Local Couple's Farm Project Earns National Spotlight
Grow-to-give...
Some people in our community make an impact far beyond it, and it gains national attention. This has been happening a lot lately.
The passing and accomplishments of Albany born actress Daveigh Chase. Corvallis native cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra’s work on one of this summer’s biggest movies. Another resident, on screen rather than behind the camera, Robyn Masella competed on Jeopardy.
Now another.
Local residents Jean-Marie and Cory Buxton, founders of The Farmette Project, were recently featured this week in a national magazine. Woman’s World published an article highlighting how a simple idea has grown into a source of fresh food for families experiencing hunger.
Being featured on Woman’s World means more than you might think. The weekly magazine sells more than 30 million copies annually and gets millions of readers every month online. It is now part of McClatchy Media,
alongside other nationally recognized publications including Us Weekly, In Touch, Life & Style, Closer, and First for Women.
The magazine highlighted the Buxtons’ simple but inspiring idea: transform part of their yard into productive farmland and donate the harvest to those who need it most. As the magazine put it, they “turned their lawn into a way to feed families.”
The Farmette Project began in 2018 as a backyard project and has since expanded through partnerships with local volunteers, gardeners, farms, and Oregon State University to rescue and distribute surplus produce throughout the region.
Their guiding philosophy was “grow-to-give.”
Today, the project provides fresh fruits and vegetables to food banks, free food stands, and tribal communities. The Farmette Project reached a milestone during the 2025 growing season by donating 10 tons of fresh produce to local food banks, families facing food insecurity, and nearby Native American tribes.
10 tons is 22,046 pounds of food if you were wondering.
We have a longstanding tradition of community gardens, volunteerism, and local food initiatives here (think Corvallis Sustainability Coalition or South Corvallis Food Bank). Jean-Marie and Cory Buxton are a part of these efforts.
For the Farmette Project, appearing in a national magazine is a huge accomplishment. Growing and donating 22,046 pounds of food… food that many can not afford… this holds a much heavier weight.
This article was written by Jesse Grant, a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com
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