year when several food pantries saw a large increase in need.

Local businesses have been generous in their support of the farm as well. First National Bank helped launch TVFF’s spring crowdfunding campaign with a $7,500 seed gift. This fall, Damariscotta Hardware and Damariscotta Montessori School both donated use of their greenhouse space to the farm to cure and dry this year’s abundant harvest of onions and winter squash.

To keep pace with increasing need in the community, TVFF has set an ambitious goal for next year, with plans to grow, collect, and distribute over 85,000 pounds of fresh food for donation. The farm’s long-term goal is to be able to consistently provide 100,000 pounds of produce a year to food pantries and youth programs season after season.

To learn more about the farm, see a video about how the farm is making a difference in Lincoln County, or to make a secure online donation, visit twinvillagesfarm.org.

The Farm operates in close partnership with Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust. Coastal Rivers donates use of three acres of prime farmland at Salt Bay Farm, hosts the farm’s food storage hub at Round Top Farm and provides administrative, fundraising and communications support.

Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust is a non-profit, nationally accredited land trust with active programs in land conservation, water quality, trails and public access, and nature education in the Damariscotta-Pemaquid region. For more information, email info@coastalrivers.org or visit www.coastalrivers.org