G.O.T. Farms History:
G.O.T. Farms started out as a project to be completed by the students of a Community Service Arts class at Telstar Middle School. Melissa Prescott (TMS Visual Art Teacher), Sarah Demer (THS Special Education Teacher), and the students of Mrs. Demer’s Satellite group first broke ground together on a project that would soon become a fixture and great resource for students attending both TMS and THS. In years past Melissa Prescott has taken the lead evolving this small project into a 4H accredited official SAD 44 after school program; helping students discover the leader in themselves through gardening, cooking, art and sustainable solutions for the future of our local food system. G.O.T. Farms, along with countless community volunteers, currently care for an impressive garden site with a solar powered greenhouse, 8+ garden beds, a pollinator attracting raised bed, a three compartment composting system, and several gourd houses.
Click the icon above to visit GOT Farms' site to
learn more about what the students are up to
OUR YOUTH EXTENSION
How LFC Got Involved: The Local Food Connection has always been a great supporter of the work G.O.T. Farms has been doing and made their first collaboration in 2012 during a project called "Do you Eat?" During this project students canvased the area, mapping out all the different aspects of our local food system. This work was then sythesized and added to a collection of other food system work now making up Maine's Food Atlas. Since then current LFC Coordinator, Meryl Kelly has stayed as involved as possible in G.O.T. Farms work. When it came time for Melissa Prescott to move on to her current position, as Director of the Freshman Academy at Bryant Pond 4H Camp and Learning Center, it seemed like a natural next step for both organizations to merge. Meryl is now coleading G.O.T. Farms with Maisey Griffin, THS and G.O.T. Farms Alum. With the help of the veteran members, G.O.T. Farms is now forging ahead while keeping the foundational goal of empowering youth to garden, cook, make art and sustainable choices as a primary focus.