LOCAL Garden
Our Mission
LOCAL stands for Leading Our Community in Agricultural Learning and our mission is to serve as a nearly year-round demonstration garden, with projects and programs to benefit adults and children. Hundreds of pounds of produce are harvested every year by volunteers and donated to our local Sharing Table, for community members in need. We grow over 50 different crop varieties, including exciting additions like canary melons, hakurei turnips, tomatillos and wine cap mushrooms! The garden is located at 52 Lemont St in Bath and is equipped with 42 raised beds, fruit trees, several pollinator gardens, a greenhouse, shed and children’s play space.
“Tomatillos stand out as a big success. When I brought them to the Sharing Table people knew them and were really excited to see them. There was one woman from Mexico who hadn’t been able to find them anywhere and was really excited to see a part of her culture at the Sharing Table.”
The LOCAL Garden Story
2010 - Garden Access Granted
Generous privates donors make the land available to RSU #1, it quickly becomes a vibrant outdoor classroom.
2012 - Local Farms Local Food
KELT, alongside Brunswick Topsham Land Trust, starts Local Farms Local Food, a project focused on enhancing our local food system and increasing farmland conservation.
2015 - Merrymeeting Food Council
Merrymeeting Food Council launches as a network for farmers, fishermen, policy makers, and other stakeholders. KELT continued to be a fiscal supporter.
2016 - KELT Begins Managing the Garden
KELT takes over management of the garden and expands its mission. Its harvest goes to community hubs to feed local residents.
2024 - Building on our Mission
Jaime takes over as Garden Coordinator as we continue to donate our harvest, this time through the Sharing Table program. We continue to use the garden for educational opportunities and community engagement.
Our Offerings
“As a non-gardener and an educator, I can just see the potential of this space and how special it is. Jaime looks at things in such an open minded and creative way. She is not scared to be resourceful.”
Mini Garden Club
KELT hosts a garden club for children and their families in the summer. We plant, harvest, cook, and explore!
Southern Maine Forest Playgroup
KELT collaborates with this local community group once a month, sometimes using the garden as a venue!
Field Trips
Student groups are invited to visit the garden for field trips in the spring, summer or fall.
Children’s play space
With funding from the Stephen King Foundation, and in collaboration with Bath at Play, the garden is now equipped with a children’s play space. You’ll find a locally made hobbit house with rocking chairs, a play house, picnic tables, toadstool stumps and a free library filled to the brim with children’s books. The garden and play space are open 24/7, come check it out!
