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Our mission:
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To
achieve measurable improvement in the quality of life in the
River Valley towns of Northern Oxford County through
coordinated, ongoing community health promotion.
Our Success :
Established in 1997,
the Healthy Communities is successor to the Northern Oxford County Coalition (NOCC).
The regional Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided financial support
and technical assistance to the NOCC, whose chief concern was environmental
pollution.
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Nutrition
Healthy Maine Partnerships (HMP) Nutrition Initiatives
River Valley Healthy Communities and Healthy Oxford Hills are
participating in an HMP Nutrition Initiatives project to establish
broad scale and sustainable community nutrition education
initiatives targeted at educating families eligible for or
participating in Maine’s Food Supplement Program (FSP) in Oxford
County. Since FY 2006, HMP have been selected (using FSP
participation rates as criteria) to participate in community based
nutrition education initiatives targeted at educating families
participating in or eligible for Maine’s FSP.
To see Oxford County’s Report click the link below
http://www.maine-nutrition.org/Projects/OxfordSnapEd.pdf
FMI call RVHCC 364.7408 |
Hunger in Maine
Why Plant A Row is so important?
- 10% of Maine households, representing
141,000 people, are “food insecure” according to the USDA.
- More than 40% of Maine children under
the age of 12 show some evidence of hunger.
19,325 Maine children are hungry.
- Maine ranks 5th in the nation in
prevalence of food insecurity.
What You Can Do
- Contact your local food pantry to find
out what is most needed.
- Dedicate a row or more of your garden
space to that vegetable.
- Harvest ripe, high-quality produce,
clean it, estimate the weight of the produce, and deliver it to
a local hunger organization.
- Report your donation total to Barbara
Murphy at 743-6329, 1-800-287-1482 (toll free in Maine) or
e-mail,
bmurphy@umext.maine.edu.
Do you have questions about vegetable
gardening, garden pests, or preserving your harvest?
Contact your local UMaine Extension county office.
What is Available if You are in Need
- Once the Plant a Row sites begin
harvesting, typically, food can be picked up at:
Hosmer Field in Rumford on Tuesdays from 9-11am.
UMaine Cooperative Extension Office in S Paris on Thursdays
starting at 6pm
It is encouraged that recipients join in
during the dispersing of the produce.
- Community Supported Agriculture
(CSA) is when a farmer offers a certain number of “shares” to
the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables,
but may include other farm products. Interested customers
purchase a “share” and in return receive a box each week
throughout the growing season.
- These farms currently participate in
the CSA program in Oxford County:
Alma Farm, Porter
Lollie Poppa Farm, W Paris
No View Farm, Bakery, & Greenhouse, Rumford
Oxford Hills Food Cooperative, Norway
Roy’s Family Farm, Rumford
Wood’s Edge Farm, Albany TWP
For a complete list of Maine farms
http://www.mofga.net
- Senior Farm Share—60 years and older;
some restrictions apply
Area Agency on Aging at 1-877-353-3771
- Farmer’s Markets in Oxford County can
be found by clicking the link below:
http://www.getrealmaine.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/farmersMarkets.directory/index.htm
The University of Maine offers a fact sheet
in the “Food for ME” newsletter that includes suggestions on how to
organize a community garden project, recruit volunteers and
establish a garden plot.
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/4300.htm
Have questions about container gardening?
http://www.extension.umaine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2762.htm |
