On March 30, 2024, a devastating fire swept through Tuckaway Farm, causing significant damage and loss, including three barns, hay, equipment, tools, and livestock. However, in the face of such tragedy, the Seacoast community has shown tremendous support, rallying together to help rebuild and restore what was lost. Before the fire, the Tuckaway family was in the process of creating a community Food Commons, aimed at bolstering farm and food resilience in the Seacoast area. Now, more than ever, this vision is crucial. In our discussions about how best to support not only the farm’s rebuilding efforts but also Tuckaway and Seacoast Eat Local’s (SEL) broader mission of fostering food system resilience, a few things have become clear.
The fire and the subsequent community response have highlighted the vital role of community infrastructure. “We’ve received such tremendous support from the community, and completing the Food Commons will enable us to not only rebuild but offer the community a space to come together and build a more resilient and local food system over time,” said Sarah Cox of Tuckaway Farm. “Contributing to the TFC Resilience Fund will help us do exactly that.”
Your support for SEL can help Tuckaway Farm rebuild now and also ensure the long-term viability and resilience of our local food systems. We are seeking donations from individuals, families, and foundations to directly support the development and resilience of Tuckaway Food Commons (TFC).
Your contributions will fund several key initiatives:
- Community House Improvements: Enhancements to the community house, which holds SEL offices and hosts agricultural workshops, meetings, and board retreat spaces for local food system organizations, farm dinners with local chefs, and other mission-related events.
- Wayfinding and Signage: Installation of signage to make TFC more discoverable and welcoming to visitors.
- Grounds Improvements: Enhancements to the outdoor spaces to better accommodate more community events and programming.
- Increased Capacity for SEL: Ensuring SEL can remain a long-term anchor tenant on the second floor of the community house and support related programming.
Your support will play a vital role in strengthening our local food community and ensuring the long-term success of Tuckaway Food Commons. Together, we can continue to build a robust and resilient local food system.
Excitingly, the first $6,000 in donations from June 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024, will be matched dollar for dollar by the You Have Our Trust Fund. This means your contribution will have double the impact!
Donations made online by Credit Card or Paypal can be made by clicking here. Donations by mail can be sent to:
Seacoast Eat Local 4 Captain Smith Emerson Rd
Lee, NH 03861
Seacoast Eat Local’s tax ID is 45-2547575.
For more information, contact Shawn Menard at [email protected].
Thank you for your generosity and commitment to rebuilding and fortifying our local food systems. Together, we can make a difference!