Magic Food Bus

Healthy Peninsula’s Magic Food Bus is a seasonal traveling farm stand and mobile library that delivers free, fresh local produce, books, and information about food security resources to the towns of Blue Hill, Brooklin, Brooksville, Castine, Deer Isle, Penobscot, Sedgwick, Stonington, and Surry.
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Staffed primarily by volunteers, the Magic Food Bus has been grown over the years in size, reach, and complementary activities. Originally conceived as a book mobile, the metaphorical ‘bus’ (really a cadre of volunteer vehicles), now serves up thousands of pounds of free fresh vegetables to hundreds of people every growing season.  With support from community donations and grants, our coordinator purchases produce from local farmers, partners with the Gleaning Initiative, and works with home gardeners to gather an abundance of vibrant and nutritious food to share across the peninsula and Deer Isle Stonington. In recent years, more than half of the produce served up has come from generous community growers sharing their harvest, we thank you! An array of community partners work with the Magic Food Bus team to get healthy food out into our community. Or primary partners include Healthy Acadia’s Gleaning Initiative, Healthy Island Project, The Brooklin Food Corps and School Garden, Brooksville School Garden, and many local farms, community gardeners, and volunteers.  
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This project was started in 2011 when Sedgwick School Librarian Margaret Bixby’s great idea was recognized as a perfect match for Healthy Peninsula’s Good Food Project. The focus on trying new and healthy foods is matched by the availability of library or donated books for both children and adults—nutritious food and good summer reading. If you are interested in learning how the program got rolling, check out Margaret Bixby's short history here.