Our Blog
Growing Healthy Futures by Cultivating Healthy Habits
Depending on when you were born… you may remember watching Popeye promoting the consumption of spinach. Popeye instantly gained superhuman strength after eating spinach, and made the leafy green vegetable seem powerful and desirable to children. This led to a reported increase in spinach consumption among kids during the height of his popularity.
— A group harvests herbs in the garden
About Us
Hello, I'm Carol McQuillen, educator, founder and Executive Director of Common Roots, a 501(c)3 nonprofit for food equity..
I started Common Roots back in 2007 when I saw my students struggling to be able to focus in the classroom due to inadequate nutrition. Our children need the right nutrition so they can learn. A balanced diet, rich in essential nutrients, supports better focus, attention, and the ability to absorb and retain information.
Through food equity provision, education and advocacy, our goal is healthier children and families, meaningful agency for individuals who experience food scarcity, and a sustainable local food system to support our community’s health.
In the years since our founding, we have built a food system designed from the ground up to support food equity in our community and schools right here in Chittenden County where we live and farm.
We welcome you to join Common Roots in support of our mission, through participation in our programs, volunteering, and with your giving. Come for a visit!
Joyfully,
— Carol
Our Vision
To create a thriving local food system through organic farming and nutrition education for all ages, where everyone has equitable access to nourishing local food. Key focus areas are understanding that food is our medicine, and, upholding the values of sustainability and dignity to achieve a truly healthy community.
Our Mission
Common Roots’ mission is to engage farmers, educators, and community members to foster a sustainable local food system that supports food equity, food education, and organic farming
The way Common Roots combines food access for all comers with education for all ages makes them a leader in the food equity space.
— Liz Spitler
Our Team
Spirit, vitality, perseverance, and collaboration exemplify the team at Common Roots. These generous people are the soul in the machine.
