Our Story
Martha’s Community Farm History
Starting in 2021, Martha’s Community Farm was born out of the rapidly rising need for fresh produce at the food pantry, and the desire to maximize opportunities and resources for our community.
With the help of our network of volunteers, we have been able to build a Community Farm which cultivates thousands of pounds of fresh produce. One of the specific goals of the Farm is to provide pantry guests with culturally appropriate food items that are not widely available at regional food banks such as tomatillos, cilantro, and peppers.
Since 2021, the Community Farm has grown in new ways with each passing year. The Farm is now home to a perennial food garden, apiary, native food forest, mushroom garden, greenhouse, community hub and continuously expanding production areas.
Our Start!
Martha’s Community Farm took a bit of work to get going! Over the past few years, through generosity and grants, Martha’s has built a Farm for the benefit of the Community. Our first few years was a lot of work turning what was once animal pasture into arable land suitable for growing fresh food for our pantry! The Farm acquired the equipment and built the infrastructure needed for scaled and sustainable produce production. It wasn’t easy, but the quickly growing community of volunteers who believed in our mission helped set the groundwork for all the farm was to become!
The Food Forest
In one of our first major collaborations, we worked with the Montgomery County Conservation District and Penn State Master Watershed Stewards to plant over 300 native trees and shrubs, many of which are varieties of edible fruits or nuts. This project represents not only growth of the farm, but investment in the future of the farm and our commitment to environmental sustainability.
New Staff
Over the past two years we’ve welcomed two new staff members to our team. Our Growing Manager is helping to greatly increase our capacity for food production! Our Engagement Coordinator leads our social media presence, hosting workshops, and having fun volunteer events.
Montgomery Award
In 2024, Martha’s Community Farm received the Montgomery Award from Montgomery County, PA., This award represents the recognition of all the hard work and dedication that has been put into the Farm by our staff, volunteers, partners, donors, and community at large. The award states that Martha’s Community Farm is “an innovative food bank garden and food forest riparian buffer project received a 2024 Montgomery Award for community impact, environmental stewardship, and partnership collaboration. This exceptional project, which demonstrates creative vision and a unique approach to solving food insecurity challenges while implementing environmentally sensitive practices, provides a sustainable community asset that not only serves the community but also relies on the community for success.”
You!
Each new volunteer, partner, and donor leaves a mark on the Farm. You are invited to collaborate with your own contributions and talents and to become part of this growing community!
Martha’s Press
Our community has helped us not only tell our story but continues to aid the Farm’s growth and allows our story to bloom!
