Growing to Give’s mission is to grow organic vegetables using climate-friendly methods, and donate the produce to local people struggling with food insecurity through food banks, community pantries and kitchens. We believe all people should have access to good food. The USDA estimates 15.8% of Mainers are food insecure and Maine ranks 1st in New England and 7th in the nation for the largest percentage of people facing food insecurity. Also, there is a strong correlation with lower incomes and higher rates of obesity - of course - healthy food is expensive and junk food is not. Thirty percent of Mainers are obese and Maine ranks 1st in New England and 24th in the nation for highest numbers of obese people. Helping address food insecurity helps improve health. Also, we understand that we have to take care of the earth for the earth to provide healthy food for all of us. So we are certified organic, amend our soil with carbon-sequestering biochar, use mostly electric-powered farm equipment (charged partly by solar panels), and use biointensive, low till and permaculture practices. We are fairly unique in our use of biochar, a charcoal like soil amendment that helps the soil retain water and support beneficial microorganisms. Crops grown in soil with biochar have significantly better yields, even with reduced applications of compost and other fertilizers, because biochar holds nitrogen and other nutrients in the soil and it helps to sequester carbon.