Green Home + Energy Show raises $3,850 for Maine Foodscapes
The 2023 Green Home + Energy Show attracted over 1,100 attendees from Maine and greater New England. SALTY LENS PHOTO.
By Raine Raynor
To much anticipation, the Green Home + Energy Show returned to South Portland for its third annual iteration on April 1st, 2023. Produced by Green & Healthy Maine HOMES magazine, the show featured two packed exhibitor halls, the Maine Makers Fair shopping section, over a dozen educational workshops and an Electric Vehicle Expo held in partnership with Drive Electric Earth Day. A record-breaking 1,100-plus attendees interested in sustainable building and renewable energy hailed from Maine and greater New England.
Each year, Green Home + Energy Show organizers select a local environmental nonprofit organization to benefit from ticket proceeds. Previous beneficiaries have included Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland and WindowDressers. 2023’s ticket beneficiary was Maine Foodscapes, a Windham-based organization with a mission to improve community food security and well being throughout Southern Maine. “Maine Foodscapes has a very direct connection to the show, in that they build raised beds and greenhouses in Maine … literally making Maine homes / businesses greener,” said Maggie Perkins, Event Coordinator.
At Maine Foodscapes’ booth, show attendees were able to meet volunteers and learn about the nonprofit’s mission to improve food security through community agriculture. SALTY LENS PHOTO.
Each spring through their Foodscapes Garden Project, Maine Foodscapes partners with families experiencing low income to build raised-bed vegetable gardens at their homes. Each garden includes up to three raised beds, quality compost / soil blend, organic seeds and ongoing gardening mentorship. Maine Foodscapes has also partnered with local organizations such as nonprofits, schools, residential communities and recovery homes to create community gardens which provide nutritious, affordable produce for those vulnerable to food insecurity. Other benefits of growing food in home and community gardens include mental and physical wellness, decreased food transportation emissions, and elimination of packaging waste, according to Maine Foodscapes.
The $3,850 donation raised by the Green Home + Energy Show will go toward soil and organic seedling purchases, plus monthly payments for heavy machinery. “What a great show!” said Ali Mediate, Executive Director of Maine Foodscapes. “We plan to partner with 20-25 households across Southern Maine, as well as three to five organizations like the Westbrook Community Center to build and revitalize gardens.” Mediate estimates that they will serve at least 150 new program participants in 2023, and seedlings will support Foodscapes Garden Project gardeners from as far back as 2018. Additional plans are under way to expand Maine Foodscapes’ community agriculture programming and explore collaboration with other Maine nonprofits. Learn more about Maine Foodscapes and get involved at mainefoodscapes.org.
Interested in nominating a nonprofit beneficiary for the 2024 Green Home + Energy Show? Please contact us.