Jean-Marie and Cory Buxton purchased a one-acre property in Corvallis, Oregon, in 2018, seeing an opportunity to use the land more efficiently than simply maintaining a lawn. The couple removed a portion of the lawn, planted organic vegetables, and created a fruit orchard, transforming their backyard into a food cultivation initiative for individuals with limited food security. [1]
What began as a family effort later expanded into a network involving local farmers, neighborhood gardeners, private donors, and Oregon State University. Through their initiative, called The Farmette Project, the Buxtons contributed to the distribution of 10 tons of fresh free produce to food banks, free food stands, and Native American communities by the 2025 growing season. [1]
As the story develops
Update
From living in a car to distributing 80,000 pounds of fresh food weekly: Dion Dawson's story
Dion Dawson, originally from the Englewood area of Chicago, went through extreme poverty, including periods of homelessness and living in his car after his six years of service in the U.S. Navy and struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). His experience of being treated as a “number” and receiving only processed and canned foods at food banks motivated him to create a humane and healthy alternative. In the summer of 2020, to mark Juneteenth, Dawson raised $2,500 through a GoFundMe campaign and fed 96 families, officially launching the non-profit organization “Dion’s Chicago Dream.” Unlike traditional long-shelf-life product donations, the project purchases fresh produce directly from local farmers and a regional supplier, ensuring quality control. The food is packed by his paid team (“Dream Team”), comprised of over 50 people who earn at least $20 per hour, transported early in the morning and delivered either to homes or to “Dream Vault” pickup points. A proprietary tech platform, Cosmic Crate, tracks every delivery. [2]
Initial success in feeding hundreds rapidly scaled up. Each week, Dion’s Chicago Dream delivers 80,000 pounds of fresh produce for free to more than 5,400 households in Chicago. The program was recognized and increased with an $80,000 grant from the Echoing Green Foundation in 2022. Currently, the organization collaborates with the healthcare system to provide customized medical food boxes to patients with heart disease and diabetes, resulting in real improvements in patient health, such as reduced blood sugar levels and body weight. [2]
- Categories:
- Society
- Entities:
