Alain Ollier and Erica Berman in one of their Veggies to Table gardens in Newcastle. (Photo courtesy Caroline Mardok)
This month, Erica Berman, a Newcastle resident and founder of Veggies to Table, is featured in the Winter 2021 issue of Maine Homes by Down East magazine. Given a column in the magazine’s latest issue, Berman runs Veggies to Table, a local nonprofit organization that grows top-quality organic produce and flowers, donating them to Mainers experiencing food insecurity and needing joy.
In the column, Berman describes how she and her husband Alain Ollier moved from Paris, France to Newcastle with two suitcases in the summer of 2012. They bought land in Newcastle, built a cozy house, and eventually started Veggies to Table as a means to combat poverty and hunger in their community.
In just three seasons, Veggies to Table has given away over 31,000 lbs. of produce and 1,850 bouquets of flowers to those dealing with food insecurity. In the process, the nonprofit creates lasting community connections through its volunteer program and provides education around healthy food.
“We came to Maine looking to create a more purposeful life, to nourish our souls, live sustainably, and connect to a community,” said Berman. “We ended up with all of this and so much more. We are feeding ourselves and our neighbors and fostering meaningful relationships along the way.”
For more information on Maine Homes, visit mainehomes.com. Veggies to Table can be accessed at veggiestotable.org.
