Maine Organization Builds Self-Reliance Through Unity

By Ellie Hurley

Webster's Dictionary defines "unity" as "the quality or state of not being multiple, a condition of harmony, continuity without deviation or change, a totality of related parts, and an entity that is a complex or systematic whole."  Unity Barn Raisers (UBR), located in Unity, ME, are not just named after their town, the word itself defines their values.

Unity, ME, not unlike other rural towns across the United States, began to fall into economic decline in the early ‘90s as the small farmers struggled against the giants of industrial agriculture.  In 1996, a group of concerned community members got together with the understanding that they key to revitalizing Unity was revitalizing their economy.  This group called themselves Unity Barn Raisers.

Unity Barn Raisers began their work in the downtown area, intent on turning it in to a place that the community could own and care about.  Rather than take a re-active approach to community issues, UBR aimed to be pro-active.  "We are a community that realizes we can and must and will shape our own future," said UBR Executive Director Tess Woods.  UBR has purchased land for community space, planted trees, and purchased old buildings for revitalization.  Their downtown revitalization also includes a community center that houses a community kitchen used by local farmers and food producers to make their own value-added products.  To add to the sense of community they are already building, UBR aims to make sure that people who live in the community can stay in the community.  To do this they maintain low-income rentals because, as Woods said, "in Maine working wage is not always a living wage."

Part of UBR's success lies in their ability to view community development in a holistic manner, addressing the needs of all people in all areas.  While downtown revitalization has remained high on their list of priorities, they have set their organizing sights on rural vitality as well.  "We want to keep the look and feel of what makes us proud to be a part of rural Maine," said Woods.  Since 2003, UBR has received funding from a USDA Community Food Project Grant.  The money from the grant is used to purchase cooperative farming equipment, start a local farm to school program, and create a Community Farm Share program model that has been adopted by 6 local Towns. 

The programs that increase rural vitality and support small farmers are also promoting health and wellness in the community.  "We ask ourselves, how we can help the community be the healthiest it can be?" said Woods.  The answers they have come up with are numerous.  UBR has created trails to encourage physical fitness, the Unity Community Center boasts a gym, and they have partnered with a community college to ensure their curriculum is community-minded (students training to be policemen tracked the speed of cars in the downtown area). 

The health and wellness emphasis, compounded with their many community food initiatives, are not just making Unity great today, they are investing in future generations.  As UBR continues to create new public spaces, it can also lead to more room for children to make mischief.  Woods noted that lately graffiti has become a problem in particular at Briar's Beach, an old campground purchased by UBR that they converted to a free public beach.  In response to the growing amount of graffiti, UBR is partnering with a local watershed program to re-connect Unity's youth to the land.  Children will grow flowers as part of a school project and take the seedlings to the beach to be planted. This way, as the children grow, so will their connection to the beach.

The innovative work being done by UBR made them a clear choice for one of WHY's Harry Chapin Self Reliance Awards (HCSRA).  The Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Awards program distributes cash grants to outstanding grassroots organizations in the United States that have moved beyond charity to creating change in their communities. Organizations selected as Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Award winners are judged outstanding for their innovative and creative approaches to fighting domestic hunger and poverty by empowering people and building self-reliance.

While UBR is using the award to support their community farm share program, being a HCSRA award winner has brought about other opportunities.  Maine Farmland Trust, an organization that aims to identify and preserve agricultural land, heard about UBR because they were a recipient of the HCSRA and asked to partner with them on a new initiative.  UBR will now be training other Maine communities on how to do a community farm share and also offering Tech Support.  "We really appreciate the recognition from the award," said Woods.