Common Ground Radio 11/10/22: Creating School Gardens

Producers/Hosts: Holli Cederholm, Caitlyn Barker
Editing: Clare Boland

Common Ground Radio is an hour-long discussion of local food and organic agriculture with people here in the state of Maine and beyond.

This month: A panel discussion with three speakers on the topic of school garden creation, implementation and impact.

Guest/s:
David Wessels, garden coordinator at Troy Howard Middle School in Belfast, Maine
Ryan Parker, Maine’s FoodCorps Impact and Partnerships Lead
Brittany Layman, Director of Health, Wellness and Safety for RSU 22 and the Vice Chair of the Maine School Garden Network

FMI Links:
Maine School Garden network
Maine Ag in the Classroom
Maine Farm to School

About the hosts:

Holli Cederholm has been involved in organic agriculture since 2005 when she first apprenticed on a small farm. She has worked on organic farms in Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Scotland and Italy and, in 2010, founded a small farm focused on celebrating open-pollinated and heirloom vegetables. As the former manager of a national nonprofit dedicated to organic seed growers, she authored a peer-reviewed handbook on GMO avoidance strategies for seed growers. Holli has also been a steward at Forest Farm, the iconic homestead of “The Good Life” authors Helen and Scott Nearing; a host of “The Farm Report” on Heritage Radio Network; and a long-time contributor for The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener, which she now edits in her role as content creator and editor at MOFGA.

Caitlyn Barker has worked in education and organic agriculture on and off for the last 17 years. She has worked on an organic vegetable farm, served on the Maine Farm to School network, worked in early childhood education and taught elementary school. She currently serves as the community engagement coordinator for MOFGA.