Here in Hartford, our Summer of Solutions work is entirely focused on food justice. We believe that access to healthy, fresh, culturally appropriate, and affordable food is a basic right. We work to increase food access by building community gardens and developing unique programming around them. Last summer was the first year of SoS Hartford, and we built el Jardín de Zion Street in Frog Hollow. We ran community-building programming such as potlucks, Art Week, and a free summer camp. For more details on what we did last summer (and some great photos), please check out: http://soshartford.wordpress.com/summer-of-solutions-hartford-2011-recap/.

In 2012, we will construct a second organic community garden, which will bring fresh produce into Frog Hollow and engage community members in food production. Right now we’re looking to partner with schools and churches to host gardens. We found that el Jardín de Zion Street serves as more than a garden. It is community gathering place, green space, and a safe space. We are excited to nurture that sense through a variety of programming. We will definitely continue our tradition of weekend potlucks, because sharing food is such a beautiful way to build friendships.

Because the summer camp was so much fun last summer, we’re going to further develop the idea next year. We will partner with a church to organize a summer camp for children from both garden locations. We are collaborating with local organizations to design a Healthy Communities curriculum improving on activities from last summer.

We’re excited to see where this work will take us next. Next summer, we’re looking forward to setting up our first stand at the farmers’ market, and finding creative ways to fulfill our mission.

If you’re curious about our program, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Here’s how to track us down:

Jennifer Roach: jennifer_roach14@pitzer.edu     (860) 539-7231
Joseph Bobman: joebobman@gmail.com    (860) 818-6996