Back in October we found ourselves wearing waders and standing in a flooded cranberry bog drinking a cocktail. What do you say about an organization that puts on that kind of party? The Marion Institute is kick ass. What is actually is: a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering positive social change and supporting sustainable solutions in health, environment, and community development.
The event, held at Frogfoot Farm in Wareham, MA is called Boogie in the Bog and is an annual party with food and music – so a special shoutout to my cousin Marcus Monteiro, sax player and member of the band. And to my cousin John Duke, a Marion Institute Board Member who introduced me to this organization.
The Boogie in the Bog food sponsors are local restaurants, fishermen and caterers from Westport to Plymouth serving fresh oysters, lobster rolls, “chale” soup – a mix of chowder and Portuguese kale soup, pizza and desserts all served beautifully under a large tent on the edge of the bog and farm. Eating local never tasted so good!
The farm is part of Marion Institute’s mission to serve those in need. Along with produce from the Institute’s farm their volunteers glean produce from other area farms after they have finished their harvest. This allows the Institute to add to their own product.
Marion Institute works to improve access to healthy, locally sourced food by connecting community partners, advocating for food justice, and supporting sustainable agricultural practices.
But they do so much more. Recently we attended their fundraiser Roots and Revelry at the beautifully restored Zeiterion Theater in Downtown New Bedford, MA. A brief presentation by Liz Wiley, the Institute’s Executive Director, explained more of their programs, including Grow Education, an impactful farm-to-school initiativeoperating in Southeastern Massachusetts. Originally launched over a decade ago in New Bedford, the program leverages school-based gardens as outdoor learning labs to connect students with healthy food, agricultural sustainability, and STEM concepts. Lessons are embedded directly into the school day, using gardens to enhance standard elementary curriculums across science, math, health, and social studies. Rather than functioning strictly as isolated school assets, the raised-bed plots operate as public community spaces on school grounds to engage local families and neighbors. Many New Bedford residents live in multifamily houses with little or no backyard or garden space, so Grow Education is giving these residents much needed exposure to where their food comes from. It also Introduces young students to agricultural economics, food systems, and environmental science and helps foster early interest in modern STEM career fields.
Grow Education has expanded across 24 schools throughout 6 school districts in Southeastern Massachusetts. Unfortunately, our town, Fairhaven isn’t one of them. I’d like to see that change in the future.
Right now they’re challenging all of us to eat local (within 200 miles) for 21 days this summer. https://www.marioninstitute.org/programs/sfpc/eat-local-challenge/ You’ll get an e-mail a day with info on where to buy local food, recipes and more.
I’ve only touched briefly on the great work of The Marion Institute. If you’d like more information go to https://www.marioninstitute.org. Much of what they do is donation based, so if you’d like to support their very worthy causes and help feed our neighbors go to https://www.marioninstitute.org/donate/.
My motto is a bumper sticker on my car from Penzey’s Spice Company. “Love people – cook them tasty food”. Let’s show our neighbors some love by supporting this very worthwhile organization.
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