Growing Your Garden and a Fairer Food System: Week 2

March 28, April 4 & April 11

Hunger is on the rise. In August of 2022, 17% of adults in Connecticut surveyed did not have enough money to buy food, nearly double the amount from the year prior. And in the most recent state report on food insecurity in Connecticut, New London County saw the greatest rate of increase in food insecurity among families and children. Community solutions and support for food aid are more urgent than ever.

Join us for a 3-week free educational programming series about gardening to reduce hunger and working for a fairer food system. Each program pairs an expert on gardening with an expert on food justice who will instruct attendees how to sustain a successful garden, seek out or support food aid organizations, and understand the barriers to and fight for fair food access in the U.S. and in New London County. Inspired by the gardening-based food aid and food justice work at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center’s Craig Floyd Giving Garden and F.R.E.S.H. New London’s community gardens and advocacy, this programming series will empower participants to be a part of the solution to end hunger while learning to grow their own fresh produce.

Week 1: Thursday, March 28, 6 – 7:30
Successful Seed Starting
Margie Sydney, UConn Cooperative Extension Master Gardener
Food Justice 101
Vania Galicia, Grow Windham

Week 2: Thursday, April 4, 6 – 7:30
Soil Blocks: Create & Manage Seedlings & Cuttings
Mark Gostkiewicz, Owner & Farm Manager at Tri Gable Lea Farm LLC
The Industrial Food System: Catalyst of a Personal & Professional Journey
Ali Ghiorse, Founder of The Foodshed Network

Week 3: Thursday, April 11, 6 – 7:30
Starting & Managing a Giving Garden
Craig Floyd, Former Farm Manager of the Craig Floyd Giving Garden
Food Aid & Distribution in New London County
Annie Stockton, Vice President of the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center

Read the full program series description for more details: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iAjn3wHoJYbmzxxZluFeIVybjAfyEThQSbvMREYtB7g/edit?usp=sharing

Attendees will be invited to participate in a Pledge to End Hunger by reflecting on their educational experience with the series and committing to get involved in working for a fairer food system in a variety of ways. The first 25 participants to make the pledge will receive a garden starting kit with seed starting trays, a grow bag, soil tests, and more.

This program series is sponsored by the generous support of the Kitchings Foundation, the UCLA California Rare Books School, and the Mellon Foundation.

Register: https://mysticnoank.librarycalendar.com/event/growing-your-garden-and-fairer-food-system-week-2-6249