WOMEN FOR HEALTHY RURAL LIVING

Incredible Edible Milbridge (IEM) is our community's response to the ongoing food security challenges, inflation, and supply chain mishaps. Public gardens produced vegetables for 30,000 meals, building a stronger, healthier, and more food-independent community. Sharing organic vegetables with everyone ensures our neighbors have access to nutritious food. We hosted 5 Incredible Edible workshops with 52 attendees. Our bi-lingual seed library at the Milbridge Public Library gave community members the information and resources to start their own vegetable gardens at home. Summit for a Cause: Katahdin, a guided hike up Katahdin raised $12,719 for Incredible Edible Milbridge. Through Harvest Table Cooking classes, we teach how to cook what we harvest while developing culinary skills.

Group programming encompasses a variety of initiatives designed to Connect For the Health of It, a 2024 initiative to help combat the epidemic of loneliness and isolation. Programs included our Book Discussion Series Banned Books, art programmingsix sessions with participants overall, Connecting Through Handcrafts and Art with a weekly Community Craft Circle, a monthly Mending Caf, monthly Soul Collage meetings, What Do You See art camp for children ages 8-11, and special workshops such as Mending with Patches, Sock Darning, Stab Binding Journal Making, and Creating a Felt Ornament. WHRLigig, a playgroup for children and their caregivers, commenced in February and met weekly, often at Milbridge Commons Wellness Park in good weathera partnership with Sunrise Opportunities Prevention Council. In late 2024, we hosted the local Acoustic Caf, bringing community members together to enjoy and create music. In 2024, Movement Programming included twice weekly Bone Builders osteoporosis intervention classes, Chair Yoga, Evening Yoga, Tai Chi, Zumba, and the introduction of a Walking Group. Day-long Women's Retreats, Connections: Nature, Inspiration, and Creativity, were introduced in 2024 with four art retreats held at the summer home of the American modernist artist John Marin.