Welcome
F.R.E.S.H. New London is focused on the local food system. We implement and guide practical, agricultural & gardening projects as a way to educate, encourage, and empower the people of New London County towards personal wellness, community health, and environmental stewardship. FRESH New London seeks to respond holistically to hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity in New London County, CT. Our aim is to use local resources to meet local needs. We believe that public health, social justice, and ecological sustainability are inextricably linked. Our goals are to work in the following fields, on food-related projects: experiential youth education for ecological literacy and healthy; training for community and individual self-reliance; promotion of improved community management of natural resources; economic opportunities through local agriculture (including youth entrepreneurship); innovative distribution and marketing of locally grown food; and cultivation of the next generation of youth leaders.
F.R.E.S.H. New London is focused on the local food system. We implement and guide practical, agricultural projects as a way to educate, encourage, and empower the people of New London County towards personal wellness, community health, and environmental stewardship.
HISTORY
Our first formal programs began in early 2005. Since this time we have worked with 20 New London teens for approximately 3000 hours doing food security projects. We have grown and distributed over 7000 pounds of produce to agencies and individuals. This season we advanced our work by creating a Mobile Market- based in a donated airport parking shuttle- which served as both program transportation and a youth-staffed roving marketplace of affordable, fresh produce as well as nutritional information. Everything we sold from the Mobile Market we grew at our one acre farm site located at the Waterford Country School.
Our work includes a constellation of gardens in New London, including ongoing projects with after-school/summer programs, a garden collaboration with the New London Homeless Coalition, and a large demonstration garden at the Gemma E. Moran/United Way Labor Food Center (also the site of our offices). To date we have engaged at least 200 New London children in experiential ecological and health education at our farm and gardens.
Fiscal Sponsor:
Third Sector New England, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization, provides FRESH New London with grants management, fiscal accounting, and other administrative services.