Farm to School

Healthy Acadia supports Farm to School projects across Hancock and Washington counties, helping to build connections between our schools and producers, increasing nutrition and educational opportunities for our students and supporting our local farms and fishermen. 

If your school is interested in purchasing from local farms, contact: 

Hancock County: Katie Freedman at katie@healthyacadia.org

Washington County: Regina Grabrovac at regina@healthyacadia.org

The Apple Project

Healthy Acadia’s Apple Project is a program that we offer to schools across Hancock and Washington County, free of charge. The program introduced thousands of students in dozens of schools across the region to Downeast Maine’s rich apple heritage, which includes exciting abundance of heirloom apple varieties and flavors. 

In the first session at each school, a taste testing of locally-grown heirloom varieties introduces students to new flavors and piques their interest. This is followed by a discussion about the region's apple heritage and diversity, the kids' own apple experiences, and the biology and ecology of the apple tree. At the end of the first session, students are encouraged to go out into their own backyards and communities to harvest a sampling of apples.

At the second session, usually the following week, the class and leads a hands-on apple cider pressing - and tasting! - with apples that the students have gathered. The lessons that day include how to make cider, other uses of apples, and the history of cider.

Learn more

For more information about this engaging program, or to get your class involved in an Apple Project in their community, please contact:

Hancock County Schools:

Katie Freedman at katie@healthyacadia.org

Washington County Schools:

Regina Grabrovac at regina@healthyacadia.org