The Garden and the Grange - A Community Partnership in Hartford
The Community Garden desperately needs major repairs so it can continue to grow fresh food, foster new friendships, and show pride in the Barry Square neighborhood.
Leader
Susan Masino
Location
1300 Broad St. Hartford, CT 06106-3100
About the project
The Community Garden at 1300 Broad St. is in the middle of a densely populated, predominantly minority, high poverty “food desert.” We have up to 44 beds for community members and groups, and all plots and events are free. We compost, have a successful bee colony, host a little free library, and provide a place to relax in the shade. The Grange is a community organization that formed over 150 years ago with a core mission of equity and justice. Simsbury Grange #197 is dedicated to community resilience and sustainability and has been a consistent partner in providing support, supplies and farming expertise to the Garden since 2013.
We have patched things as much as we can. The garden beds desparately need repairs and we need soil, covers, basic advice and supplies. Sustainable CT's program to match community-generated funds through IOBY is a perfect mechanism to support this project and this organic community. Thank you for your support!
The Steps
With Spring upon us, this is urgent. We have all plans in place to mobilize ASAP.
April 2020 - $3000 Repair and add soil to 22 double garden beds and repair “read and seed” Little Free Library at our partner community garden in Hartford;
May 2020 - $500 Purchase seedlings, seeds (from Common Ground High School in New Haven and/or local vendors);
June 2020 - $500 (several sessions for consulting/planning regarding various issues (composting / permaculture / pollinators / suitable and native plants)
We need to complete this campaign within one month, hopefully, sooner. We will begin the project immediately upon completion of the crowdfunding.
Why we‘re doing it
We need nature, health and connections. This is a true example of community sustainability and resilience in a high-poverty food desert. The goal of the garden is and has always been to provide a sustainable space for the community to gather and grow food, relax, share and get to know each other, and in general take pride of ownership in this space for social connection and healthy food. Some of our gardeners are now attempting to save and swap seeds - a fledgling effort that we hope will grow.
The Garden started with nothing but a patch of dirt, an area filled with trash, and a vision. The Grange is committed to supporting it and it has come a long way despite no dedicated staff or budget. The Garden has leveraged small one-time infusions to build the fence, install irrigation and build the shed and every year the Simsbury Grange, Trinity College students, faculty and staff and the gardeners have worked together and even won several awards. Neighbors were involved from the beginning and have always been the leaders in the garden, so it is truly an example of an organic community.