Marion Institute

06/02/2026

Fields to Families Glean #10 brought in 80 pounds of fresh Red Russian kale from Heart Beets Farm, harvested with the help of one dedicated volunteer who contributed two hours of their time.

The harvest was split between Catholic Social Services in New Bedford and The Salvation Army New Bedford Food Pantry, helping bring fresh, nutrient-dense produce to local families. Next stop: Freedom Food Farm for another produce recovery.

Help us recover even more fresh produce, sign up to volunteer here: https://www.marioninstitute.org/programs/volunteer/

05/29/2026

Yesterday, Marion Institute's Executive Director Liz Wiley joined Congressman Jim McGovern, Congressman Bill Keating, Mayor Jon Mitchell, and local partners at the New Bedford Culinary Center as part of Congressman McGovern’s statewide End Hunger Tour.

Following a tour of the facility, community leaders, nonprofit organizations, and food system partners gathered for a roundtable discussion focused on hunger relief, food access, and the challenges and opportunities facing our region.

These conversations are critical to ensuring that federal, state, and local leaders hear directly from those working on the front lines to strengthen nutrition security and build a more resilient food system for all.

Thank you to Congressman McGovern for bringing together partners committed to addressing hunger and advancing equitable access to healthy food across Massachusetts.

05/27/2026

21 days of eating within a 200-mile radius. Join us for our annual Eat Local Challenge from July 6-26… Are you up for the challenge??

Sign up on marioninstitute.org.

05/26/2026

Another successful glean for our Fields to Families regional gleaning program 🌿

This past Saturday during Glean #9, we recovered 93 pounds of fresh vegetables—equal to nearly 450 servings—from extra CSA shares and surplus produce at Heart Beets Farm in Berkley, MA, including root crops like carrots, beets, and potatoes; greens including chard, tatsoi, and kale; fresh herbs; and green garlic. Thanks to our refrigerated Harvest Hopper van, we were able to safely store and transport the produce for delivery the following day to Angels Anonymous pantry in Fall River.

This is what regional food recovery looks like: fresh local food staying within our communities and reaching neighbors who need it most. 🥕🚐

A huge thank you to Heart Beets Farm for helping make this work possible.

Volunteer with us: https://www.marioninstitute.org/programs/volunteer/

05/26/2026

We will be at the Washburn Trust Farmers Market next week June 2, 2pm-6pm and every Tuesday after that. Stop by and say hi, sign up for our eat local challenge, to volunteer, or to learn more about the Marion Institute!

https://www.marioninstitute.org/programs/sfpc/eat-local-challenge/

The farmers market starts next week June 2, 2pm-6pm and every Tuesday after that til Sept 29th. We are looking for volunteers to help with setting up And or cleaning up. Great if you need volunteer hours or just want to support a good cause. Message us if interested.

05/22/2026

From planting and harvesting at Frogfoot Farm to gleaning surplus crops through Fields to Families, our volunteers are helping reconnect food and community across Southeastern Massachusetts. 🌾👐

At Frogfoot Farm, volunteers support regenerative farming practices while growing fresh, culturally relevant produce for local food pantries. Through Fields to Families, trained gleaners recover surplus crops from regional farms and help deliver that food directly to hunger relief organizations across our region.

Whether you’re getting your hands in the soil, harvesting alongside neighbors, or helping rescue food at a local farm, every volunteer hour helps strengthen nutrition security and build a more resilient local food system.

Ready to get involved? Sign up to volunteer and join us in making an impact on marioninstitute.org.

05/19/2026

Join us for the 2026 BioBlitz series at Frogfoot Farm! 🌿🔎

Help document the incredible biodiversity thriving across the farm while contributing to real community science. Participants will work together to identify plants, insects, birds, fungi, and more—all while exploring how regenerative farming supports healthy ecosystems and wildlife habitat.

2026 BioBlitz Dates:
• May 23
• July 11
• September 19
⏰ 9:30am–1:00pm

Bring your curiosity, outdoor-friendly attire, water bottle, and a smartphone with the iNaturalist app downloaded.

Register at https://www.marioninstitute.org/bioblitz-26/

05/18/2026

05/13/2026

A big thank you to the Coast of Maine Organic Products, Inc. Growing Good Program for generously donating compost to support our Grow Education school gardens once again this season. Their continued partnership helps keep our raised beds healthy and thriving for hands-on student learning.

We’re also grateful to our local partners at Aubuchon Ace Hardware in Wareham and Ace Hardware in Dartmouth for helping make this support possible.