The Ecology School is Maine’s First-Ever Recipient of USDA Grant Supporting Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
Saco, Maine - The Ecology School is one of just seventeen national grant recipients of the USDA’s Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) grants, totaling $5.2M. The Ecology School was selected from over 620 applicants and is the first-ever organization in Maine to be awarded. The UAIP grants program supports efforts to initiate, expand, or accelerate agricultural practices serving farmers and communities, and increase food production and access in economically distressed communities. “During this next decade it will be crucial that our regional and national food systems become more climate-smart and work to support local communities, conservation and to address hunger. We are proud to receive national support for the work we are doing here in southern Maine,” said Drew Dumsch, President and CEO of The Ecology School.
The three-year UAIP grant award of $343,000 will support The Ecology School’s Agroecology for Resilient Communities Project, which includes innovative agroecology farming operations, food systems education, apprenticeship workforce training, and fresh food distribution to Saco and Biddeford middle school students in partnership with Youth Full Maine. Donating produce grown and harvested at River Bend Farm, the 313-acre home of The Ecology School in Saco, will improve critical elements of the local food system for long-term resilience while meeting immediate fresh food needs in the community.
"This investment from the USDA coupled with the partnership of the innovative leaders at The Ecology School is a vision come true in shifting the tide of food insecurity in Maine. Being able to get fresh, locally grown produce into the hands of students is the best way to foster lifelong education about and appreciation for nourishing food ingredients," shares Katie Brown, Executive Director of Youth Full Maine.
The Ecology School’s application for funding received strong support from Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, who all cite The Ecology School as a leading education organization in the fields of ecology, conservation, farming, and sustainability. “Every community in Maine deserves access to a fresh and healthy meal,” said Senator King. “This investment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will foster an appreciation for smart, sustainable farming and production practices. It also represents an evolution in how we address food insecurity. The Ecology School is paving the way for Maine as the first program to receive this competitive award. I am so proud of the visionary work they’re doing to address the future of food insecurity in our state.”
In addition to expansion of The Ecology School’s agroecology farming operations, which will include installation of a food forest, the grant will support food systems education to York County students, providing an agricultural workforce training opportunity through a Student Farm Apprenticeship. As Senator Collins shared, "This federal investment will support the school’s educational efforts while expanding their innovative food production practices to help address food insecurity in Maine now and into the future.”
“I’m very pleased to see The Ecology School awarded the first-ever Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production grant in Maine,” shared Congresswoman Pingree. “This funding will enhance sustainable regional food production, support local farming, and address hunger in Maine. Their work to increase food grown within the community, strengthen workforce training and provide fresh food to local schools is a win all around.”
About The Ecology School
The Ecology School is an environmental living and learning center that inspires children and adults to think and act for building more sustainable communities by bringing people and nature together. We provide “live what you learn” opportunities for our guests and program participants through hands-on exploration of Maine’s ecosystems, sustainable living practices, direct connection to food systems and farming along with modeling conservation-in-action. Located at River Bend Farm, a historic 313-acre farm on a scenic bend in the Saco River in Saco, Maine, The Ecology School hosts retreats, conferences, summer camps and school programs. For more information, visit www.theecologyschool.org.
About Youth Full Maine
Youth Full Maine is a nonprofit located in Biddeford, Maine working to diminish food insecurity in York County through in-school food pantries and mobile free food distributions. Through collaboration with communities and school systems in seven towns, they reach over 1,100 York County families. The Ecology School and Youth Full Maine have worked together since 2022 to provide York County families with fresh food grown at The Ecology School’s River Bend Farm through innovative production. To learn more about Youth Full Maine, visit www.youthfullme.org.