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| It's shaping up to be a wonderful year here at FRESH! Here's a look at what we've been up to: |
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In this issue:
- Youth debut their new 'zine
- Countywide Farm-to-School Coordinator coming to FRESH
- FRESH seeks youth crew members, interns and an Americorps VISTA volunteer
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Members of FRESH's fall youth crew helped create a FRESH Youth 'Zine. |
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| Mini-mag made by FRESH youth |
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| FRESH youth produced their first 'zine this winter. In seven pages, their poems, pictures and smiles show what they've learned about their power to effect change and capacity to do great things.
The 'zine is being distributed at the high schools our youth attend, and is also available on our website (link below).
Note: The second-to-last page includes information about the FRESH one-week spring break crew program, to take place April 15-19 (Tuesday to Saturday) during schools' April vacation. |
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FRESH to host countywide farm-to-school coordinator |
| Through an agreement with Ledge Light Health District, a new farm-to-school coordinator for all of New London County will be based at FRESH.
The position was created through a two-year, $100,000 federal grant awarded to Ledge Light Health District in late 2013. In addition to funding the part-time position for two years, the grant will fund studies of local food assets and the barriers to local food use in schools, as well as a new online ordering portal to connect school food needs with farmers' produce.
The goal of the program will be a 10 percent increase in the amount of local produce used in New London County public schools. The coordinator will help establish a strong Farm to School Network and leadership team that will support ongoing efforts at building and maintaining school gardens, nutrition education and local sourcing for school food.
U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, the congressman for all of eastern Connecticut, came to Norwich on Jan. 23 to celebrate with the staffs of FRESH and Ledge Light and members of the countywide ACHIEVE health coalition. Courtney said he was excited to see Connecticut recognized nationally as a productive agricultural hub, and noted that Ledge Light was the only organization in the state to win one of the 26 grants awarded nationwide.
FRESH and Ledge Light have already hired the new coordinator: Alicia McAvay. The East Lyme native has a Masters of Social Work (M.S.W.) in Community Organizing, and has extensive experience managing large farmer's markets. She will be returning to our region from Portland, Oregon where she is currently living with her family. Alicia will start the job in early March. |
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Interested in supporting FRESH with a tax-deductible donation? |
| | | | VISTA: FRESH is working with the Connecticut Food Justice Youth Corps to recruit an Americorps VISTA member.The VISTA will support FRESH's efforts to grow and expand, and coordinate with VISTAs at other sites to improve youth programming around food justice. Information about the VISTA program, including job description, is available on our website.
CREW:
Students 14 or older who are not yet high school graduates are eligible to earn practical job and agriculture skills, as well as stipends, as part of our youth crew.
Our spring break crew program runs Tuesday through Saturday during the New London schools' April vacation (15-19). Spring break crew participants can be considered to be part of the spring crew, if desired. Our spring crew program will run every Saturday morning and one weekday after school (day TBD) each week from April 21 through late May. Previous crew experience is not required to join our spring crew. |
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| | 2013 FRESH Farm intern Julia (front) plants oregano and thyme with interns Karley and Lilly at the farm in June 2013. |
| INTERNS:
College students seeking to work in youth development and/or agriculture, email us!
For spring interns, we want students who can commit to at least eight hours per week on-site, for at least seven weeks. The schedule is flexible, depending on intern interests.
For summer, we are seeking interns who can commit to at least 35 hours per week on site, whether with our youth program or at the farm.
Note: We recommend seeking college credit for internships at FRESH, and are glad to work with prospective interns on credit requirements. Small stipends are available for summer interns only, and can be earned in addition to college credit. |
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