Lachat Giving Garden

With your help, we will build a large Giving Garden at Lachat Town Farm for the benefit of those struggling with food insecurity. Partnering with Social Services in Weston and the Connecticut Food Bank, we will grow and give organic fruit and vegetables to those in need locally, in Bridgeport, and other surrounding towns. Our fundraising goal will get us up and running this summer with raised beds, fencing, irrigation, tools, blueberry bushes, plants, seeds, and soil.  Planning, planting, growing, and harvesting will be run entirely by volunteers. We will provide fresh produce for over 100 families each week of the growing season.  

All donations to this campaign will be for the Lachat Giving Garden so we can get up and running as quickly as possible. Given the Covid-19 situation and the historic levels of unemployment, we are hoping to be in production by the end of this summer.  

" With only three days of food in this area during a catastrophe, it made me realize that we needed to grow our own food in our town in the event the supply or distribution chain couldn't get food to us.  Here we are and almost in that situation.  We are much luckier than a lot of other areas in this country by far but even still we need to help.  This really does make me happy." -Ellen McCormick, Lachat Town Farm Commission Chair

1) Level and clear land

2) Install fencing around 29' by 93', an extension of the existing community garden

3) Run water lines

4) Build raised beds

5) Plant!

We believe everyone should have access to fresh and healthy produce and we want to come together as a town, at Lachat, to grow to give.  This project was in the works before Covid-19.  Now, the children who counted on healthy meals at school do not get them and more families than ever are facing food insecurity. Partnering with the CHIPs program through the CT Food Bank, we will be able to play a role in the solution. 

"Social Services has seen an increase in households that are in need of food and financial assistance.  We have also seen an increased need with households already known to us, who are now in a more desperate situation as their income has drastically decreased." Alison Lisbon, Weston Social Services

Production Garden Team:

Terry Cho: Terry is on the Lachat Town Farm Commission and currently manages the beautiful gardens and bees at Lachat. Terry is also in the Garden Club and on the Weston Pollinator Pathway Steering Committee. Last year, Terry began growing veggies and collecting eggs from local families with chickens to donate to Social Services. This was successful and the beginning of a bigger plan to give back. 

Christina Koether: Christina is in the Master Gardener program at UConn and is a community gardener and volunteer. She is also in the Garden Club and on the Weston Pollinator Pathway Steering Committee. 

Volunteers: This project will be successful with the help of all the volunteers and community members who always show up to help. 

Interns: We will partner with schools to provide opportunities for interns.