The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

Potato Digging Day Reconnects Hands to the Land

October 13, 2009 - STANDISH -- There will be no tractors or mechanized equipment to dig potatoes on Saturday at Rippling Waters Farm in Standish. That's not how things are done here.

Volunteers planted spuds here in April with hand tools, and volunteers will turn them out of the dirt with pitchforks during the farm's annual Potato Digging Day. The yield from the acre will be donated to food pantries.

The hands-on practice is part of the farm's mission of enhancing local food security: reconnecting our appetites to the skills and labor needed to produce food.

Executive Director Richard Rudolph isn't just promoting organic farming at Rippling Waters; he wants more folks to be able to grow their own food.

Rudolph is not a lifelong farmer. Now in his late 60s, the former professor and dean at the University of Massachusetts-Boston gave that up in 1991. He began farming here full time in 1996.

"I believe there's a need to give back," he said. "And there's much to be desired about our food system in this country."

Food security is close to home for all of us. Rudolph said Maine is fifth in terms of food insecurity in the U.S. A recent Portland Press Herald article reported that Maine is second in the nation in food stamp use.

Rudolph sees Maine's food concerns as a simple fact of economics. "We partner with SAD 6, providing them with fresh, local produce," he said. "About 40 percent of these kids are getting free or subsidized lunches."

Besides working with schools and donating to eight food pantries, Rippling Waters has many customers who invest in the operation by purchasing shares at the beginning of the growing season. In return, they get fresh produce throughout the warmer months.

Rippling Waters is also at many farmers markets throughout the week.

Nothing happens here without volunteers, apprentices and a few part-time employees. AmeriCorps workers also pitch in on the 12-acre farm.

Joan Leitzer and Ken Spirer, a husband and wife from Portland, have volunteered their time and planted potatoes here.

"We met Richard at the Portland farmers market," said Spirer. "His produce is great and the farm is very community-oriented."

Spirer and Leitzer are customers who got e-mailed about the potato planting and decided it would be fun to do. They said they'll probably return Saturday to dig up the fruits of their labors.

After seeing an appeal for volunteers in her local paper last year, Nancy Grigg of Bridgton volunteered. She planted potatoes here with her son Kyle, 7.

"We'd never planted potatoes before," said Grigg. "They gave you a bucket of potatoes, someone went ahead pointing where to plant them, and then someone followed behind, covering them up. I have a son who loves dirt. It was a lot of fun."

The staff from Rippling Waters lent a hand when Grigg's church in Bridgton wanted to start a garden to donate home-grown produce to the local food pantry.

Volunteers are welcome on Saturday for Potato Digging Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pitchforks will be provided and a potluck lunch will be held afterwards.

The farm is along the Saco River at 55 River Road, off Route 25 near the Limington Rapids.

For more information, contact Rippling Waters at 642-5161.

By DON PERKINS, Portland Press Herald, October 9, 2009


Lakes:
Regions: Sebago


Print this story

Email this story

return to Lake News