Gardens & Greenhouse

Community Gardens

Garden Plots Available!

The AYCC offers gardening space for community members. This unique space offers an incredible opportunity to individuals that may not have gardening space of their own. Gardening is a rewarding hobby that offers endless learning opportunities in addition to the best tasting produce available. Supplement your table this summer with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, or even a bouquet of beautiful flowers!

Details

• Seasonal Plot Rent $50.00
• Includes use of:
  • tools
  • supplies
  • access to water
  • straw & compost

Sign up at the Welcome Center.

Contract

FMI contact Zoe Mason at zmason@clubaycc.org

Greenhouse to Your House

The Greenhouse to Your House program not only provides a free, healthy, and fresh product to our community to help mitigate food insecurity in the short term, but the kit concept helps create cultural change by defining a new narrative around healthy food and cooking at home with the goal of inspiring families to implement healthier practices in the long term. The program is available to all ASP kids and families regardless of income.

The program is a unique initiative providing free, pre-packed meal kits to families in our childcare programs once per week. Each kit includes nutrient-rich recipes, portioned ingredients for a six-person family, and helpful nutrition information to support healthy eating. Ingredients are thoughtfully sourced from local farms, our trusted food vendors, and even our own garden and greenhouse, ensuring freshness and quality. With the help of dedicated volunteers, this program delivers not just meals but also the joy of cooking together and the benefits of wholesome, locally-inspired dishes.  

This program unites the expertise of our Food & Nutrition Services Director, Sheila Upton, and our Gardens & Greenhouse Coordinator, Zoe Mason. Together, their dynamic partnership brings fresh, local produce and unforgettable experiences to the youth in our programs and community.  

Check out our first video in our new “Mission Moments” video series:  Greenhouse to Your House

FMI contact Sheila Upton, Food & Nutrition Services Director

207-873-0684 supton@clubaycc.org

Mary Nash Beaupre Greenhouse: Year-Round Learning and Growth

The AYCC Greenhouse, a large dome located in our parking lot, serves as an educational hub for children in our After School (ASP), Summer Enrichment (SEP), and our Preschool Programs. This space allows us to continue teaching kids about sustainable food production throughout the year, even when the outdoor garden beds are covered in snow.

Inside the greenhouse, raised garden beds line the walls, growing vegetables, flowers, and herbs. In the spring, tables are filled with seedlings that flourish in the warm environment. Each year, we host a Spring Seedling Sale, our largest fundraiser, which helps support the garden program. This even gives the community a chance to kickstart their home gardens while supporting educational initiatives.

In addition to plants, the greenhouse is home to a large fish pond, further enhancing the learning environment by offering insights to aquatic ecosystems and sustainable water practices. Additionally, the greenhouse features beeswax vents. These heat-activated, automatic vent openers use a beeswax solution to open and close the vents at certain temperatures. Warmer weather makes for a toasty environment inside and comforting during cooler months.

Kids' Garden at the AYCC: Hands on Learning Through Gardening and Nature

The Kids’ Garden, located around the greenhouse in the AYCC parking lot, offers children ages 3-12 in our After School Program (ASP), Summer Enrichment Program (SEP), and Preschool Program a unique opportunity to explore gardening, nutrition, and nature. Through interactive games, and hands-on activities, kids actively participate in every stage of the gardening process.

Using organic and ecological practices, children plant seeds, nurture seedlings, spread mulch and compost, harvest fresh vegetables, and even enjoy tasting the produce straight from the garden! Along with these practical skills, they also learn vital lessons on topics like:

• The origins of their food and sustainable farming practices
• How to identify different plants, insects, and beneficial pollinators
• Post-harvest food processing, cooking, and preservation techniques

Our garden program not only teaches physical skills but also instills a deeper understanding of the environment and the importance of sustainable food production. It’s a hands-on, educational experience that helps kids grow along with the plants they tend.

Growing Together Through Learning and Sustainability

What Do We Grow?

In 2024, our dedicated staff, volunteers, and youth from our childcare programs cultivated an impressive 66 varieties of seedlings and flowers!

Vegetables

Tomatoes, sweet peppers, chili peppers, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, potatoes, eggplant, lettuce, spinach, fancy greens, celery, green beans, sugar snap peas, garlic, scallions, onions, ginger, and turmeric.

Fruits Strawberries, blueberries, plums, and elderberries.

Fresh Herbs Basil, parsley, thyme, mint, and more!

Fresh Flowers Sunflowers, gladiolas, dahlias, marigolds, celosia, black-eyed Susan, amaranth, lavender, and strawflowers.

Youth Participation & Program Highlights

Our garden programs offer hands-on learning experiences for youth, fostering growth, creativity, and sustainability. Here’s how our community participated in 2024:

• Waterville After School Program: 185 youth participated.
• Preschool Programs: 30 children joined in the fun.
• Summer Enrichment Program: 237 youth explored gardening activities.
• Vacation Camps: 15 youth participated.

Youth participants ranged in age from 3 to 13 years old, supported by a wonderful team that included:

• One full-time staff
• Two interns (one high school and one college student).
• A dedicated group of volunteers who contributed throughout the year.

Together, we’re planting the seeds for a sustainable future while enriching the lives of our youth through agriculture and community engagement!

Community Partners

Grantors / Community Partners

• Farm to School Grant
• Waterville Farmers’ Market
• Maine Federation of Farmers’ Market
• Central Maine Gleaners
• Johnny’s Selected Seeds
• FEDCO Seeds
• FEDCO Organic Growers’ Supply
• Performance Food Group
• Skowhegan Agricultural Fair

Local Farm Partners

• Foxfire Farm
• Buckle Farm
• North Branch Farm
• Dig Deep Farm
• Wild Miller Farm