The FRESH Farm is a one-acre outdoor educational classroom situated on the 350 acre campus of Waterford Country School in Waterford, Connecticut, 5 miles from downtown New London. Nestled amongst their established Experiential Learning Center, Children’s Farm and the “Rick McPherson Outdoor Education Center, Our farm, the heart and soul of FRESH engages in intensive fruit and vegetables production, utilizing an irrigation pond, a 1000 square foot three season greenhouse and a 1000 square foot Harvest Barn.
Since 2005 we have distributed 30,000 pounds of produce to agencies and individuals. The majority of this food has been grown at the FRESH Farm, established in 2006 at the Waterford Country School (WCS). Outlets for the produce include the Mobile Market, CSA, donations to soup kitchens and emergency food providers and at farmer’s markets. About 10% of our harvest is donated to the Waterford Country School Cafeteria for use by their students and staff. Additionally, We have taken the “Farmer’s Pledge” with Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) and are dedicated to sustainable agricultural practices.
Practical and productive agriculture provides a foundation for our programs and an engine for our enterprises. We are developing capacity by training partners and ourselves, youth and adults- as well as building physical infrastructure- so we can promote and support creativity and initiative in the fields of sustainable local agriculture, community food security and health, food justice and local food-based entrepreneurship.