| Dear Friends,
As we come to the close of this FULL YEAR of Covid, I want to take the opportunity to reflect on all that we accomplished, and to thank you, our wonderful community, for all your help.
We had great success collaborating with our community to run the brand-new NLC Dream Market, a weekly art, music, and food street festival that ran from Mid-June through the end of September. The free event hosted dozens of vendors and performers from the region, as well as our new project: a free/pay-what-you-can produce table, which was VERY well received! Huge shoutout to Cultured AF for partnering with FRESH on this project.
Our youth program was vibrant this year, and our Spring, Summer, and Fall sessions welcomed back youth in person! With masks and social distancing, 28 young people learned about food justice, developed leadership skills, and grew lots of delicious, organic food. They also helped set up and run the market, connected with other similar organizations, went on educational fieldtrips, and had a lot of fun!
Something new and special this year was the collaboration between two of our young people, Roodley Merillo and Perla Alicea Vazquez, our youth community, and Magik Press on two amazing art pieces, which are now installed at our gardens! Roodley's large-scale photographs can be seen at the McDonald St park, while Perla's painted mural is on display at the Ledyard St garden. Connecticut Public Television did a lovely piece on us and the projects, which you can see HERE.
And of course, we continued our core work with the Mission CSA, snackbed gardens, volunteer days and community gardens. We couldn't do all this without your support and participation. Thank you!
We are looking forward to the winter season to reflect, plan and make 2022 dynamic, fun and full of NL Grown food. |
