Corvallis Couple Grows 10 Tons of Free Produce

Jean-Marie and Cory Buxton turned part of their one-acre Oregon lawn into an organic garden that feeds food banks and communities.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Organic Food

Screen-print poster illustration of a raised wooden garden bed with leafy greens and tomatoes against a green valley and fruit trees. — Jean-Marie and Cory Buxton have donated roughly 20,000 pounds of free produce from their one-acre Corvallis, Oregon garden to food banks and communities since 2018. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Would you volunteer or donate produce to help local families get fresh food?

Through The Farmette Project, Jean-Marie and Cory Buxton have distributed 10 tons of free fresh produce, roughly 20,000 pounds, to food banks, free food stands and Native American communities. The effort began in 2018 when they converted part of their one-acre Corvallis, Oregon property into an organic vegetable garden and fruit orchard.

Why it matters

The Buxtons noticed limited access to fresh produce in some coastal Oregon communities despite the Willamette Valley's agricultural abundance. Their model relies on donations, surplus from commercial farms and Oregon State University, and unpaid labor, showing how local residents can help close the gap in fresh food access.

The project has distributed 10 tons, or approximately 20,000 pounds, of free produce from a one-acre property. The first growing season alone yielded around 1,700 pounds of tomatoes, though the source does not break down output for other crops.

The players

Jean-Marie Buxton

Co-founder of The Farmette Project who coordinates donations and deliveries and sells handmade soaps and crafts to cover project costs.

Cory Buxton

Co-founder of The Farmette Project who works alongside his wife on the garden and distribution, receiving no salary for the work.

Oregon State University

Public research university in Corvallis that allowed the project to collect tomatoes from the outside rows of a research plot and donated surplus produce.

The details

The Buxtons coordinate summer deliveries over a distribution season of around 12 weeks, and Jean-Marie approached private donors, commercial farms and Oregon State University for surplus produce. An Oregon State University professor let the project collect tomatoes from the outside rows of a university research plot, and some farmers match donations so every dollar spent on produce is matched.

2018: The Buxtons bought the one-acre Corvallis property and began converting the lawn.
First growing season: The garden produced around 1,700 pounds of tomatoes.
2025 growing season: The project reached its goal of delivering 10 tons of produce.

Culture Shift

The Farmette Project extends Oregon State University's Corvallis agricultural research plots into direct community food distribution, turning university surplus into fresh produce for food banks. It reflects a grassroots model of food sharing that operates alongside the valley's commercial agriculture rather than replacing it.

Residents in Corvallis and nearby communities can benefit from free fresh produce distributed through food banks and free food stands during the roughly 12-week summer season. The model shows that a one-acre yard can contribute meaningfully to local food access without a salary or large budget.

The takeaway

Converting even part of a yard into a productive garden can help neighbors access fresh food, especially when local farms and institutions share surplus. Consider contacting nearby food banks to ask how volunteer produce donations are accepted.