Poverty Reduction Through Farming

In the second week of April, Sarah Bailey, the Master Gardener Program Coordinator at the University of Connecticut, will lead the second annual planting season at the Community Farm of Simsbury, a non-profit organization that grows and donates organically-certified produce to needy families in north central Connecticut and beyond.

Under the partnership, recipients will receive fresh fruits and vegetables via two nonprofits that serve the region: Foodshare - Hartford and Tolland County's regional food bank, and Gifts of Love, which distributed the produce among 11,000 individuals statewide last year including Manchester, Ellington, Somers, Enfield, and Windsor.

“Since the economic downturn, our client base has gone up by 20 percent each year. A lot of families are down to a single income," said Diana Goode, executive director of Gifts of Love. "We serve individuals who make minimum wage, elderly folks on a fixed income, and people who simply cannot afford to pay for utilities such as gas.” 

“This program has been fantastic. People are no longer forced to eat cheap, unhealthy food,” Goode said.

Bailey said her goal is to feed more families by maximizing yields through organic planting, pest management and weed control initiatives. Last year, she and her team of other Certified Master Gardeners and interns at UConn helped to grow and donate more than 4,400 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables in the very first year of Simsbury farm's operation.

“This year, we plan to hold monthly garden walks where the public can learn about organic gardening practices and how to apply them to their own gardens,” Bailey said.

Interested in learning a few tips from her? You could grow and donate organic produce to local food banks on your own or in association with UConn and Community Farm of Simsbury. Contact Bailey at 860-604-0630 or via e-mail at sarah.bailey@uconn.edu

Additionally, Joan Allen, Assistant Cooperative Extension Educator in Residence at UConn, will help to increase yields by conducting research this summer at plots located at the Simsbury farm and the UConn Plant Science Research Farm in Storrs.

Allen's goal is to evaluate organic pest control products for a disease affecting basil. New to the United States, basil downy mildew was first confirmed in Florida in 2007. Since 2008, it has occurred on basil throughout the northeast.  

UConn’s new partnership is in addition to several collaborations currently underway with Community Farm of Simsbury.

Earlier in January of this year, UConn launched a pilot educational project with the farm, which is funded by the Travelers insurance group. Every Monday night, Tim Goodwin, the farm's executive director, teaches a class on small business entrepreneurship.

“My students, who include business and psychology majors, learn about how a small nonprofit works. They conduct research on food donation and are exploring ways to fund and grow the program,” he said.

In addition to teaching at UConn, Goodwin conducts annual summer programs for school kids. The curriculum consists of nutritional and cooking classes, and hands-on interaction with animals, plants and farm equipment. 

Last year, more than 225 students from across the state attended the summer camps, including several from Manchester and Suffield. There is a vast array of programs that cater to diverse age groups ranging from Montessori through grade 10.

“A one-week residential program is priced at just $195 because we want more kids to come out here. We invite companies and individuals to sponsor a child,” said Goodwin. “We also want more teachers from north central Connecticut to bring their students on field trips. It’s a great way to learn about how a farm works as well as pick up some healthy eating habits.”  

To learn more about educational programs, contact Tim Goodwin at 860- 217-0453.